Hagen

Death Of 'Tibby'

Notable Citizen of Western Pacific

WITH the death in Noumea on Novem ber 3 of Mr, Nicolas (“Tibby”) Hagen, the South Pacific Territories lose a figure of outstanding importance in commerce, and one of their most colourful personalities. Born in New Caledonia 68 years ago, he was a good Frenchman; but he was educated in Aus tralia, and was so completely bi-lingual

that he probably had more friends among the British in Sydney and London, than among the French in Paris and Noumea.

He was a frequent visitor to Sydney, where he was very popular.

His father, a merchant and shipowner in Noumea placed Nicolas in the service of Mr. Paul (predecessor of the well known Australian firm of Paul & Gray), in Sydney. Soon after, Nicolas joined his father in Noumea; and, when the old man died, the business was taken over by his sons, who traded as Hagen Freres.

It was broken up in the Depression; and Nicolas started off again, on his own account. He established the well-known Societe Maritime et Miniere Hagen, which holds an important place in New Cale donia. With his Aneityum Logging Com pany, he established an important indus try In the New Hebrides, based on good stands of kauri timber. He was a director of the shipping company Societe des lies des Loyantes which operates the “Le Phoque,” “Loyaute” and other small ships.

Nicolas Hagen traded all over the Southwest Pacific; and his knowledge of places and people in the Pacific, based on his personal experiences and his reading he possessed a fine library, to which he was constantly adding was remarkable. His fund of anecdotes seemed inexhaustible when he was in Sydney or in Paris, no male party was complete without jolly, laughing “Tibby”

Hagen, and his endless stories. No matter what subject connected with Pacific affairs arose, he almost always had a story of pith and point to tell, bearing upon it. He was a famous host, and he had an infinite capacity for making friends everyone knew and liked him.

One of his proudest boasts was that some one once, in Paris, sent out a cablegram addressed simply “Tibby, South Pacific”; and it was delivered to him in Noumea within a few hours. His full name was John Charles Nicolas Tiby Hagen.

Mr. Hagen was held in high esteem among his compatriots in New Caledonia.

He took a keen, intelligent interest in the Colony’s affairs, and his place there will be hard to fill. He was president of the Noumea Chamber of Commerce.

As a business man, Mr. Hagen held a position almost unique. It was known that his word was his absolute bond; and he would go to extraordinary lengths

to honour a promise, no matter how trivial.

Early in the war, while he was in Sydney, Mr. Hagen was attacked by a serious illness, and for a long time he lay near death, in St. Vincent’s hospital, attended by his devoted wife and his youngest daughter. He survived, and re turned to Noumea; but the illness had taken a heavy toll, and Sydney did not see him again for some years, until early 1947. His death followed an attack of dengue.

Mr. Hagen is survived by his widow, his son John, and his four daughters. His brother, Albi Hagen, is at present in Sydney; another brother Andre, is in Saigon. A third brother, Leo, is in New Caledonia. His brother-in-law is the well known Mr. Maurice Pelletier, of Sydney (Mr. Pelletier and Mr. Hagen married sisters).

A recent photograph of the late Mr. Hagen (on the right). It was taken in Sydney. The man on the left is Mr. A. Barrau, of Noumea, another very well-known South Seas merchant.