Death Of Mrs. B. Phibbs

ON December 16, at Katoomba, NSW, Margaret Phibbs (nee Kerr) passed away after a lengthy illness. She brought much pleasure into the lives of others, through her gift of music.

Meg Phibbs (as she was fondly termed by a host of New Guinea friends) came to Rabaul as the wife of Brian Phibbs. in the late ’twenties, and shortly after wards she moved to Madang, where her husband was store manager for Messrs, W. R. Carpenter & Co. The Phibbs’ home there became a noted rendezvous for music-lovers and itinerant strangers. The hospitality of the popular Phibbs’ couple was known far and wide.

In later years, Mr, and Mrs. Phibbs re sided in Rabaul, and during this period the public had plenty of opportunity to appreciate her gift as a pianist, when she organised the Rabaul Orchestra, and took a leading part in the formation of local musical functions. For health reasons, her husband was compelled to leave New Guinea in the late ’thirties, and they took up resident at Katoomba.

Mr. Phibbs died in 1940, and she con tinued to live at Katoomba. where her mother, Mrs. S. Kerr, is also domiciled.

Old Territorians extend to her their sympathy in the loss of * her talented

daughter.

G.T.

Carrying a much needed cargo of petrol, kerosene, lubricating oil and gen eral cargo to New Guinea, the steamer “Empire Mountain” (2,906 tons), caught fire in Moreton Bay (Q.), on December 20 After a three-hours’ battle, the fire was extinguished. The cause of the fire was not known.