Fiji
p. 22 · Read in the full issue
Death Of W. J. Belcher In
THE death occurred at Navua, Fiji, on February 18, of Mr. William James Belcher, in his 66th year.
He was a New Zealander, but lived in Fiji for many years where he gained in ternational recognition as a painter of wild life subjects.
Of particular interest was his collec tion of about 100 coloured drawings made over the past 30 years of Fiji’s fast disappearing native birds. The story of this work and reproductions of two of his bird studies appeared in “PIM” of March and April, 1947. It was suggested then that these unique drawings should be acquired by the Fiji Government or by some institution interested in the natural history of the Pacific. At that time the paintings were kept in an album at the Navua Hotel, of which Mr. Belcher was in charge. The Government had offered £lBO for the collection —and Mr. Belcher felt that he had been insulted.