Death Of W. H. Jefferson

THE many Papuan and Islands friends of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Jefferson will regret to hear of the death of Mr.

Jefferson —on June 20 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Sydney, after an abdominal op eration. i He had recently left Malaya, on leave, after many years of rubber planting there, interrupted by the Japanese invasion. He was amongst the first civilians to return to that country and enthusiastically be gan rebuilding his company’s interests there.

“W.J.”, as he was known, was born in Tasmania 65 years ago, of pioneer stock. As a youth he joined the Eastern Extension Cable Service and served in Darwin, Cocos, and Singapore. In 1910 he went into rubber in Malaya, later go ing to Papua, where he was, for 25 years, connected with planting at Kemp Welsh, Ogamobu, Doa, Itikinumi and other estates. He was offered the management of Sagga Estate in Malaya in 1936 and he went back to do an outstanding job in rubber production there.

With a view to ultimate retirement, a property was purchased at Mossvale recently, but W.J. became ill soon after getting established there. Mrs. Jefferson, who is the sister of Mrs. Allen Innes of Vaucluse, will live at the Mossvale home.