of Fiji

Memories of Charley Caldwell of Fiji

(A tribute to Mr. C. V. Caldwell, who died in Sydney in May: Written by Com mander William Burrows.) IWAS one of the fortunate ones who knew Charley Caldwell intimately.

He was a notable sportsman—a brilliant gun-shot who made his own cart ridges: a fisherman of both sea and river —he was one of the few I have known who could fill a basket of “Ika-droka” from any of the inland rivers.

Charley excelled in any sport which he took up. As a youngster, boxing was a hobby of his. He excelled at tennis and had but one rival in the colony—Claud Monckton. Year by year the several championships were fought out between them. Charley, with his wonderful stamina, was invariably successful except, as far as I can remember, on one occasion in the singles finals at Ba.

As a Fijian-born he was in tune with the Fijians in the country districts where he was the District Commissioner. On one occasion—he told me this story him self—he made a mistake in a matter of Fijian custom. In the upper waters of the Sigatoka River he had observed a small fish, not the Ika-droka, but some thing new to him. He had a light rod with him so, without consulting anyone, he put it up and started to cast into a likely-looking run.

From the villiage there stormed a dozen or more hefty Fijian women, who attacked him from behind, and deposited him in the river. It appeared that these fish are “Tambu” for men to catch. They are the women’s perks. Unruffled, he wanted me to avoid a similar situation!

At Natabua Government Station a pack of' wild dogs was a nuisance, es pecially on moonlit nights. Charley’s answer to this was to saw off the barrel of a shot-gun and fill some cartridges with nails and buck-shot. Very success ful.

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In the days when Suva had its clay pigeon club, Charley was stationed in Vanua Levu where he heard that several professional gun-shots were coming up from New Zealand to try conclusions with the locals. It was difficult for him to find an excuse to visit the capital, until he remembered a couple of back teeth which required attention. His application to come to Suva for dental treatment was approved. Need I add that he wiped the eye of the professionals, and made enough in stake-money to pay for passage and dentist.

On his retirement in 1942 Charley settled in New South Wales, and became the Secretary of the Gosford Golf Club.

A sportsman to the last.