Deaths Of Islands People

Dr. N. B. Watch

fTIHE death is reported from Syd- JL ney of Dr. Norman Bennington Watch. He was 68 and well known in New Guinea between 1921 and the Second World War.

He practised in Tasmania and Western Australia before enlisting in the 1914-18 war. In 1921 he was appointed to the medical service in New Guinea but subsequently re signed to go into private practice in Rabaul.

He was awarded the MBE for ser vice in the 1937 eruption, became MO of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, was captured by the Japs in 1942 and was one of the few Euro pean survivors of the invasion period—he was sent to a POW camp in Japan but not on the ill-fated Montevideo Maru.

After the war he went to Uganda and practised there until failing health took him back to Australia.

Mrs. Theresa Symons

THE death occurred in Brisbane, in September of Mrs. Theresa Symons, widow of the late Harry Symons.

Both were pioneers of* Papua in the early days when Mr. Symons was first with the Customs Depart ment then a Resident Magistrate.

After his retirement from the sen vice he was associated with a part ner in a cotton growing property ii the Rigo District.

Mrs. Symons is survived by large family of daughters and son and grand and great-grandchildren One of her daughters, Amy, is nox Mrs. E. E. Washington, wife of ttl Under-secretary of Lands in Pox Moresby.

Mrs. R, A. Puxley

Mrs rose alice puxley, former resident of Papua, die in Brisbane, Queensland i September.

She and her husband, who die some time ago in Mackay, Qloi were pioneers of Papua’s Gul country long before the First Work War—they built up a coconut plan, tation on the Vailala River.

Both of Mrs. Puxley’s daughter died before her.

Charles Antoine Gaertne3

Mr. Charles Antoin'

GAERTNER, well-know businessman of Noumea, N© Caledonia—where he was bom March, 1861—and more recently » Willoughby, Sydney, died at hi home on September 27.

He was the first to export chrom

m New Caledonia and then ered a successful general mer ■ndise business partnership with Ir. W. G. St. George. He was an nt for the Nickel Co. for 35 rs. fe is survived by two sons and aughter.

Mrs. Ann Bentley

IE death occurred at Vatakoula, Fiji, in September, of Mrs. Ann Bentley, widow of the late tries Bentley who died last year, t the time of her death she was ig with her daughter, Mrs. Will •rison, of Vatakoula, but before death of Mr. Bentley they had i in Suva for many years. It in Suva that they celebrated r golden wedding in 1948. rs. Bentley ran a large nrivate Dital there for many years, le is survived by her daughter, . Morrison, and by four sons— lard, Bruce, John (of New Zea i) and R. v. o. Bentley, of :aya Island.

Mr. William Hansen

R. William Hansen Died

suddenly in Suva on Septem ber 30, aged 64. i was in the military forces in during World War I and in capacity came in contact with Luckner (see Magazine Sec this issue). t many years he was in charge le grocery department of Sturt, me Ltd., and when that com -7 closed down, joined W. R (enter & Co. (Fiji) Ltd. 1947, he joined the staff of Price Control Office, where he employed at the time of his n. ■ is survived by his widow, two rs and a brother.

Mrs. Ina Pryke

E death occurred in a private hospital in Sydney on October 6 of Mrs. Ina Sarah Pryke, who the widow of Mr. Frank Pryke, known for many years as a eer of the New Guinea gold stry. The late Mrs. Pryke lived her husband in Papua and New tea, but has been a resident of ee, Sydney, since the 30's. She xvived by their daughter, who is Mrs. Madge Blanden, wife ie warden at Wau, New Guinea.

Mr, H. I. Moore

E death took place recently of Mr. H. I. Moore, superinten dent of the Australian Coastal o Service. Although he had actually lived in the Islands, rork took him frequently to the a-New Guinea area and he was Durse well known to the per el of all radio stations in the ; em Pacific. He gave distin led service in World War I and,

as a result of injuries received there, he suffered a chronic heart t a h U p m^ivW^ h n ? a ?n S€d “ S death at the early age of 50.

MR T H t paver j. ±i. LLAVtK Mr. James Hugh Leaver, a retired employee of the Fiji Public Works

Department, died in Suva last month, aged 76.

He went to Fiji f rom New Zealand in iggg, and was employed by Public Works and by Pacific Oil Mills, Ltd.

He retired two years ago. He is survived by his widow, five daughters and one son.