Deaths Of Islands People

Adi Litia Cakobau

HHE death of Adi Litia Cakobau, L at Bau on December 6, severs one of the last links with the iji of pre-cession days.

Adi Cakobau was born in 1876, /o years after her grandfather had tded Fiji to Great Britain. Her ,ther was the second son of Cako tu and her mother, Tupoutoa of mga.

The young princess was brought ) according to the traditions of jian chiefly families, but she early sveloped a will and a mind of her m. In her youth she was ex emely beautiful and was a eminent and gay figure in Suva’s rly social life.

She had wit and the quiet dignity id graciousness that have fre ently characterised Fijian women high rank.

In her childhood she was be rthed to her cousin at Naitasiri 10m she grew up to hate. She ed to free herself from the en gement but Fijian tradition was 3 strong. After an unhappy image of some years she returned her home on Bau.

Adi Cakobau was active in any thing that benefitted her people.

She laboured hard and long in child welfare work, for the Red Cross and

for an y project that furthered the education of the Fijians, especially the women.

She is survived by her son, Ratu Edward Cakobau who had a dis tinguished war record, is now a member of Legislative Council, and

“Ai reguregu” —homage to the house of Cakobau —was paid by presenting whales’ teeth. Ratu Edward Cakobau, son of Adi Cakobau, seated on floor first on left facing camera. —Photo by Fiji Public Relations Office.

is regarded as one of the coming young men of Fiji.

Fijians from all parts of Viti Levu and other islands gathered at Bau to attend her funeral. A service, attended by leading members of Government departments, business houses and organisations through out the Colony, was conducted in the old church on Bau where the first Ratu Cakobau had worshipped.

She was buried on the island in the private cemetery where the old king and other members of the family are buried.

Major F. G. L. Holland,

Obe. Gm

THE death occurred in Sydney, on December 28 of Major F. G. L.

Holland, OBE, GM, former Director of Education in the

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colons He was 67.

Major Holland was a well-know: and highly respected figure in th Central Pacific during thre decades. He went to the Gilbert as headmaster of the newly formed Government Educatio Scheme in 1920, and established th King George V School at Tarawi where many prominent Islanc leaders received their educatioi He made a series of agreement with the Missions, on which th primary village school system no' is based; with an agreed syllabu minimum standards and a teachei training scheme. He was awarde the QBE in 1941.

When the Japanese invade Tarawa in 1942, Major Hollan organised the now famous escaf party which sailed down the lir of atolls by night, until final rescued by the Fiji Governmei vessel Degei. The George Medi was later given to him for his ou standing courage and leadership.

After a period as Director < Education for the Kingdom < Tonga, Major Holland retired fro: the British Colonial Service, but Wi almost immediately re-employed j Officer in Charge of the Ram (Fiji) settlement scheme, T 1 success of this bold project for tl voluntary re-settlement of tl entire Banaban population of Oce£ Island 2,000 miles from their horn* land was very largely due to h efforts. When he landed on Rami the Banabans had only one thoug]

-to return home; when he left ley were a contented and rosperous community, busily en iged in building their houses and “veloping their island.

Major Holland had a wide range : interests as witness his andardisation of the ortho •aphies of Gilbertese, Ellice and ongan—and a knowledge of coral lands possessed by few. The ever >en native built home, with its yllic setting of lagoon and palms, hich he and his hospitable wife ;pt on Bairiki for so many years, ill long be remembered by old tners in the low atolls.

Major Holland is survived by his idow, a son in England and a tughter, now Mrs. K. H. Black, itil recently resident in Nukualofa, id now in Taveuni.

F. S. Whitcombe

The death occurred at Levuka, iji, on December 27, of Mr. rancis Seymour Whitcombe, well lown as a retired mariner and a riter of short articles and stories, e was a contributor to the PIM. e had resided in the South Pacific lands for over 60 years, and he

is the personal friend of many mous men of the South Seas, Dbert Louis Stevenson, whom he lew in Samoa, delighted to hear ank’s stories of ships and sailors.

Frank was a son of the late larles Douglas Whitcombe, and e latter, a NZ Crown Lands Com- Lssioner, knew King George Tubou of Tonga, when he was being ucated in Auckland. Mr. Whit mbe, Senior, and his family, went Tonga with the young Prince len he returned. Mr. Whitcombe came Principal of the Tongan Dvemment College, and held other avernment posts.

Frank, however, at an early age, id gone to sea under Captain Ross

in the top-sail schooner Ysabel; and it was not until 1890, when the Ysa bel called at Nukualofa, that he saw his parents in Tonga. Frank spent many years in other sailing ships; he was, for a time, acting private secretary to the British Consul in Samoa; and he was a trader in the service of Captain Kaad, of Levuka, Fiji. He had lived a long time in Fiji, and was much esteemed. His brother is the well-known Mr. J. D.

Whitcombe, of Auckland, also a writer of Pacific tales and sketches.

Charles B. Hill

THE death occurred in Suva on December 14, of Mr. Charles B.

Hill, who was born in the Colony 80 years ago.

He was the son of the late Cap

tain and Mrs. John Hill who managed Rabi plantation on behalf of the Melbourne owners.

Mr. Hill was on the staff of CSR for many years. When he retired some years ago he began trading on the Macuata coast. (He did not marry. He is sur vived by Mr. C. D. Hill of Suva and a sister in Australia.

W. H. Brabant

THE death occurred in Suva, on December 18, of Mr. W. H.

Brabant, a well-known former official of the Customs Department and former member of the Legis lative Council. He was 81.

Mr. Brabant entered the Customs Department in 1904 and retired in 1924 when he was Comptroller of

F. S. Whitcombe, in Levuka.

Customs and President of the Fij Marine Board.

He was a keen student of earl; Fijian history.

He is survived by his son, Mr.

J. Brabant, Senior Accountant i: the Treasury, Suva, and by daughter, Mrs. B. L. Cronin, also c Suva.

Mr. W. Young

Mr. William Young, Age

over 70, who had been resident of Papua for over 4 years, died in Samarai at the en of November. He was severely ir jured in November, when he fell 1 feet, from a ladder.

Miss M. N. Christian

Miss Mamie Nora Chris

TiAN, died at her home o Pitcairn Island, on October aged 62.

She was one of a family of 1 but only one brother, Lancy, an two sisters, Lena and Louisa, sm vive her.