Dr. C. J Austin, of Makogai

Makogai, to Retire

AFTER 22 years of distinguished work as Medical Superintendent of the Fiji Leprosy Hospital on Makogai Island, Dr. C. J. Austin, OBE, is making preparations to re tire.

Dr. Austin, in 1928, joined the Fiji medical service from China, where he had been a medical missionary; and, after a couple of years’ ser vice in the Fijian Districts, he took charge at Makogai. He had the good fortune to be assisted in this difficult job by a wife who took a keen interest in the social life of the isolated little community, who was well instructed in the scientific work, and who was a charming hostess to the various visitors, official and non-official.

Dr. Austin, in due course, became a world authority on leprosy, and attended important conferences in many different countries. He has personally seen a good deal of the revolution which has taken place in the treatment of the terrifying disease, through the use of the new sulphone drugs; and he has himself contributed much to scientific knowledge of the subject.

But probably Dr. and Mrs. Austin will be best remembered because of the kindness with which they

supervised the lives of the 700 or more unfortunate people committed to their care. In some ways, the lepers perhaps had reason to be grateful far the fact that their station was on one of the South Pacific’s loveliest islands; but the way in which the Superintendent and his wife took care of them

probably was a most important factor in their lives.

Mr. Douglas Smith has arrived in Apia, W. Samoa He is the new! director of broadcasting. He was! previously on the staff of the Broad- \ casting Station at Hamilton, New!

Zealand.