Deaths Of Islands People

Mrs. A. T. Davidson

Mrs. A. T. Davidson, 55, died at ■ort Moresby on January 13, just week or two before she was to iave left with her husband for a isit to Australia and Europe. Mr. ,nd Mrs. Davidson were settling heir Territory affairs prior to Mr. )avidson’s retirement from the kirns Philp (New Guinea) Co. Ltd.

Irs. Davidson had suffered from a eart condition for some years, but er death was unexpected.

Mrs. Davidson was born in [olland and was married in Java r here her husband was employed t that time with the Burns Philp iterests. Their twin daughters, tiss Margaret Davidson and Miss lary Davidson, reside in Sydney, nd there is one son, Mr. Colin •avidson, with the Burns Philp Co. i Port Moresby. A short service as held in Port Moresby before the ody of the late Mrs. Davidson as sent to Australia for burial.

Mr. Ralph Hart

Mr. Ralph Hart, long-time jsident of French Oceania, and of ritish stock, died at Papeete on ebruary 14, after a lengthy illness, is father, John Hart, was Ameri m Vice-Consul in Papeete in 1891.

Ralph Hart, who had extensive roperty on Raiatea, is survived by 5 wife, Miriama, and a large num jr of children and grandchildren.

Mr. Timothy Denis Ryan

A definite link with Papua’s past was broken on January 31, when Mr. Timothy Denis Ryan, well known hotelkeeper in Port Moresby in the years between the Wars, died

MiAo’Sli ln . terests in North Queensland and transferred to Port Moresby soon after World War I; and, in the long years during which he owned and managed the two hotels in the Papuan capital, he became known to all travellers in the South Pacific.

He had many personal qualities which endeared him to his friends, and he was a prominent figure in Port Moresby life. About 20 years ago he sold his interests in the hotels, picture theatre, freezer and some plantations, to Messrs. Burns Philp & Co., and bought “Astor Court” flats, in Wharf Street, Bris bane, and he had resided there ever since. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. E. E. Ryan, and two children, Patricia and Tim.

Hon. Tofa Tomasi

The death occurred unexpectedly on February 9 of the Hon. Tofa Tomasi, aged 43. He was an out standing leader of the Western Samoans, a valued adviser of the Government, and a successful busi ness man.

He was the son of a German re sident of Samoa, and was christened Thomas George Nauer, and well educated at the Marist School. As a German national, he was interned in New Zealand during World War 11, and during that time he studied accountancy and commercial law.

In 1946-47 he assumed Samoan status, and established himself as a merchant at Faleasiu; he was elected by the Samoans to the As sembly; and he soon assumed leadership, through his natural ability, his oratory and his sound knowledge of finance. He advocated an independent Samoan currency, and favoured the establishment of

co-operative societies.

All classes, including the High Commissioner and the New Zealand Government, expressed their sorrow at his untimely death.

Sir Cecil Hunter Rodwell

The death occurred in February, in Holbrook, Suffolk, England, at

the age of 78, of Sir Cecil Hunte Rodwell, who was Governor of Fi, and High Commissioner for tli Western Pacific between 1918 an 1925. He held a high administrate post in South Africa for many yeai before being appointed to Fiji.

(See also on Page 117)

Mr. Robert L. Dick

Mr. R. L. Dick, who was for many 'ears in the public service of Papua, lied in Edinburgh, Scotland, on November 18. He went originally to a apua as a plumber. He enlisted n the AIF in 1914, gave dis inguished service, was wounded, md won his commission. When he eturned to Papua, Sir Hubert Murray recognised his outstanding ibility and took him into the ser ice. He was a very efficient officer ,nd was Resident Magistrate in harge at loma, when he retired in he ’Thirties. He invested shrewdly a Sydney, and made money on the Itock Exchange, before he was truck by diabetes; and after that e returned to his people in Scot md.

Mr. Joseph Bray

A famous “old-timer”, Mr. Joe iray, died in the Kairuku (Yule sland) district of Papua in Jan ary. He came originally from [oonta, South Australia, and he rrived in Papua about 1912. He as a handy man, and engaged in arious pursuits, from collecting langrove bark to sawmilling, and )pper-mining at Bootless Inlet, [any will remember him as a good srseman. In 1934, when Lieut.overnor and Lady Murray were >ectators, he won the Moresby Cup id Samarai Handicap on Mr. Fred odson’s Lady Eclipse; while he >de his own Black Bess to victory . the Papua Stakes.

Mrs. George

Mrs. George, the oldest European Oman on Rarotonga, and a sident there longer than any other iropean, died on January 22.

Topou Is Ala

Topou Isaia, aged 79, died at mrhyn on January 31. He was e principal promoter of the re nt LMS centenary celebrations, id was noted for his remarkable emory. During the celebrations ! named for the Resident Com issioner every missionary resident l Penrhyn from 1852 to the pre nt day. His passing was widely ourned in the Northern Cooks.

Mr. Tuaine Nicholas

Mr. Tuaine Nicholas, a very well town and respected resident of irotonga, died there after a period illness on February 3. He was ried at Ngatangia. He was, until :ently, an employee of the Cook lands Trading Co.

Mrs. Duncan Campbell

One of the oldest residents of marai, Papua, Mrs. Duncan mpbell, died on February 3, aged She went to the Territory 38 ars ago, and divided her time :ween Kuiaro (where her husband

iducted a shipbuilding business)

and Samara!, with her four daughters. She was a trained nurse, and often relieved at the Samara! Hospital when it was short-staffed. At the time of her death she was living with her daughter and son-in-law (Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Burrow) at Sariba Island, near Samarai. She is sur vived by her husband and four daughters—Nancye (Port Moresby), Grace (Mrs. F. L. Burrow), Kath (Mrs. P. Walke, of Samarai) and Alice (Mrs. A. H. Simpson, of Syd ney) .

Mr. Ralph Albrecht, who has rep resented Mackay Kerry Pty., Ltd. in Papua, New Guinea, and the Solomons, will shortly settle down in Lae, New Guinea, as manager of the firm’s new branch there. Mr.

Keith C. Watkins, who was with Burns Philp & Co. at Salamaua, NG, pre-war, has joined the staff of Mackay Kerry in their new Syd ney office as commercial manager and accountant.