Deaths Of Islands People

Mr. Fred Sturt

Mr. Fred Sturt, a well-known resident of Fiji, died in Sydney after a short illness on May 28, aged 75.

He was born in Levuka, Fiji, and was one of the six children of the late William Thomas Sturt, a part ner in the once well-known Suva merchant firm of Sturt, Ogilvie & Co. This firm was absorbed by Morris, Hedstrom Ltd. about the time of the outbreak of World War 11.

William Thomas Sturt was an Englishman who arrived in Fiji in 1869 and began cotton planting at Tailevu. Later, he was a partner in schooners engaged in labour recruiting in the Hebrides and other groups. In 1872, he took over the Levuka Hotel and in 1882 transferred his interests to Suva and purchased the Suva Hotel.

When this was destroyed by fire in 1891 he built the Club Hotel in Victoria Parade.

The hardware, grocery and gen eral merchant business of Sturt, Ogilvie & Co., was established in Suva in 1895.

During the time when the Sturt family was interested in the Club Hotel, Mr. Fred Sturt sustained an accident which resulted in his being a cripple for the rest of his life.

He did not marry. He is survived by his brother, Mr. A. E. Sturt, of Sydney.

Mr. S. V. Mackenzie

Mr. Samuel Vernon Mackenzie died in his 90th year on April 21, after a short illness. He was the oldest European resident in Western Samoa, where he had been a trader and merchant for very many years.

Mr. Charles J. Peterson

An old resident of Samoa, Mr.

Charles J. Peterson, of Apia, died on May 8, in his 72nd year. He traded for many years in Futuna (Wallis Island) before going to Samoa.

Mr. Emmanuel Liais

Mr. Emmanuel Liais, until recently known as “King of Motu Tahiri,” died at Faaa, Tahiti, on February 25 last, following an operation.

Mr. Liais purchased Motu Tahiri, a little island off the Faaa coast, some 30 years ago, from the Vincent family for 40,000 francs. A year a |°> Government, having ideas of building an airstrip on the islet, purchased it for 2,000,000 francs. But Mr. Liais, a hard working man, sur vived only a few months after re ceiving the money. He is survived by a widow and four daughters. • A., causeway has recently been the islet with the mainland and Vacuum Oil, through

the Agency of Et. Donald Tahiti, has commenced construction of oil tanks and landing strip.

Mrs. Amy Christian

A well-known personality of Nor folk Island, Aunt Amy Christian, has died at the age of 93.

She was one of the first children born in Norfolk Island after the arrival of the Pitcairners, in the middle of last century.

Mrs. J. F. Hutchison

The death of Mrs. J. F. Hutchi son, aged 70, occurred on April 26 at her home in Neifau, Tonga. She

was one of the most respected and best-loved members of the Vava’u community. She is survived by hej husband, well-known both in Tongd and in Auckland and by three children—Ela, Mizpah and Jack, al residents of Auckland.

Mr. Archie Lyall

An “old-timer” of the New goldfields, Mr. Archie Lyall, diet suddenly on May 26 in Canberra where he and his wife had beeij residing for some time. Mr. Lyalj was well known and highly regarded on the Edie Creek field, in the tough pioneering days.