Deaths Of Islands People

Mrs. Isobel Salisbury Field

Mrs. Isobel Field, step-daughter of Robert Louis Stevenson, who was with him in Samoa 60 years ago, died in July in Los Angeles. (See article elsewhere).

Mr. Francis Griffen

Mr. Francis (Frank) Griffen died in Auckland on July 23, aged 77 years. He was for many years on the staff of the Government Storekeeper, Walu Bay, Suva, until retiring due to ill-health some years ago.

He married a daughter of the late Mr. John Jack. He is survived by his wife and five children. Another son. Patrick, was recently lost at sea in the vessel Awahou.

The Rev. Brother Cuthbert

The Rev. Brother Cuthbert of the Marist Brothers Schools, Fiji, died recently aged 36 after a illness of some months. He was in charge at Taveuni at the time of his death, after having previously served at Suva, Naililili and Cawaci.

He was prominent as a sports coach and had remarkable success as a singing teacher. He came to Fiji from New Zealand in 1945.

Miss E. B. Inchboard

Miss Ellen Berth Inchboard died

at Vakabalea, Navua, Fiji, on July 24, aged 87.

She had lived in the district all her life. Her family came to Fiji in 1865, Miss Inchboard’s father purchasing 4,000 acres of land, but

this area was later reduced by the Land Commission to 1,150 acres.

Miss Inchboard was born on the estate, and at her request she has been buried there beside her father.

Mrs. Janie Macnair

The death occurred on July 9, 1953, at the Victoria Infirmary,

Glasgow, Scotland, of Mrs Janie Brown Macnair, wife of Mr. J. S.

Macnair, now of Glasgow and formerly of Fiji Colonial Service.

Mr. and Mrs. Macnair were married at St. Andrew’s Presby terian Church, Suva, in December, 1912, and Mr. Macnair joined the Service in Fiji in 1914. The latter part of his duty was served at Makogai of which both he and Mrs.

Macnair were very fond. Mr. Mac nair retired in 1936, and is at present living at 2 Sannox Gardens, Glasgow, El.

Babulal

Mr, Babulal, better known as “Mahajan,” died in Suva on July 23, aged 96. A resident of Fiji since 1898, he was considered the richest man in Navua in the early 1900’s.

He went to Suva to retire in 1946.

He leaves a wife and several sons well known in Suva, the eldest being Ram Narayan, manager of Century Theatre.

Mr. Henry Lovett Cameron

The death occurred on July 13, at Namanula Hospital, Rabaul, of Henry Lovett Cameron, of Djaul Plantation, New Ireland.

He was 34 years and had recently returned from Sydney where he had been married four weeks before.

Mr. Cameron, who served as a Coastwatcher during World War 11, was buried with military honours.

Fellow AIB and Coastwatchers assisted at the graveside—the New Britain District Commissioner, Mr.

J. K. McCarthy, A/Director of District Services, Mr. A. A. Roberts, Mr. J. McPhee, of Kap Kap Plan tation, and Messrs. J. Gilmore, J.

Read, G. Black, W. Dalby and M.

Foley, of Rabaul. Pall Bearers were Messrs. J. Sedgers, J. Perryman, A.

Richards and D. Edgell.

Mr. J. B. Mckenna

One of Port Moresby’s most popular residents, Mr. Joseph Bernard McKenna, died in Bris bane on July 23, aged 65. He was born in Tasmania; and in 1911, he was selected from a large number of applicants to go to the Philippines for special training in tropical agriculture. When he returned to Australia in 1917, he was sent by Sir Rupert Clark and Mr. Whiting to their Kanosia Rubber Plantation, in Papua, to take charge. He became one of the outstanding rubber planters of the Territory, and a prominent and highly-respected citizen. He was remarkably successful, not only in caring for his plantations, but in handling native labour. Mrs. Mc- Kenna pre-deceased him (in 1940).

His son, Mr. Jack McKenna, lives in Papua. Terry McKenna lost his

life in the RAAF, and is buried in Sweden. Donald McKenna is with a big motor firm in Brisbane.

Daughter Breen, born in Moresby, is now the wife of Dr. K. King, of Townsville.

Mr. F. M. Campbell

BSI residents were saddened to learn of the death of Mr. F. M.

Campbell on July 11, at his planta tion, at Waimamura, San Cristoval, BSI. Although he had been ill for some time, his death was not ex pected.

Mr. Campbell arrived in the Solomons in 1913, and as the first Superintendent of Police, 1913-21, organised and established the Solo mon Islands Armed Constabulary.

The first members of the Force were natives recruited from the island of Tanna, in the New Hebrides.

Later, Mr. Campbell recruited the first local members of the police from Malaita. He told the story of his first arrival at Tulagi, where, late in the afternoon, he was met by the Resident Commissioner (Mr.

C. M. Woodford). After welcoming him, Mr. Woodford said he was particularly glad to see him, as there was a murderer to be hanged at a.m. next day, and the execution would be his first job.

He was afterwards sent to Malaita, where he established the first Police Post. Shortly after his arrival there, he hanged the first native to be executed on Malaita, for the murder of Mr. Otto Keller, a partner of the late Mr. Henry Kuper.

Mr. Campbell was later appointed District Officer at Kira Kira. In 1921 he resigned and established his plantation at Waimamura, where he remained until his death. He leaves two sons, Messrs. P. and J.

Campbell.

Father Bock

Father Bock, a Roman Catholic missionary well known and highly respected in the Bougainville-Solo mons Islands area, where he had served for 45 years, died suddenly in Bougainville on July 28, after a heart seizure. He was born in France, and was 75 years old.

Mr. Ted Nielsen

Mr. Ted Nielsen, a resident of Levuka, Fiji, for over 35 years, died there aged 63 on July 13. Mr.

Nielsen was a sailmaker and rigger.

He had been in good health and died suddenly.

Predeceased by his wife, and by a son who died in the Royal New Zea land Navy during World War 11.

Mr. Nielsen leaves two sons in Levuka and two married daughters, one in USA and the other in NZ.

Mr. R. L. Corney

A Papuan old-timer, in the per son of Robert Lawrence Corney (usually known as “Old Bob”) died in Brisbane at the end of June.