Mr. Jim Peterson Leaves L[?]

ONE of the best known residents of Lae, New Guir Mr. James Peterson, left th permanently in December.

He was Lae manager of Bu Philp (New Guinea) Ltd. A 1 leave he will take over the m agement of Hall’s (Macksville) Ltd., a general store recei acquired by Burns Philp and at Macksville, on the North C( of NSW.

Mr. Peterson joined the BP (!

Company and has been with the Firm in the Ellice Group as wel in Fiji, where he spent 15 years where he and Mrs. Peterson v well known; his last post there at Sigatoka.

In August, 1941, he was tn ferred to Rabaul and had settled in when the Japs invade He joined the NGVR and on fatal morning of January 23, 1 with the rest of his mortar det£ ment, made a stand against the vading Japs near Vulcan. It soon over, and Peterson, like b dreds of others, took to the ] Britain bush. He was at Tol plai tion but left 15 minutes before Japs landed; the Japanese massi of prisoners at Tol has now bee history.

Peterson lived in the jungle months and finally was one of t] picked up from Jacquinot Bay taken to Papua by the Lakatcn He later joined ANGAU with rank of Captain. After the Burns Philp sent him to Lae manager. He has been a membe the Lae Town and Morobe Disi Advisory Councils, and an enth astic worker for ex-servicemen, residents said farewell to him 1 genuine regret.

Mrs. Peterson, also well know: NG, has been living in Sydney s last year.

To view progress being made Tonga’s small local defence f( and to assess further requirerm a party of senior New Zealand Australian military officers vii the Kingdom in December. S months ago a large amount miliary equipment was air-lifte Tonga in Bristol freighters. ( tain A. M. J. Millar, of New : land, is in charge of the Tor force.