Deaths Of Islands People

Mr. W. Spowart

Mr. William Spowart, one of the few surviving pre-Cession residents of Fiji, died suddenly in Suva on January 31. He was 83.

Mr. Spowart was born in Levuka, where his father, Mr. Robert Spowart, had settled in the early sixties. As a sugar boiler he served first with the old Penang Sugar Estate and later for many years with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company at Lautoka and Labasa.

He is survived by his wife and a grown-up family.

Mr. S. A. Bull

Mr. Sydney Arthur Bull, for many years a resident of Fiji, died at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, on January 27, after some months of ill-health. He was 70.

Born in New Zealand, he went to Fiji as a young man and joined the staff of the Vancouver Fiji Sugar Company under the manage ment of the late Mr. Edward Duncan. He saw service in World War I and later took over the man agement of Mr. Duncan’s planta tion at Mua, Taveuni, He was re sponsible for the development of the Malayan Dwarf coconut in Fiji.

In 1948 he returned to Suva and

was appointed a Government Copra Grader.

Mr. Bull is survived by a step son. Mr. J. G. Blaxland, now liv ing in Queensland and employed as a chemist with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company there.

Mr. J. O. Christmas

Mr. John Owen Christmas, a re sident of Fiji for over 40 years, died recently in Glamorganshire, South Wales. Accompanied by his wife he had visited the United Kingdom for optical treatment. A successful operation had been performed but Mr. Christmas later died of a heart ailment.

Mr. Christmas went to Fiji before the First World War to work for Morris Hedstrom Ltd. He served at a number of branches in the Colony and after he retired he was employed by Northern Hotels as manager of several of their hotels.

Mrs. Christmas will return shortly from the United Kingdom to Fiji.

Mrs. W. G. Ferris

The death occurred in the Wahroonga Sanitarium, Sydney, on January 26, of Mrs. W. G. Ferris.

Mrs. Ferris was well-known in Fiji and Tonga, where for 24 years she worked in the Mission fields with her husband.

Mr. Turoua Harris

The death occurred recently Surrey, England, of Mr. Tuj Harris, son of the late Rev\ Harris, pioneer missionary at W gaia, Cook Islands.

Mr. Harris was born on Man when that island was primitive; isolated. The renowned Tui clan of local chiefs adopted missionary’s son from birth, gave him the family name.

Harris was taken to the UK w still a child. A brother, Ge< died on Mangaia and is buries the LMS garden there.

Turoua became an officer of) Bank of England, which posi held until retirement in 1951.

Mr. Charles Procter

News has been received Ramos, Rio de Janeiro, of the d at an advanced age of Mr. Chi Flinders Procter, a veteran trad!

Mangaia, Cook Is.

Mr. Procter’s history is a sui story of old Polynesia. Comic Mangaia (Cook Islands) as a pe less lad, the Yorkshireman e:i lished himself in business in a s store, which later became a minent enterprise. He tradeo 30 years until 1931, then retire Brazil with his wife and family to 1940, communication was freqt but from then on, no news i heard.

He was in his 90’s. He LJ a wife and three children.

Mr. Tehuitua A Huiotu

An old and well-respected resident f Tahiti, M. Tehuitua a Huiotu, died liere in February, aged 81 He was orn at Teahupoo. Tahiti, and tarried Miss P. Lehartel, by whom e was predeceased.

Mr. Ignacio Freiboth

Mr. Ignacio Freiboth, of Dutch rth, and a resident of Tahiti for I years, was knocked down and lied by a truck in Papeete on jbruary 12. He was aged 45. Mr. reibotli had been engaged in the :port-import trade, mainly with olland, and had recently operated, ider the name of R. Tuaiva, a isiness which is now left to his .fe and father to manage. Mr. eiboth is survived by his parents, fe and three young children, and brother, all residents in Tahiti.

Major Tifford Melville

Southey

Major Tifford Melville Southey, well-known and respected former iident of Fiji, died suddenly at i residence of his sister, Mrs. mche Wilson, of Mosman. NSW, February 12.

Jajor Southey left Fiji in 1940. saw active service in the Boer ir with a NSW contingent and er, he joined the CSR Co. staff Fiji. He was in Fiji for nearly years in the main sugar areas— ept for a period in World War when he was with the Imperial ■ces. Before rejoining the CSR he was associated briefly with Fiji gold-mining company, lajor Southey was one of the best members of the Pacific mds Society, Sydney, and a con it and active worker in its in ;sts. His passing was mourned a wide circle of friends.

Mr. J. M. P. Fretton

lr. John Melei Peseta Fretton, surveyor, of the Lands and Sur- Dept. of the Samoan Govern it, died while on duty in Sataua, aii, on February 11. He was a -respected and efficient official i had served the Government for ’ 40 years. He was the father family of 19.

Pastor Pouesi

prominent Samoan missionary, ssi, died on February 12 at Apia, I 75. A former member of the oan clergy of the London nonary Society, he seceded from Society some years ago and led his own congregational ch, with adherents in Apia and ide districts.

Mrs. W. Hazzard

- s - W. Hazzard, formerly Miss Steinmetz, of Munia Island, died in Australia recently. She irvived by three sons and a hter.

Mr. A. J. Eastway

Mr. A. J. Eastway, a member of the staff of the Bank of NSW in Lautoka in 1940-44. and who married Miss Betty Judd (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Judd, formerly of Fiji and now of Sydney) died in Australia in January.

Mrs. Siua Mo A

On December 15, in Neiafu, Vava’u, there occurred the death of Mrs.

Siua Moa, wife of Siua “Jo” Moa, who is in charge of the local wire less station. The popular young matron is mourned not only by her husband and four young children, but by many friends throughout Tonga.

Mr. George Bird

Mr. George Bird, veteran elec trician, of American Samoa, was. electrocuted in Pago Pago recently.

He had been over 25 years with the Public Works Department there. He is survived by his wife and nine children.

Mr. C. A. Anunsen

Mr. Curtis Adolph Anunsen died recently in Apia at the age of 61. He was born in North Dakota and en listed in the US Navy, and took his discharge in Pago Pago about 40 years ago. He later became a planter on Savahi for some 20 years, before settling in Upolu. He is survived by his widow and three daughters.