Deaths Of Islands People

Mr. N. W. Towson

Hr. N. W. Towson, who was born Levuka, Fiji, in 1873, died at libalabala estate on April 13. i son of Mr. G. R. B. Towson, Somerset, England, who had veiled to Fiji in 1867 and settled Navua to grow cotton, Mr. Nat !?son was educated at Levuka. worked for a time at Labasa and n took over the Waibalabala ite at Savusavu.

Ir. Towson is survived by a er, Mrs. E. R. Hawksley, of Suva, » sons Nat of Sydney and >rge of Nasinu —and a daughter, sell (Mrs. R. McGowan, of li balab a 1 a ) . Mrs. Towson, nerly Miss Emily Harman of nsavu, died in 1943.

Dr. D. W. Hoodless

•r. D. W. Hoodless, widely known i former principal of the Central lical School, Suva, died at abridge, England, on April 15. had gone to England to visit father, and was in good health m he left Fiji. r. Hoodless arrived in the my as a teacher in 1912. He was ointed headmaster of the Lau vincial School in 1915, and in t became Acting Director of cation. i 1930 he was appointed Tutor ;he Medical School and in 1935 irned to England to take his *ee as a medical practitioner, k in Fiji, he was principal of Central Medical School until retirement a few years ago. fter his retirement he worked

relief doctor in the Gilbert and e Islands and elsewhere.

Hoodless was a strong orter of the Fiji Philatelic ?ty. He played bowls frequently was one of the popular type of srs who seek pleasure and lanionship on the green rather trophies.

His ready wit and kindly nature brought him many friends, in cluding the host of Fijian and other medical students whom he taught for so many years.

Mr. G. C. Barratt

Mi\ George Chapman Barratt, who died suddenly at Levuka on April 11, was an acknowledged

leader of the part-European com munity in Fiji and was regarded with the highest respect by people of all races. His funeral at Suva was one of the largest for many years.

His father, an Englishman, was part-owner with Captain D. Robbie of a tea plantation at Wainunu, in Vanua Levu, and his mother was before her marriage Miss Ruth Watkins, a member of one of the oldest Levuka families.

Young George Barratt for many years combined shipping and plantation interests. After managing several plantations, he acquired Naqere at Savusavu East and from time to time owned a series of small trading vessels.

In 1933 he moved to Suva and opened a shipping office in Pier Street. Characteristically, he des

cribed his business as “crumbs from the rich men’s tables.’’

There was an odd superstition that for some reason or other, George Barratt was not intended to own more than two ships: whenever he acquired a third vessel disaster overtook one of the trio. However that may be, when Mr. Barratt went into partnership with Mr.

Baker, who built the Fijian Princess (still trading today >. he took the precaution of selling the Ono-i-Lau before the Fijian Princess entered the water.

At the time of his death at the age of 66 he owned the Fijian Princess and the recently-acquired Kadavulevu.

He is suvived by his wife, a son (Mr. George Barratt, of Diloi, Vanua Levu), and four daughters (Mesdames J. Bowerman, D. Low.

F. Barrack and E Marlow). There are 17 grandchildren.

Mr. Gustav Mara Hennings

A report of the death of Mr.

Gustav Mara Hennings appears on page 129, this issue.

Mrs. H. E. Waddingham

Mrs. Henrietta E. Waddingham, widow of the late Mr. Frank Waddingham. died at Lautoka, Fiji, on April 5 after a long illness. For many years she was one of Nadi’s

Mr. G. C. Barratt.

Dr. D. W. Hoodless.

most respected residents. She 74 years of age.

Born at Levuka, Mrs. Waddf ham was formerly Miss Pii.

She was married at Ba close to< end of the last century. At N Mr. Waddingham was one of last large-scale European plan in the sugarcane industry.

Mr. A. W. Broodbank

The death of Mr. Arthur Edw Broodbank, formerly of Sams occurred at Brisbane on April Mr. Broodbank went to Sami from North Queensland as a buil Subsequently, however, he becii first a butcher and then a bake He is survived by his wife; member of the well-known Eve family of Eastern Papua), two s and two daughters, all i children being married. Anol son, Ron, was lost on air operat:; over Germany in the war.

Many former Samarai pen living at Brisbane attended funeral.

Mr. John Barber

At the age of 80 years, Mr. Jl Barber, a former Fiji resident, c at Whangarei, New Zealand, April 16.

Mr. Barber arrived in Fiji. 1899 and took up farming in Rewa district, also engaging in shipping of bananas. He left last year.

Mr. Barber was a keen suppo< of the old Rewa Football Club was also a prominent member of Rewa Bowling Club. Only a months before his death he a money to be used at the Suva Rewa Bowling Clubs to celebi his 80th birthday.

He is survived by Mrs. Bar and their son Robert, who dispo of his farm at Tailevu to accompc his parents to New Zealand,

Mr. A. S. De Montalk

News was received at Suva April 17 of the death of Mr..

S. de Montalk, headmaster of Suva Boys’ Grammar School ff 1933 to 1937.

Mr. de Montalk was a sucess headmaster and under his guidaf the school made good progress, a popular headmaster he remembered by many of his pupils in Fiji and overseas.

He died while on his way to tl part in the Gallipoli land commemoration. He was signaller, and one of the firstd land on the beach at Anzac C»; He was in his 65th year.

Mr. H. Stuchbury

A former Fiji veterinary surge Mr. H. Stuchbury, was recen hacked to death by natives Dar-es-Salaan.

at service in Fiji, and was trans •ed to Nyasaland some ten years He retired and went to •-es-Salaam recently. No further ticulars are available except that was said to have been killed by jai tribesmen. [r. Stuchbury was highly thought by stock owners, not only for skill, but also for his readiness ittend any call.

Mr. Mautairi Pe

tie death occurred from advanced recently at Mangaia, Cl, of Mr. itairi Pe, a pioneer Pomare lallist and pensioned former her. autairi was one of the long ice men of the Education Dept., mencing over thirty years ago , prize scholar. He received his rd of the then newly-instituted lare Medal from that renowned ri statesman’s own hands, le late Mautairi possessed, ng other accomplishments, marked artistic powers, and for a time worked in soft con ; on designs and inscriptions for uments, in the European ition of moulded doves, etc. sketches, the best of which were ; during a prolonged stay at the itonga Sanatorium where it been hoped to cure his con m, reveal a latent talent that greater encouragement, might taken the artist very far.

Mr. Nadjarian Zorab

’. Nadjarian Zorab, a Papeete naker, died there from a heart ;k on Anril 1. rn in Turkey, but a French ;n with 15 years of military ser in Indo-China, France and ti, Mr. Zorab was only 40 years >e. He is survived by his wife, tive of Lebanon, and one son.

Mr. Jack Douglas

. Jack Douglas, one of the com :ively few surviving members of New Zealand Expeditionary i of 1914, died at Apia Gov ent Hospital on April 16. m at Manchester, England, in Mr. Douglas served in the 1 Navy and after leaving the ce went to New Zealand, where ngaged in farming.

August, 1914, he volunteered he Samoan Occupation Force, after demobilisation stayed in •a. • many years he was a Burns trader in Savai’i.

Fr. J. Chesneau And Rev.

Fr. J. Oger

i death occurred recently of veteran Catholic missionaries *ench Oceania.

April 20, Father Joseph leau died after 51 years of ser having arrived from France in and remained in the Colony t for a brief return home on m business in 1920. Father leau founded the Catholic )n at Huahine in 1907, trans g shortly afterwards to Raia

tea, where he was stationed until 1940. He was then sent to Papeete to form a Minor Seminary for the training of native priests, became editor of a Catholic journal, and Provincial of the French Oceania Province of his mission, the Con gregation of the Holy Cross, retir ing in 1952, due to ill-health. Last August he celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination.

The other veteran priest was Father Julien Oger, born in France in 1881, and attached to the French Oceania Province for 46 years. Dur ing that time he had been in charge of many parishes, including the Tuamotus and Mangareva. He re turned home once on vacation. He celebrated his golden jubilee only a month before his death in April.