[?]Eatik Of Islands People

C. A. Swinbourne, Qbe

undreds of former residents South Pacific Islands, who Australia lost one of their ;nds on September 4, when i. A. Swinbourne, OBE, Pre of the Pacific Islands died in hospital, at the age [e had been in failing health ; time. 15 years since Major rne retired from the service High Commission for the Pacific; and, for at least rs, he gave devoted service Association. Every month, bis kindly and courteous nship, Australian residents 1 spent much of their lives Islands, met in Sydney, to Iresses, engage in discussions, oy hospitality; and most of cessary organisation was ly directed by “the Major.” f overseas visitors thus have tertained. His passing will gap in the happy little tion which will be hard to Swinbourne was born in educated at Fort Street and he joined the British Service in 1909. He was Fiji Public Service until (far I; was an early volunteer service; led the European ;nt from Fiji to England; irith distinction in Gallipoli where; and, although he re ,o his cilivian job in Fiji at ■’s end, he never lost his in military affairs, ost notable work was done 1920 and 1938, when he red from Fiji to the WPHC in the Gilbert and Ellice -he filled a wide variety of . that Administration. In ? went as Administrate to Fanning Island; retired and did various war-time ing World War 11.

Swinbourne is survived by ; (who assisted him very i his social work for the PI and by 5 sons and 2 rs. Two of his sons are men Lt.-Colonel Alan rne and Major Edward rne.

I. W. A. Macdonald

ieath occurred in Moorea, Oceania, on August 12, of illiam Alister Macdonald, His death followed a fall i he fractured his hip. > day, Mr. Macdonald was is water-colourist and book or —some of his best-known hng water-colour drawings London scene, executed be . 890-1910, now hanging in Idhall there. mt first to Tahiti in 1921, all spent three long periods he last of about three years.

An article about Mr. Macdonald and his painting appeared in the April, 1954, PIM.

He continued painting until shortly before his death and had no difficulty in finding a market for his work.

Mr. Ernest Reid

One of Papua-New Guinea’s best known air pilots, Mr. Ernest Reid, owner of Goilala Airways, died at Taipini, August 21. He was only 36.

Mr. Reid went to Papua after the war with Charters Air Service and after returning to Australia arrived back in the Territory to establish a plantation at Taipini. He later started several trade stores and re cruited native labour in the area, flying them to and from Port Moresby and other centres in his own Anson aircraft.

He is survived by a widow and 4 months old daughter.

Mr. George L. Wignall

Mr. George L. Wignall, formerly of Fiji, died suddenly of a heart at tack at his Chatswood (Sydney) home recently. He was 57.

Mr. Wignall was born at Ba and was attached to the CSR Co. at Ba and Lautoka until 1953, when ill health caused him to move to Syd ney.

He is survived by a daughter, Marjorie, and sons John and Ben, all of whom were born in Fiji, and by his second wife.

His first wife, Ruth, who was also born in Fiji, died 11 years ago.

M. Jules Chevrier

A well known old resident of Tahiti, M. Jules Chevrier, died

there at the age of 80 on July 21 M. Chevrier arrived in Papeete as a serviceman aboard the French frigate Auhe from New Caledonia in June, 1899. For many years he was an attendant at the Colonial Hos pital, Papeete, and as such was a well known public figure. In recent

years he had been living in i ment in the country.

Capt. Alexander Merm

Captain Alexander Mervin, j the three well known Mervin bn of Papeete, died there on A 24 from a heart ailment, ag* The Mervin family has for been associated with French Q(< shipping and island ti Alexander, better known as “ 9 will be remembered by a great: American ex-servicemen when were stationed at Borabora « the war, as the master of MVi the liberty-boat which transje groups of servicemen dow Papeete each week.

Captain Mervin is survived wife and an adopted daughten Georges Lehartel.

Mrs. Mary Lum Houng I

The death occurred in Suvs on August 27 of Mrs. Mars Houng Lee in her 101st year; was born in China in April, ; Mrs. Houng Lee and her hu were the first Chinese to go I —they travelled from Hongkt: Levuka by way of Singapon Sydney.

Mrs. Houng Lee had nine cli and her grandchildren and grandchildren numbered. 100.

On the occasion of her 99th day, Mrs. Houng Lee was the of honour at a large family and until into her 100th£ enjoyed good health.

Mr. Charles Widdy

Residents of the Solomon I were sorry to hear of the de Mr. Charles Widdy in Sydn June 22. He went to the So Islands in 1922 as a plan overseer for Levers Pacific E tions and became General Ml and a Director of that Compc 1936.

It was on Mr. Widdy’s ord 1942, that the MV Kurimaro made ready and used fa evacuation of civilians fron Solomons, while he stayed at 0 and left later by the SS Moi On arrival in Sydney he the RAAF and was later ati to the US Marine Division t landing at Red Beach, Ter Guadalcanal, on the morn;/ August 7, 1942.

In the same year the S«< Island Labour Corps was ft with Squadron-Leader Wid charge. He was decorated USA with the US Legio Medal.

Mr. Widdy was at one t member of the Solomon Islar visory Council and an o member of the Balasuna Syr which owns the Gold Ridge I

Pt. C. H. Luxmoore

leath occurred in Brisbane, and, in late August, of Cap aryndon Henry Luxmoore, )\vn to an older generation rerritorians. in Luxmoore, writes an old yas one of that band of old mters employed by the Ex ion Boards in NG in the teach the returned Diggers i War I to run the German ms. s a veteran of World War I il failing health in the last irs prevented it, he was , conspicuous figure at Bris zac Day parades, s believed to be about 80 at of his death. His daughter the wife of Mr. J. C. Archer, ninistrator of the Northern 7.