Eaths Of Islands People

F. D. Palmer

ierick David Palmer, one ’s oldest and best known died at his home on 1, aged 84. He was born ci, Levuka. om some time in Rotuma, r spent most of his wTork n the employ of Morris Ltd., at Levuka. When tiool he learned the boat :ade from his father, Mr. mer. 2 years many visitors to re guests of Mr. and Mrs. their home at Oniviro. rvived by his widow, two i, of Suva, and Fred., of and two daughters, and Marion, both of

Annie Stevenson

nie Stevenson who died i, on October 6, lived in 1871, except for a period ia and New Zealand. ; only a few weeks old xrivedin the Colony with : and mother, Mr. and Rennie, two sisters and she married Mr. T. M. and then lived in Aus

tralia and New Zealand for some years.

They returned to Fiji in 1908, shortly before Mr. Stevenson died.

Mrs. Stevenson lived in Suva until a few months ago, when she entered Lautoka Hospital.

She was always an enthusiastic worker for the Red Cross, par ticularly during the two World Wars.

Mrs. Stevenson is survived by her two sons, Colonel T. I. Stevenson, now living in Kent, England, and Mr. J. R. Stevenson, of Lautoka.

There are four grandchildren.

Dr. W. Worger

Dr. W. Worger, whose death occurred at Levuka on September 22, had unbroken service in the Fiji Medical Service since 1929, and in length of service was the senior medical man in Fiji. He was 67.

He served in World War I with the Somerset Light Infantry in Mesopotamia and at Gallipoli, at taining the rank of Captain.

After the war he finished his studies at Bristol University and was for two years house-surgeon at Bristol Infirmary, where he obtained much surgical experience. His medical friends said of him that for a big man he was remarkably

quick in his work, and was regarded as a very fine surgeon.

At one period he was District Commissioner and Magistrate at Levuka in addition to carrying out his duties as DMO. He was quiet, but liked company, and had a deep sense of solid humour.

He was a Past-Master of the Polynesian Masonic Lodge, and a keen stamp collector. His wife, Mrs Biddy Worger, is well known as a successful novelist and the author of many short stories.

Mrs Ann Elizabeth Moran

The death occurred in August of Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Moran, mother of Mr. Leonard Moran, of the Sydney Polynesian Society. She was in her 88th year, and was the eldest of the 13 children of David Peterson, of Gothenburg, Sweden, and his wife Mary, who was a Ryan of Tipperary. Both of Mrs.

Moran’s parents went to Australia well over a century ago.

Mrs. Moran had no knowledge of Polynesia, nor of its languages, but her kind heart surmounted these obstacles and her house was home to Polynesian people for more than 30 years. The Polynesian As sociation of Sydney was founded there in her presence and with her approval. Many Islands and Maori people will regret the passing of their “Mama ruau,” as the Tahiti ans always called her. (Over)

Tain H. Dryden

Huntley Dryden, for some ter of the old Tofua in ind-Islands trade, died at recently in his 73rd year. born in England, and New Zealand in 1904, join ion Steamship Co. shortly t years he has acted as surveyor in Auckland for al Sugar Refining Co.

H. R. Greening

-known personality in id Suva, and a popular if the Staff of Morris Ltd., Mr. H. R. Greening, dney on October 21. ming joined the firm in in 1914 was appointed at Levuka and also a f the company, holding irship for many years, ned to the Suva office in ng in 1940. After retire mtinued to reside in Suva 1 years, but eventually dney to live. ining was a keen playing the Suva Bowling Club, evuka took part in all id social activities, born in November, 1882, id Miss Goddard, of Syd -7 had two children, Mr. ig, of Sydney, and Mrs. 7, of Levuka.

E. M. Bucknell

th occurred at Dudley, September 4, of Mrs. E. ell, on old resident of was 83. iknell was born in South but went to Fiji at the She lived there for 55 irning to live in Aus it eight years ago.

Mr. George Harness

Mr. George Harness, a pioneer settler in the Tailevu district of Fiji, died on October 27, aged 62. He took up land in the area after he returned from active service in the first World War.

When it was announced that a contingent would be sent from Fiji he was one of the first to enlist, and when the troopship sailed he was the youngest man in the force.

This force was ultimately attached to the King’s Royal Rifles, and Mr.

Harness retained his interest in this regiment throughout his life. Re cently he presented to the Defence Club in Suva two caricatures, one concerning the KRR, and the other one Hudson’s horse He is survived by his two brothers, Suva Harbour-master Captain E.

Harness and Mr. M. Harness, of Tailevu. Also by three sisters, Mrs.

Agnew, of Auckland, Mrs. J. Speedy, now living in Australia, and Mrs. R.

Speight of Tailevu.

Dr. Eric Osbaldiston

Pockley

The death occurred in Sydney on November 11, of Dr. Eric Osbaldiston Pockley. He was 80 and had been in ill-health for some time.

By profession Dr. Pockley was an opthalmic surgeon with offices in Macquarie Street; but he was, as well, something of an explorer and, in his younger years, much in terested in sport.

He was well-known in New Guinea and was for 26 years a partner of Mr. A. L. Bayliss in Dogowan and Bagabag Plantations in the Madang district. At one time he accompanied Government an thropologist Chinnery up the Fly River and over the Kokoda trail— before it was known as that. He

wa& the first European to climb Mt.

Obree, finishing the last three days with only a dog for company, the carriers having refused to go further. He was an uncle of Dr Brian Antill Pockley, the first Aus trahan killed in New Guinea when the Australians landed in the then German territory in 1914.

But perhaps Dr. Eric Pockley was best known in New Guinea for the Montoro incident of the late 20’s.

The doctor had gone ashore at Maty Island expecting the ship to sail at 2 p.m. It sailed at noon— and Dr. Pockley became the in voluntary guest of Mr. Fred Archer (now of Jame Plantation, in Bougainville) for five months. The incident caused a stir at the time.

Dr. Pockley was a graduate of Sydney University and later studied at Oxford and Vienna; he travelled on motor-cycle on the Continent with the late Anthony Wilding (one of Australasia’s first Davis Cup champions) who was killed in the First World War) and was im prisoned with him in Bulgaria as a “suspicious character.”

In the pre-World War I period he won several tennis titles in Europe, with Wilding and others. Later he won State championships in NSW and Queensland. At one time he went big-game shooting in East Africa.

Dr. Pockley served in the First World War, and as a plane spotter during the Second World War. tMr. H. A. Henlen, arrived in Suva, Fiji, in October to take over the management of the Bank of New South Wales. He succeeds Mr. F. C.

Thomas, who goes to Head Office, Sydney, as Assistant Manager. Mr.

Henlen, who was accompanied by Mrs. Henlen, was a Sub-Inspector in the Bank in Western Australia.

New

Copra

Drier

Photo taken recently in Western Samoa to demonstrate W. R. Car penter & Co.'s "Perfect 50" copra drier (back ground). The drier is designed for small plantations doing only about 50 tons of copra annually.

Photo: Edwards Studio.