Heaths Of Islands People

Mr. Harold Gatty

Ir. Harold Gatty, of Suva, Fiji, 1 suddenly on August 30. (See cial article elsewhere in this le.)

Mr. A. O. Barrack

Ir. Arnold Oscar Barrack, a tner resident of Fiji, died in jkland on August 29, after a ;f illness, at the age of 62. [e was born in Fiji and spent greater part of his life as a Bless operator with the Posts and Bgraphs Department, and for le years with Amalgamated eless (Australasia) Ltd., on mdment from the Government rice. !e retired six years ago and it with his family to live in :kland. [r. Barrack was a Master of the sonic Lodge of Fiji.

Madame Lafleur

he death occurred in Paris mtly of Madame Henry Lafluer, ; ul ex-oeuator Lafleur, New “donian self-made mining jnate. he late Madame Lafleur (nee adine Spahr) was greatly re nted not only in New Caledonia in France. be was particularly devoted to service of New Caledonians lying in France and her home Paris was always open to them.

Mr. Amie Ragg

:r. Amie Ragg, AMICE, ISO, one r iji’s best known citizens, passed y at his home in Suva on Sep ber 5, at the age of 78, follow a stroke. He was a senior mem of the Ragg family—Sir Hugh g is his brother, i’. Amie Ragg was born in Fiji, began life as a marine engineer, served for a time on the old ladi. Then he served ashore, a, time, as a mechanical engineer; , when he was approaching die age, he entered the service he Department of Public Works, ecognising that he might be re led by lack of academic quali tions, he studied and gained the ificate of AMICE at the age of He eventually became Director the Public Works Department, 3 the Colony lengthy and dis uished service, and was awarded Imperial Service Order. The d Director of Works after his rement, was his eldest son, ;h; who now is also retired, e married Miss Florence heway, of Brisbane, 56 years ago, she survives him. p was an elected member of the slative Council for six years, and his life was a sturdy defender he rights of the Fijian people. :r. Amie Ragg took a lifelong,

lively interest in public affairs, and served on many public bodies. His keen mind stirred up occasional controversies, especially in relation to Indian settlement; but everyone —even his strongest opponents— liked and respected him. Mr. and Mrs. Amie Ragg had three children two sons (Hugh and Mosman) and one daughter (Mrs. A Messenger, a resident of Suva).

Mrs. Zillah Sherman

The death occurred on August 15, after a short illness, of Mrs. Zillah Sherman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

Frank Whitcombe, of Suva. Her

parents are members of old Fiji families.

Mrs. Sherman, a former pupil of St. Joseph’s Convent, was a talented singer.

Her husband, Mr. John Sherman, of Burns Philp (SS) Co. Ltd., went to Fiji with the Australian Rugby team in 1953, and decided to stay in the colony.

There was a large attendance at the Sacred Heart Cathedral and at the Suva cemetery. The Suva Rugby Union was represented by officials and many rugby players were pre sent.

Mrs. Sherman is survived by her husband and small son, her parents, and six sisters, one of whom is Sister Colette, of Suva. (Oven

Mr. J. G. Boileau

Mr. John George Boileau, dii September 1 at Brisbane, Queer land, aged 67.

Known as “Jovial Jack” to ; New Guinea and Papuan frien he was a West Australian by bir He went to Papua first about l! and was in charge of mains, te phones, etc., in Port Moresby the whole of his Service with t Murray Administration.

He leaves a widow and a grow up family.

On arrival back in Australia 1942 he took over all the electrii work for Norco Dairy Products Byron Bay, NSW, said to be t largest butter factory in the woi Resigning from there in 1956 a moving to Brisbane he was Electrical Inspector with the C Council until just before his dea

Mrs. L. Spowart

Mrs. Lavenia Spowart, widow the late William Spowart, dl recently at Samabula, Suva, at age of 79. She was born Lagalevu, Kadavu.

For many years she lived Lautoka, where her husband v a sugar boiler with the CSR From Lautoka she moved to Labi when her husband was transferii In 1937, on the retirement of I Spowart from the CSR, the fani moved to Levuka, where I Spowart managed a copra esti for several years.

Mr. and Mrs. Spowart fins settled in Suva, where Mr. Spows died three years ago.

She is survived by four daughk four sons, 19 grandchildren, a 10 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Mary Boyer

Mrs. Mary Boyer, wife of late Alfred Boyer, died in Auckls on August 4, aged 81 years.

Formerly a Miss Leger, the I Mrs. Boyer’s mother was one the earliest settlers on Sum Island, Kermadecs. Prom Sum Island she settled in Samoa, the marrying an American nain Leger, from which union the I Mrs. Boyer was a child. T family later shifted to Tonga, whl Mrs. Boyer married Alfred Bod who was associated with a lead: business firm for many years. TT eventually settled in New Zealae Mr. Boyer dying there soon afi Mrs. Boyer is survived by a las family settled in Fiji and el* where.

Mr. Henry Simmons

Mr, Henry Simmons, who diedt September 1 at the Colonial V Memorial Hospital, Suva, at age of 47, was a prominent menu of the Imperial Rugby Foota Club in the late twenties.

He was born at Buca Bay, i educated at the CSR School, Lab:c and St. Felix College, Suva.

During his lifetime he won for Morris Hedstrom Ltd., the O

mpany, and the Fiji Public Works partment. le is survived by his widow, merly Miss Josephine Sutherland, member of a pioneering family m Seva, Macuata, and two sons 1 six daughters.

Father E. Roe, Sm

•ather E. Roe, SM, priest-in ,rge at Nadi, Fiji, died, August at the age of 63. [e was born in Ireland, and it to Fiji in 1925 where he yed at Suva, Sol(evu, Wairiki, msavu and Lautoka. a 1940 Father Roe returned to and on holiday, and the same r went to England, where he led the Royal Air Force, as a plain, serving six years. •n his return to the Pacific a he was appointed Provincial the Marist Fathers in Oceania, i his headquarters in Sydney, i 1953 he returned to Fiji to a up the appointment which he 1 at Nadi until his death.

Mr. A. B. Snodgrass

Cr. Arthur Buchanan Snodgrass, Drmer manager of the CSR Co. i at Nausori, Fiji, died recently Mosman, Sydney, at the age of reviously he had been manager the mills at Labasa and Ba. fter he left Fiji he held appoint its at the Victoria Mill, Queens i, and the Condong Mill, NSW.

Mr. Snodgrass was popular with all sections of the community wherever he was stationed in Fiji.

He served in the First World War and rose to the rank of major.

Mr. Snodgrass is survived by his widow and three sons and two daughters.

The daughters, Mrs. E. Allpress and Mrs. D. S. Langdale, and one son, Jock, are still in Fiji.

Miss M. Brown

Miss Mary Brown, who had lived in Fiji since she was a young girl, died in Suva on August 13, at the age of 84.

She went to Fiji with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brown. Her father was a carpenter and builder.

Her funeral was attended by many of the older residents of the Colony.

Mr. Richard Mervyn

Glasson

Another New Guinea old-timer died on August 4. He was Mr.

Richard Mervyn Glasson, one of the original Big Six. at Edie Creek. It was he, with Bill Royal, who dis covered the Edie Creek goldfield in February, 1926.

He arrived in NG with the AN & MEF in 1914. After the First War he joined the Expropriation Board and for several years did good work as a schooner master until he left to go prospecting in the Morobe

distnct in 1925, with Bill Royal, Chisholm, Bill Money and Joe Sloane.

He was a fine mate; dependable, and ready at all times to assist a friend. His death, in tragic circum stances, will sadden many Terri torians.

During recent years he has resided on the NSW North Coast at Nam bucca Heads, where he had a banana plantation. He was 72 years of age

and he leaves a widow.-

G.T.