Deaths Of Islands People

Dr. B. F. K. Kroening

After several years of ill-health and, lately months of suffering with the added loss of sight, Dr, Bruno Kroening died in the Sohano Hospital, Bougainville, in the early hours of December 14 after a rushed trip from his home at Toboroi plantation, near Kieta. He was buried in the Sohano Island cemetery on the same afternoon.

And so passes one of the Terri tory’s oldest residents, and one who, in his day as a practicising medical man, had brought relief and health to many European and native residents" And to him Kieta, a somewhat isolated port in the old German colony, owed one of the most up-to-date and well equipped hospitals in the Pacific.

But, besides his high medical qualifications, he was an able and energetic administrator as was proved when he acted as District Officer at Kieta during the absence of Capt. Doellinger.

Bruno Frederick Karl Kroening was born in Soest, Westphalia, Germany, in 1879, and was educated at secondary schools in Werl and Hagen in Westphalia, At first he specialised in astronomy and engineering and then decided that medicine would be his career and this he studied at the universities of Bonn, Munich, Strassburg and Heidelberg and, after receiving his degree in surgery and medicine he served his time at a Strassburg hospital. He later studied tropical medicine and diseases in Hamburg.

After qualifying for tropical service he served a term as medical officer for a construction firm in the German Cameroons (Africa) and arrived in German New Guinea in 1909, where he served as Medical Officer and relieving District Officer at Rataaul, Kavieng, Namatanai and Kieta.

It was while he was stationed at Kieta that he married Miss Frances Highley, the daughter of Mrs.

Calder, of the Mortlock Islands, shortly after Miss Highley’s return to New Guinea after years at school in England. The marriage took place on September 4, 1913, at Rabaul.

After the outbreak of War I, the Kroenings returned to Germany, where he served in military hospitals and behind the lines on the western front.

In 1924 he returned to Australia and to New Guinea in 1926, when he retired from medical work and took over the management of Toboroi plantation, where he remained with his wife and family, which con sited of two sons, Bruno and Helmut (now resident in New Guinea) and two daughters,

Irmgard (Mrs. J. Joyes) Beatrix (Mrs. J. Tandy), bott whom are settled in Austral The late Dr. Kroening, who. came a naturalised British suj in 1947, was a man held in regard for his academic knowv and his vast experience ofi Territory.

To his widow and family extend our sympathy.— GT.

Mr. Alexander Maih

Macalpine

Alex Macalpine, a real Guinea “Before”, died quiet!: Queensland in late February, , 82.

He first went to New Guim years ago, serving under Sir Wf' MacGregor. He resigned the ernment service to go sandalv ing, which was then fetchii good price, but re-entered the vice again about 1906. Oven next 20 years, he was station! many areas, and became a dent Magistrate.

A brother, Archie Macalpii NG planter, died in 1927.

Mr. R. J. Keegan

Many Pacific Island resit will learn with regret of the in Sydney, in December, of M J. Keegan, aged 57. He had be ill-health for a considerable Mr. Keegan was born in Em in 1901, and educated at the Military College at Sandhurs was commissioned into the n Army, and he served with thee of lieutenant and captain oic Northwest Frontier and in He entered the British onial Service as a police offioj New Hebrides in 1927, and he £ in the New Hebrides and H Solomons—including some sp ised war service—for the n© years. He retired to live in SE some four years ago. Mr. K married a daughter of Mr.

Bell, a former Customs Collecs the New Hebrides and they hs. son —both survive him.

Mr. F. C. Peterson 1

Mr. Frank Charles Peters member of the well-known Pe3 family, of Naselesele Plamr Taveuni, Fiji, died in thes Memorial Hospital in Suva oni uary 16, and was buried at Taf He became ill early in Januar. was flown to Suva for treatmo Mr. Peterson was aged 50 an a son of Mr. William Peters Taveuni, who died in 1938. Hee a widow (formerly Miss Watkins) and four children-j daughters and a son, Mn

son, of the Fiji Department iblic Works.

Mr. William Money

* death occurred in Lae, New ia. on February 8, of Bill Money, f the last remaining members ie Big Six who first worked Sdie Creek goldfields of the ities. (See articles elsewhere in ssue.)

Mr. Dan Power

Daniel Power, who lived for il years in New Guinea before mmediately after World War ied in Nairobi, East Africa, ast year. He was skilled in ! life, and rendered good ser -3 the AIF during the war. He ew Guinea for Africa in 1948.

Mrs. Ellen Meyers

of the early missionaries of wenth Day Adventist Church i, Mrs. Ellen Meyers, died in y on February 28, aged 93 Meyers went to Fiji from n work in India in 1912, and ied there until the 1920’5, had five children, and one, Harold Meyers, is now with tiurch on Norfolk Island.