Deaths Of Islands People

Mrs. Sarah Giblin

The death occurred in Suva, Fiji, on September 14, of Mrs. Sarah Giblin, one of the oldest residents of the Colony. She was born Sarah May, at Naqaralevu, Natewa Bay, 80 years ago.

She married first, a Mr. Wilder, and of this marriage there were two sons, Mr. Martin Wilder, of Suva, and the late Mr. William Wilder.

After she was widowed, she named Mr. John Beaumont Giblin, vho also predeceased her. Mr. Giblin was associated in the early days vith Captain Robbie when the latter was engaged in tea planting on Waimanu Estate, Vanua Levu, Both Mr. and Mrs. Giblin lived ;or many years in Levuka, but since lis death she has been living first with her son, and at the time of oer death, with her grand-daughter, Mrs. F. Golding, of Samabula.

Mrs. Tilly M. Williams

The death occurred in Suva, Fiji, >n September 12, of Mrs. Tilly Maude Williams. She was 88, and he widow of one of Fiji’s most widely known seafarers. Captain ?rank Williams. He was a partner, vith his brother-in-law, Captain larry Gosling, in the firm of Williams and Gosling.

The Williams family is well known n Fiji and widely connected. Mrs.

Williams was a Miss Gray, Mr. [’homas Gray, of the Union Steam hip Company, Suva, is a brother; md sisters who lived in Fiji were Mrs. A. Nicols, Mrs. H. Gardner ind Mrs. Edward Harness.

Mrs. Williams had 10 children, of vhom eight survive her; 24 grand hildren and 39 great grand-children, ler surviving children are Messrs.

Mec, George, Harry (Auckland) and fames Williams (Fiji) and ler daughters are Miss Margaret Williams (Suva), Mrs. P. Maybin Lautoka), Mrs. Arthur Lewis (Auck and) and Mrs. R. C. Christofferson Sydney).

Mr. W. A. Maidment

Mr. Walter A. Maidment, who lied at Daru in the Western District of Papua in mid-September, vas a highly respected and widely mown storekeeper, trader and boat nnlder/repairer who had lived in Daru Township since about 1903.

See article on page 27.

Mr. D. Young-Whitford

Mr. Dudley Young-Whitford, a veil-known Assistant District Dfficer with the P-NG Administra tor, died suddenly in Port Moresby n September in tragic circum stances. . Mr. Young-Whitford took ill in jae, only a few weeks after re -urnmg from a visit to Australia.

He was put aboard a Skymaster to be flown back to Australia for emergency medical attention, but his condition became so poor that he was taken off at Port Moresby —and died there..

Mr. Young-Whitford, who was 34, left a wife and six young children.

As soon as news of his death reached Lae, residents organised an appeal for the family, and within two hours £l5O had been collected at the Lae RSL Club. The appeal will be continued until the end of October.

Mr. J. P. K. Van Eechoud

The death occurred in Nether lands NG, on September 7, of Mr. J.

P. K. van Eechoud, who first went to NG in 1938. He was a noted explorer. For a full report of his career see page 49, and see also photo on opposite page.

Mr. Jim Gallin

The death occurred in New Guinea in September of Mr. Jim Gallin, a Lands Department officer with long experience in NG gold mining. He first went to the Territory in 1928.

In the last few years he had been advising native miners in the methods of winning more gold, especially in the Kainantu area, and recent increases in native gold production have been attributed to him.

Director of Lands, Mr. D. E.

Macinnis, said of him: “He had the brilliant knack of winning the native’s confidence and making him see the benefit of working small mines. He was extremely patient with them, and would spend hours talking to them about what they could do if they tried. Then they went and did it.

“His death is a big loss to the Territory.”