Deaths Of Islands People

Mrs. R. Duncan

An old respected pioneer, born ,t Lami, in Fiji, before its cession 0 Britain, Mrs. Rose Duncan, died a hospital in Suva after a long ill ess in May, aged 89.

She was a twin daughter of Mr. ohn G. Pfluger, cotton planter on tie Upper Rewa who had moved own-river to Lami after the then erce mountain Fijians had attacked nd burnt his home at Nailega. ater, the family went to Ba, where gain Mr. Pfluger had brushes with le mountain warriors and took art in punitive expeditions that )llowed the Ba massacres.

Rose Pfluger grew up at Varoka, a, and married Edward Duncan, a SR Co. sugar-cane inspector. They ved for 30 years at Labasa and at avua, where Mr. Duncan became anager respectively for the CSR 0. and the Vancouver Sugar Co. iter, the Duncans acquired Mua antation, on Taveuni —it was he ho introduced the Malayan dwarf iconut palm into the Colony. They id seven children—four of whom ill are living (Mrs. Leila Caldwell id Miss Lily Duncan, of Suva, and rs. Mollie England and Mr. Alan Lincan, of Australia).

Her twin sister (they were the *st European twins born in Fiji), rs. Lily Wignall, lives in Sydney.

Mr. S. H. Yeoman

While on his way to Europe on ive, Mr. Sydney Harold (“Bunny”) joman, Assistant District Officer Angoram, New Guinea, died ddenly at Fremantle, Western istralia, on May 9. He was 55. His fe, Mrs. Jessie Yeoman, was Yelling with him on the ship. (See bute, this page).

Mr. T. Robinson

rhe man responsible for building my of the numerous bridges in basa district, Fiji, Mr. Thomas hinson, died on May 21, aged 65. 1 built bridges for the Colonial gar Refining Co. Ltd. for over 30 its; then, handing over to his 1, James, retired in 1956 and went live on the small island of agica, off the north coast of nua Levu, which he had acquired tie years ago. le is survived by his wife, Mrs.

Robinson, two daughters (Maria i Mrs. Ada Whippy), and four is (Benjamin, James, Arthur and rvis).

Mr. A. L. Byrne

l resident of New Guinea for 25 ts, Mr. Archie Leech Byrne, istant Collector of Customs in robe district, died in Lae hos il on May 5, aged 49. Pre-war, Byrne was an employee of

whpn ea r'* i T a / s “d. at Lae, but when GA did not return to the drivp^niif 8 — 6 Ja P ane se were driven out he joined the Customs Department. Mrs, Byrne and a young son, Chris, survive him.

Father W. Connors

Many pre-war residents of Papua will recall the colourful person ality of Father W. Connors, who died in Sydney late in April.

A missionary of the Sacred Heart order, he was stationed at Port Moresby in the late 1920’s and then served at Ononge, in the hills near Goilala, and at other sations. He was one of the first RC missionaries to cross the Owen Stanley Ranges, aiong the route that became known as the Kokoda Trail. He was trans ferred later to Palm Island, off the Queensland coast, and then went to Melville Island, off Darwin.

Mr. B. W. Crookshanks

Mr. Baden William Crookshanks, who some years ago was a resident of New Guinea and then the Solomon Islands, died in Brisbane, Queensland, on May 11, at the age of 60. He served with the Royal Flying Corps and with the First AIF. His wife, Alice, two daughters (John and Marcia) and a son (Ronald) survive him.

Mr. W. J. Hart

After a short Illness, Mr. W J Hart, a well-known resident of Papua, died in Port Moresby on May 17, aged 88. A plumber by trade, he had been in the Territory since 1910 and spent much of his life in Eastern Papua, at Woodlark Island and at Samarai.

Rev. Father Edward Meyer

The Reverend Father Edward Meyer, Society of Mary, died in Western Samoa on April 25 after 35 years of service in the Mulivai parish. He was 77.

As Vicar General of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Father Meyer had, m recent years, being charged with the administration of financial affairs. He was in charge of all catechists. Born in Alsace Lorraine, Father Meyer went to W. Samoa im mediately after his ordination.

Dr. W. N. A. Paley

Dr. William N. A. Paley, QBE, in practice in Suva from 1920 until recently, died there at the age of 75 on May 8.

A South African, Dr. Paley came to Fiji in 1913 as a government medical officer, taking up his own practice seven years later. He be came widely known and respected by all races in Fiji. He was awarded the OBE for distinguished medical services several years ago.

Dr. Paley is survived by a daughter Pat, child of his first wife, and by his second wife.