With The Old Days

Graham Kerr's Death Breaks A Link With The Old Days

For many years, up until a few :eks ago, the tall figure of Mr. aham L. S. Kerr, snowy-haired and ddy of complexion, had been a niliar one amongst the regular immers at Anse Vata beach, )umea. But his death in Noumea ispital at 87 on August 16 removed t only a well-known local resi nt but also one of the last human ks with the pre-Condominium ;w Hebrides.

FE was born in Whangarei, New L Zealand, of Scots parents— James Walter Kerr and his wife >ra. Flora Kerr’s maiden name s McLeod, and she was a sister the famous Captain Donald Leod, who had established him f in the New Hebrides as a powner and trader in the 1860’s, n 1894, Captain McLeod died and aham, who was then about 21, nt from New Zealand to Vila take over the business. In the lowing year he was joined by his er brother James; and some irs later by his sister Flora and brother Hugh. (Mr. Hugh Kerr d about three years ago in Syda later stage two younger *ts Mary and Agnes, also took interest in the business, mostly the Sydney end, at a time when 7 women had much influence in J business world.

The Kerr brothers and sisters at first carried on the business under the name of McLeod and Company; this later became Kerr Brothers & Company and in 1909, Kerr Brothers Ltd. was registered in Sydney, where a branch office had been opened in 1902.

Between the death of McLeod and World War I, the company, essentially a family one, was speci ally interested in trading in the group, where they founded several trading stations.

Important Fleet

From Vila, a small but important fleet radiated out, reaching as far as Noumea and Sydney.

Among the vessels carrying the firm’s flag were: Mary Anderson, Tamarina (built in New Zealand), Countess of Ranfurly (bought from the New Zealand Government)), Tathra, Flinders, Polynesian, Aoba, Toa, Rosabel, France, Lunawanna, and White Heather.

The Tathra, a fast twin-screw vessel of 600 tons, perfectly adapted to the transport of passengers, met with a tragic end during a hurri cane on the night of January 3-4, 1912, on the coast of Ambrym, when 24 people lost their lives.

Amongst those on board were Mr. and Mrs. Graham Kerr and their first child, Muriel, and Kerr’s sister, Flora, who had married Mr.

James Nicol. Mrs. Kerr was saved, and Mrs. Nicol was also picked up; but Mr. Kerr, with the child in his arms, and a native drifted for 12

Veteran New Hebrides trader Graham Kerr, who died in Noumea in August, was the nephew of pioneer trader Captain Donald McLeod. He took oyer McLeod's business in Vila when Mc- Leod died in 1894. This old photograph shows McLeod's original store at Vila, with McLeod himself at right, holding cap.

duts on a spar, during which time le child died. The native was killed . the surf when the spar finally ashed up on the reef of a small land off the north coast of Male ila, but Mr. Kerr, though cut to bbons on the coral, managed to it ashore. A French planter looked ter him.

Vast Plantation

The company had also, at this ne, established a vast plantation Turtle Bay, on the east coast of into, and with its agency business Sydney continued to prosper. In 27, however, the company sold all ; New Hebrides property to a ench company and ceased for a ne to exist. It was Agnes Kerr, very capable accountant, who in r dney attended to the liquidation.

The name Kerr Brothers (but this ne Pty. Ltd.) was taken up again d re-established in Sydney shortly terwards, with a trading branch Vila. This company dealt as Dkers for New Hebrides planters d traders, and in this capacity 11, of course, exists. [ts first managing director was •aham Kerr and although he ide his new headquarters in Syd y, he travelled extensively in the w Hebrides and elsewhere for his m. He claimed that he had welled more than 1,000,000 miles Europe and America, by sea and air before he retired in 1946.

Seven Children

Because he liked the New Cale nian climate, he went there to s with his wife Muriel and their Lighter Margaret and after 1948 ;ame a well known resident of umea. Old residents of the New brides will remember him not only a straight-shooting business n and pioneer, but as a first-class mis player, a bridge player of ne note and as an enthusiast who ioyed his swim every day. le was very active until only a 7 weeks before his death. )f his marriage to Miss Muriel tton in Sydney in 1909 there were en children: Muriel (1910), who dm the Tathra disaster; Joyce 13). now Mrs. Gillespie, of Lon

don; Muriel (1916), now Mrs. Bogg, of Sydney; Katherine (1917), now Mrs. Caws e y, of Melbourne; Margaret (1919), now attached to the South Pacific Commission in Noumea; Graham (1922), of Sydney; and Nancy (1929), now Mrs. Eling, of London.

Mrs. Kerr, who is still living in Noumea, and all the children with the exception of the first Muriel, survive him. None of the children entered his business.

Mr. Tearii Marsters, a Cook Islander living in Auckland and re cently married, won the first prize of £5,000 in a sweepstake in August.

Tho lato Mr. Graham Kerr, with Mrs. Kerr—

a recent photograph.