Deaths Of Islands People

Ron Pickwell The death occurred in Sydney on September 8 of one of New Guinea’s pioneer Medical Assistants, Ron Pickwell, who had been holidaying in Queensland from his home in Mel bourne. He was accompanied by his wife and was staying a few days with his eldest son, Dennis, in Sydney when he suddenly became ill from a heart condition and died two days later.

Ron Pickwell went to New Guinea for the Exproboard shortly after World War I, in which he served, and was posted as a plantation overseer to the Manus district. Later he was appointed a medical assistant on Kalili (New Ireland) plantation, during the time of Mr. Mirow, whence he transferred to the Admin istration in the same capacity. He served as Senior Medical Assistant in Rabaul, Kieta, Sohano, Madang, Namatanai and other stations.

In 1942, when the Japs landed, he and a party of Europeans and natives, numbering over 90. walked from the Wewak area to Daru in Papua, a strenuous trek. One of the party was Jack Thurston. Later on, Pickwell joined up with ANGAU.

Ron was a great favourite with all whom he met and his home, with his charming wife, Ruth, was ever a popular rendezvous for itinerant islanders.— G.T.

Ratu George Cokanauto Tuisawau A Fijian whose grandfather signed the Deed of Cession under which Fiji was ceded to Britain, died in Suva in September. He was Ratu George Cokanauto Tuisawau, OBE, paramount chief of Rewa. He was 60.

He was a grandson of the Roko Tui Dreketi who signed the Deed of Cession.

Ratu George was installed as Roko Tui of his own Province of Rewa in 1936. In the following year he became a member of Legislative Council with which he was con nected for 20 years.

The Hon. Charles Arthur Banks The Hon, Charles Arthur Banks, CMG, chairman of Placer Develop ment Limited and formerly president and managing director of that com

pany, died in Vancouver on Sept. 28, aged 76.

The late Mr. Banks was bom in NZ and had a distinguished career in the field of gold mining engineer ing and his talents were also used in public responsibilities in Canada.

From 1946-50 he was Lieutenant- Governor of British Columbia.

Mr. Banks was instrumental, with the late Mr. William A. Freeman of Sydney, in forming Placer De velopment Limited in 1926 and was managing director through the next 31 years. He played a major role in the formation and development of Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited. His guiding hand in the New Guinea en terprise was recognised in the 1937 Award of the Gold Medal of Mining of the Metallurgical Society of America, for the development of re mote mines by air transport The world-wide interests of Placer Development Limited grew from the vision of Mr. Banks.

He leaves a widow, Mrs. “Bunty”

Banks.

Mr. J. B. Stinson A pioneer Fiji businessman, Mr. J.

B. Stinson, collapsed and died in Suva on October 2. He was 80.

The late Mr. Stinson was born in Toronto, Canada, and went to Fiji in 1902 to visit his uncle, Rev. Wil liam Floyd, who established the Church of England in Fiji. Mr. Stin son set up a photographic busine-s at levuka. He married in Fiji, returned to Canada in 1907 but four years later he and his wife returned to Fiji, where he took up a copra plantation, which he later sold.

He opened a photographic business in Suva in 1938, and in 1946 handed the management of this business to his son, Mr. C. A. Stinson, the present Mayor of Suva.

The late Mr. Stinson’s wife died last year. He left seven children.

William Thornton Watson The death occurred in New York on September 10 of William Thornton (“Wid”) Watson, a NZ-born pioneer of New Guinea. He was in his 74th year. In his early years he was an international footballer, and went to New Guinea after Warld War I with the Expropriations Board. He became prospector and trader. In World War 11, although he was rejected as being “too old” (he was decorated in World War I) he joined the Militia and soon made a name for himself in training the Papuan Battalion. He left a wife and two children. See “Tolala’s tribute”, p. 44.