New Year Honours

THE Fiji New Year Honours List.' was a small one as usual, withi the top award, a OBE, going to the?

Director of Public Works, Mr. Johm Common. Mr. Common’s award was well deserved for he has always beem an energetic departmental head.

The other awards were: MBE—Anne Grace Mansell and Tulsi Ram Sharma.

BEM—Arthur Frank Valentine, ft Colonial Police Medal—Acting Superintendent Arthur Dudley Pyster and Inspector Peni Vere.

The award to Mrs. Mansell waa for 50 years’ service to the Boy Scou(j and Girl Guide movement.

Mr. Sharma is a Lautoka barrister and solicitor, and has been closely associated with the trade uniom movement.

Mr. Valentine, a shipwright, has done excellent work as foreman of the marine hull repair section of the RNZAF at Laucala Bay.

Acting Superintendent Pystei served for 20 years in the Indiam Police before going to Fiji in 1949.' He did outstanding work during the 1959 riots.

Inspector Vere has been in the Fiji Police Force since 1938, and has become one of its leading per- sonalities.

Western Samoan The following awards of New Year Honours to residents of Wes-; tern Samoa is interesting, in that Western Samoa becomes independent as from January 1, and (it is under- stood) is no longer able to receive Honours from British Royalty: CBE—Mr. J. B. Wright, NZ Higtt Commissioner in Western Samoa;; and Chief Judge C. C. Marsack, who has just concluded his service ini Samoa.

OBE—Mr. G. F. D. Betham,i Minister for Finance; Mr. L. M.

Cook, Finance Secretary; Mr. Harold Gow, for many years manager ol Burns Philp (SS) Ltd. in Samoa;; Mr. W. H. Kelly, General Manager of Western Samoan Estates Corpora-; tion, and Mr. Eugene F. Paul, former Head of the Government.

MBE—Messrs. Tapeni loelu and) Mipu Maiava. education officers;; T. T. Laban, Collector of Customs;; and Taula Anesi Malefou, medical; officer.

New Guinea In P-NG a CBE was awarded) to Mr. Robert Frederick Bunting.;; OBE, State President of the P-NG' Branch of the RSSAILA. (Seo opposite).