Deaths Of Islands People

Captain H. D. Scott "aptain Henry Daniel Scott, who d at Lami, Fiji, on October 3, at age of 93, had a colourful career trading ships in the Colony, and s closely associated with the first ht across the Pacific in 1928. rlis death removed one of the few naming pioneers who could re mber Fiji’s cession to Britain in H.

After running away to sea at an ly age, he lived at Bau Island h Ratu Epeli, son of Ratu Cako i who ceded Fiji to Britain. [n the many sailing canoes at Bau was in his element, but he had learn a trade, so he went to Levuka become a sailmaker. It was as a Imaker that he eventually took up lifelong sea career.

From that trade he graduated ough small ships and became ister of the Government ship Adi ti.

When Kingsford-Smith and Ulm ided at Albert Park, Suva, in 1928, was found that the park was too all for their aircraft to take off th a full load of fuel. Captain 3tt in the Adi Beti took them to iselai Beach in the Rewa Delta.

The aviation pioneers found that ptain Scott’s recommendation was their liking, and it was from iselai that they took off on the last \ of their epic flight. In 1958 ptain Scott renewed acquaintance th the two survivors of that flight James Warner and Harry Lyon, io were on their way to Australia take part in commemoration cere anies.

Captain Scott is survived by his dow, two sons and a daughter. One his sons, Albert, is master of the Dvernment ship Degei 11.

Mr. T. W. A. Nicholson Mr. Thomas William Alport icholson, for many years the gineer-in-charge of the Suva power ition, died at Newport, Sydney, lere he had been living in retire ent, on August 31. He was 67.

Mr. Nicholson was born at Suva, id served in the Royal Navy during e first World War. As engineer -charge of the powerhouse, he had face difficult times during World ar II and in the immediate post ar years when power rationing was icessary.

The profitable nature of the Suva electricity undertaking today is largely due to his energy and foresight, for in spite of those hard years, he was constantly planning ahead.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.

Mr. Alexander Conyngham Rentoul The death occurred in Sydney on October 6 of Mr. Alexander Conyngham Rentoul, a former Resi dent Magistrate in Papua, who spent more than 30 years in Government service in the Territory.

Mr. Rentoul went to Papua about 1910 as a clerk and later became a patrol officer. He was a Resident Magistrate for many years and was serving in Port Moresby when civilians were evacuated in 1942. After being evacuated, he served in the New Hebrides for a year or so. He then retired to Sydney. He was ill for several years before his death.

Mr. Rentoul, who was in his mid seventies, served in the Ist AIF in World War I. He is survived by his widow and a son, Laurence.

In a tribute to Mr. Rentoul, Mr.

Leonard Murray, a former P-NG Administrator, said: “In Mr.

Rentoul’s time as a patrol officer, Papua was a very wild and largely unpacified territory. Mr. Rentoul always discharged his duties with great satisfaction to the Administra tion. He was a fine man”.

Mr. James Murphy Mr. James Murphy, machine shop foreman for Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd., died in Sydney in mid-October after a long illness. Mr. Murphy, a Scotsman in his early fifties, had been at Bulolo for 15 years. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Maida Murphy.

Mr. Fred Werner A well-known Rabaul identity, Mr.

Fred Werner, who died in Queens land recently after a brief illness, first came to Rabaul before World War I. In recent years he was a plantation owner in the Talasea area.

Mr. Werner, who was unmarried, was 61.

Mrs. Agnes Burnett Mrs. Agnes Cuthbert Burnett, widow of the late William Burnett, of Apia, Western Samoa, died in

Auckland on September 19. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett were residents of Apia for many years. Mrs. Burnett’s ashes were returned to Samoa for burial.

Mr. Virgil Christian Mr. Virgil Christian, a descendant of Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian, died on Pitcairn Island recently. He was one of Pitcairn’s oldest inhabitants.

Apelu Galeai, Sr.

Apelu Galeai, Sr., County Chief of Fitiuta County, Manua, American Samoa, died at Leone on October 2 after a lingering illness. He had occupied his post in Fitiuta County since October, 1955. He left a widow, four sons, four daughters and 23 grandchildren.

Albert Rudolph Von Hoff The death occurred at Avatiu, Rarotonga, on September 25 of Albert Rudolph Von Hoff, a well-known trader, who was born in Rarotonga 64 years ago. After being educated in New Zealand, Mr. Von Hoff returned to Rarotonga, and entered his father’s business. He took over as manager on his father’s death.

Mr. Von Hoff is survived by his widow, five sons and four daughters.

Only one son and one daughter live in Rarotonga, the others being in New Zealand.