Deaths Of Islands People

Captain Charles Bignell

he death occurred in Sydney on r 14, of Captain Charles Bignell, he age of 72. Captain Bignell t to the British Solomons in 1911, in 1913 bought Fulakora plan in, on Ysabel, which, with his e, Kathleen Freeman, he built into a show place, ffien the Japanese came he turned stwatcher and later escaped to New Hebrides aboard his ketch, re he joined up with the US Navy operated a supply ship, and later jb chaser, until the end of the He was best known after the as master of Burns Philp’s MV oda in New Guinea waters. He ed to Sydney four years ago. aptain Bignell’s wife, who was ured by the Japs in Rabaul and rned in Japan, died in NSW about it years ago, A son, Charles, » was captured with the 2/22nd Rabaul, lost his life as a Japan war prisoner aboard the Monte •o Maru. Two daughters sur :: Margaret (Mrs. Michael rence) and Jean (Mrs. James mey).

Rev. Tariu Teaia )ne of the largest gatherings of ific Islanders ever known in Wel ton, NZ, attended the funeral of Rev. Tariu Teaia, minister of Pacific Islanders Congregational irch, who died in April. Five six hundred people were present, uding Cook Islanders, Samoans Niueans, Tie service was conducted by the r. R. L. Challis of the Pacific nders Congregational Church, :kland, the Rev. Pepe Nokise of llington, and the Rev. David C. ins, of Tokoroa.

“The Rev. Tariu was a true leader, who will be sorely missed by his Islands people and his many Euro pean friends,” said Mr. J. M. Mc- Ewen, Secretary for Island Territories, who spoke.

He said the Rev. Tariu took a particular interest in educating Cook Islanders in New Zaeland in their obligations as citizens. In co-opera tion with local authorities and Gov ernment departments he arranged adult education classes on various aspects of life in New Zealand. On behalf of the Department of Island Territories, he attended to the wel fare of islanders of all denominations and became well-known and respected by many Government departments.

In his ten years in Wellington he became a powerful influence among Pacific Islanders.

Born in Rarotonga, the Rev. Tariu was a schoolteacher before he en tered the London Missionary Society’s theological school at Takamoa, Raro tonga. After being ordained he decided to devote himself to attend ing to the spiritual needs of Cook Islanders in New Zealand.

He arrived in Auckland in 1944 and worked at an ordinary job dur ing the week and spent evenings and weekends attending to the welfare of islanders and conducting services until 1947, when he became a full time minister. He went to Welling ton in 1953 and founded the Pacific Islanders Congregational Church there.

The Rev. Tariu is survived by his widow and daughter.

Miss Linda Bilette Miss Linda Bilette, a well-known BSIP identity, died at Nila Mission Station on May 1. She had lived in the Shortlands for more than 40 years. She was buried beside her sister Mrs. Cruickshank, on a hill near her home at Parolang, Hon. Anapu Solofa Western Samoa’s Minister of Justice, the Hon. Anapu Solofa, died of a heart attack in May while at tending a church conference. He was in his late sixties.

He had represented the Safata district in the Legislative Assembly for the past 10 years.

The Samoa Bulletin said in a tribute: “The Hon. Anapu Solofa, a gentleman of quiet dignity and per sonal integrity, was highly respected throughout Samoa and by his un timely death Samoa has lost one of its leaders whose influence in the

community can ill be spared.”

The Prime Minister of New Zea land, Mr. Holyoake, sent a message of sympathy to the Samoan Govern ment.

Mr. Albert Hagen New Caledonia lost another of its pioneers recently with the death of Mr. Albert (“Alby”) Hagen at the age of 73. Mr. Hagen was the son of the late Nicolas Frederic Hagen who came to New Caledonia in 1873, and a brother of the late and almost legendary “Tibby” Hagen.

Mr. Frank Cornwall Meredith A well-known Apia man, Mr.

Frank Cornwall Meredith, died at Moto-otua Hospital, Western Samoa, on May 10. He was 68.

Mr, Meredith was born at Leone, American Samoa, in 1894. After serving in the New Zealand forces in World War I, he worked in the office of O. F. Nelson & Co. and I. H.

Carruthers Ltd. in Apia, and then ran a store on his own account.

Mr. M. Reddy Mr. Muthulinga Reddy, a well known identity of Labasa, Fiji, died recently aged 85. Mr. Reddy was at one time manager of CSR Co. sugar cane farms at Nubu and Lagalaga. In 1947, he served on the Labasa Township Board. He is be lieved to have been the first Indian at Labasa to send a son overseas for higher education.

Sir Hugh Ragg

Sir Hugh Ragg, a public figure in Fiji during a long life, died in Suva on May 24 at the age of 81. (See story page 29.)

Captain Charles Bignell.

Rev. Tariu Teaia.