Deaths Of Islands People

Sir Philip Mitchell The death occurred at Gibraltar re ntly of Sir Philip Euen Mitchell, overnor of Fiji and High Commis >ner for the Western Pacific from '42 to 1944.

Sir Philip, who was Governor and immander in Chief of Kenya for ?ht years after leaving Fiji, had a stinguished career in the British flonial Service, but his two years in ji were the only part of it spent itside Africa.

His first appointment was as Assis nt Resident in Nyasaland in 1912.

Rev. R. R. Deoki At an important point in its story—during its first year as an itonomous church—the Methodist burch in Fiji has lost one of its ;st-known ministers, the Rev. amsey Ramnarayan Deoki.

He collapsed on the night of riday, October 2, and died next orning, aged 59.

As a Christian Indian, he was jrhaps the Methodist Church’s ost important link with the Fiji idian people, of whom only about 000 are Methodists. For a number : years he was the only Indian [ethodist minister in the Colony.

Born at Navua, he was educated ; Suva’s Methodist Boys’ School, Melbourne High School, the lissionary Training College, Kew, ictoria and Auckland University.

Ordained to the ministry in 1939, 2 served at Lautoka before being ipointed superintendent minister 1 the Suva, Lautoka and Nausori idian circuits.

When the Fiji Church became idependent this year, he became, nder the new constitution, Indian divisional Superintendent.

Despite his many duties, Mr. deoki found time to work as an onorary probation officer, a district :out commissioner and to write lany articles for religious and other mrnals.

He leaves a widow, formely Miss irace .Magdalene Herman, two sons nd five daughters. One of his two rothers, Mr. Andrew Deoki, is a lember of the Fiji Legislative Council. The other, Mr. Samson >eoki, is a retired Assistant Medical ’ractitioner.

Mrs. Hugh Kerr PIM has just learned of the death of Mrs. Hugh Kerr, widow of a New Hebrides pioneer, who died on an island in the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, in April.

Mrs. Kerr’s husband was a planter and trader at Hog Harbour and then Turtle Bay, Santo, in the years follow ing the establishment of the Condo minium Government in 1906, when the Kerr family ran a large fleet of inter-island ships.

Her husband was a nephew of Donald MacLeod, one of the founders of Vila.

Mr, J. S. M. Park Mr. James Stobie Mclntyre Park, of Nadi, who practised as a solicitor in Fiji for more than half a century, died at Lautoka on October 27.

He practised at Levuka before going to Suva in the 1930’s to join the firm of Cromptons. After a few years he went into private practice in Suva.

Later he transferred his office to Nadi and practised there till his re tirement late in September.

He volunteered in Fiji to serve in World War I and went overseas.

Mr, Park is survived by Mrs. Park, a son and a daughter.

Mr. R. T. Dalziel Mr. R. T. Dalziel, who was Suva manager of the USS Co. Ltd. in the early 1920’5, died recently in England.

Admiral Thierry d'Argenlieu

The death occurred in France in September of Admiral Georges Thierry d’Argenlieu, Free French High Commissioner in the Pacific in 1941-42.

The admiral, who was 75, began his career in the French Navy, but became a Carmelite monk after fighting gallantly in World War I. He adopted the name of Louis de la Trinite, rose to be head of his order, and became an authority on the celebrated mystic St. John of the Cross.

Recalled to the colours in 1940, d’Argenlieu was soon afterwards captured by the Germans, but he escaped to England where he placed himself under General de Gaulle.

In August, 1941, de Gaulle sent him to the Pacific as Free French High Commissioner with head quarters in Noumea. Here he clashed with the Governor, Henri Sautot, whom he deported along with several other leading citizens. The result was that he, himself, was arrested by the New Caledonians and not released until General Patch, of the United States, intervened.

Recalled to London, d’Argenlieu remained in high favour with de Gaulle, and occupied several other important posts until the end of the War. From October, 1945, to February 1947, he was French High Commissioner in Indo-China (now Vietnam).

On July 16, 1947, d’Argenlieu rejoined the Carmelite order and returned to monastic life. From then until his death, he was virtually a forgotten figure.