Deaths Of Islands People

Mr. B. t. Mieubuhl Mr. Benjamin F. Kneubuhl, one of American Samoa’s most out standing old-time residents, died in Southern California on December 17. He was 79.

Mr. Kneubuhl, who was born in Burlington, lowa, arrived in Ameri can Samoa in 1907 when he was serving in the US Navy, He left the navy as a chief quartermaster in 1914 and soon afterwards started his first business venture at Fagatogo with an ex-naval colleague. In 1915 he married Adeliene, daughter of Alfred Pritchard, of Leone.

After a time, Mr. Kneubuhl bought out his partner and also be came shipping agent for the Oceanic Steamship Company, later the Matson Navigation Company.

Mr. Kneubuhl was a self taught lawyer—he took a seven-year course by mail—and he was public defender in several murder cases in Samoa.

He was also a licensed surveyor.

Over the years, Mr. Kneubuhl added a number of shipping, air ways, insurance and commercial agencies to his business, which be came incorporated two years ago as B. F. Kneubuhl Inc.

Mr. Kneubuhl gave quietly and generously to charities, and was a member of the Lions Club of Samoa.

He was the father of six children —four boys and two girls. Of these three live in Pago Pago—Ben Jr., Douglas (Mike) and Francis (Mrs.

Opelle).

Mr. Kneubuhl’s body was sent by air to American Samoa for burial at the family estate at 010, near Leone.

High Chief Tufele High Chief Tufele Faia’oga, a well-known leader in American Samoa, died at his home in Ta’u, Manu’a, on December 21.

In his youth, Tufele toured the United States as a professional entertainer and helped make and direct such Hollywood films as “Moana of the South Seas”.

He returned to Samoa to become District Governor of Manu’a and a County Chief. He later became a member of American Samoa’s Senate and Senior Agricultural Agent for Manu’a.

High Chief Tufele devoted much of his energy and enthusiasm to the development of better communica tions between Manu’a and Tutuila, and it was largely through his

efforts that the inter-island vessel Manu’atele was bought.

High Chief Tufele is survived by his widow Tolua, a son and a daughter. A sister, Grace Pepe Haleck, is the wife of leading Pago merchant Max Haleck.

Mr. F. B. Christian Mr. Frank Bell Christian, a well known Norfolk Islander, died at his home at Ball Bay, Norfolk Island, on December 22, aged 78.

He was the son of Charles Allen Christian, of Norfolk Island, and a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian of the Bounty.

As a young man he worked as a builder at the Melanesian Mission stations at Norfolk and in the Solomons.

Mr. Christian is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Ruth McCoy and Mrs. Christine Sheridan. His wife died some time ago.

Mr. Jerry Scanlan Mr. Jerry Scanlan, of a well-known family in American Samoa, died in Pago Pago on December 20 at the age of 69.

He left three children in the U.S.: Jerry Scanlan, Jr., Edward Scanlan and Mrs. Julie McGrath; and three locally: Sam Scanlan, Mrs. Harry Stevens and Mrs. Mu Faasuka Lutu.

Mr. Scanlan worked for the Gov ernment Supply Deportment for about 12 years, and was a boxing en thusiast who acted either as referee or judge.

Mr. H. H. Draper The death occurred at Beaudesert, Queensland, in January, of Mr. H.

H. (“Blue”) Draper, a pioneer New Guinea miner and planter.

Mr. Draper first went to New Guinea for the Expropriation Board after World War I and was manager of Boram Plantation, near Wewak.

He later tried his luck on the Edie Creek goldfields. He managed W.

M. Middleton’s planation interests on Kar Kar Island, in the Madang district, until not long before World War 11, when he settled at Beau desert, dairy farming. He retired last year.

Mrs. Gladys M. Parham The death occurred in St. Lambert, Quebec, Canada, on November 22, of Mrs. Gladys M. Parham, widow of Mr. W. L. Parham. The late Mr.

Parham, a member of a well known Fiji family, was an official of the De partment of Agriculture, and he died in Tailevu, Fiji, in 1942. Mrs. Parham

then returned to her home town, in Canada, with her two children— Phyllis (now Mrs. C. E. Reeve) and son Lindon, now a university student.

Ratu 0. N. Narokete Ratu Orisi Noibalavu Narokete, a high chief of Kadavu, Fiji, died on Christmas Day and was buried beside the remains of his great-great-grand father, the Qaranivalu, who was in power when Fiji was ceded to Great Britain in 1874.

Ratu Orisi was first a teacher at the Kadavu Provincial School, Vunisea, and then at the Provincial School, Southern, Sawani.

He was later a Native Land Trust Board agent, and then Buli Tavuki, a post he held till his retirement.

Mrs. S. M. Stephens Mrs. Sinai Moli Stephens, 62, wife of Mr. Wilfred Stephens, of a well known Suva family, died in Suva on January 2.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephens lived at Labasa for some years before settling in Suva.

She is survived by her husband and seven daughters, Mr. A. D. Corrie Mr. Alexander David Corrie, a long-time resident of Fiji, died at Lami, near Suva, on January 3, a month or so short of his 91st birthday.

He was born in the Gilbert Islands and was educated in Sydney. He settled in Fiji in 1890, working in many different positions, ranging from hotel steward to a carpenter.

Mr. J. A. Thomas Mr. James Alfred Thomas, chief of the Civil Aviation Department at Lae, NG, died suddenly on January 12, a week before he was to go on leave in Australia, prior to taking up a new appointment in Melbourne.

He went to P-NG in 1957 and after four months at Port Moresby he took up the appointment he held at Lae till his death.

He took an active part in the social life of Lae.

Mrs. Doris Roth The death occurred in Brisbane on January 13 of Mrs. Doris Roth, 64, widow of Mr. Max Roth. She lived in Port Moresby for many years until her retirement to Coolangatta, in Queensland. She is survived by her only daughter, Mrs. Elva Blackmon, Port Moresby, and her brother, Cap tain Arnold Mellor, formerly of the P-NG coastal trade, and now retired in Sydney.