Deaths Of Islands People

Rev. R. C. G. Page pecial memorial services were ducted at all Free Wesleyan irches in Tonga in July following death, in Sydney on July 2, of Rev. Rodger C. G. Page, church iident from 1925 to 1945. He 86.

Ir. Page went to Tonga in 1908 n Australia and guided the gan church for the next 37 years. :he early days it was still suffer from the bitterness of the schism 1885, and he was mainly instru tal in creating the harmony :h led to the firm establishment he independent church in 1924. e was chaplain to the Tongan al Family—adviser and friend }ueen Salote, who sent fine mats tapa cloth to the funeral in ley. eneral Secretary of the Methodist rseas Missions, Rev. C. F. ►ble, said in Sydney: “It is not much to say that the history of Church in Tonga during the first of this century will aways be sly linked with the ministry of ger Page. Thirty years ago )ld Wood wrote in The Mis iry Review, ‘Future historians

will say much of the man who says nothing of himself ”.

Mr. Page’s wife died in Tonga in 1939 and is buried there.

Sione Fonua Sione Fonua, president of the Free Church of Tonga, died in July while returning to his birthplace, Haafeva, from Nukualofa, He was 73. He had been president of the church since 1947. He left a widow and seven children.

Professor Eugene Burdick Professor Eugene Burdick, the noted American author, and a part time resident of Moorea, French Polynesia, died of a heart attack while playing tennis in San Diego, California, on July 26. He was 46.

Professor Burdick was Professor of Political Science at the University of California for 15 years before his death. He was co-author of The Ugly American and other novels, and author of a book on the Pacific, The Blue of Capricorn.

Rev. Father Leo Bischof, MSC The death occurred in Rabaul on July 9 of one of the Territory’s best known missionaries, the Rev. Father Leo B'ishchof, MSC. He was 82 when he died—s 6 years to the day that he arrived at the Rabaul mission from Germany.

For the first 16 years he remained at headquarters, doing parish work and as a teacher. In 1923 he founded Bitokara, near Talasea, on New Britain, and laid foundations for future stations.

With others he was rescued from New Britain by coastwatchers towards the end of the war. He returned to Rabaul in 1947 and be tween 1951 and 1959 he was in charge of the Hansenide colony at Anelaua, New Hanover, before retiring to Vunapope in his old age.

There, with his humour and cheer fulness, he was an example to every one.

Mr. William Edward Ryall The death occurred in Sydney on July 11 of Mr. William Edward Ryall, for 60 years a member of the Islands merchant firm of Nelson and Robertson Pty. Ltd. He was 77.

Mr. Ryall had been a director of the firm since 1935, and was well known throughout the Islands— which he had first visited as early as 1910. He practically founded the

Islands section of Nelson and Robert son and kept in close touch with planters and storekeepers thoughout the South Seas through his regular visits. He played a leading part in the establishment overseas of New Guinea cocoa.

Mr. Ryall leaves a widow and three sons.

Mr. Leo Davis Mr. Leo Davis, a former Sydney man who became tennis champion of Papua-New Guinea, died in Rabaul on July 7, aged 33.

Mr. Davis, a labour inspector, won a bronze medal as a member of the P-NG tennis team in the first South Pacific Games, Suva, and until a severe illness developed six months ago, it was predicted he would have success at next year’s Noumea Games.

He is survived by his widow Lesley, and two young sons.

Mrs. R. Pujol Mrs. R. Pujol, wife of the Native Advocate in the Joint Court at Vila, New Hebrides, was killed in a car accident at Rambouillet, about 30 miles from Paris, on July 2. Mr.

Pujol, who was also in the car, suffered a broken hip. The couple were spending a vacation in France.

Dr. V. I. Mocevakaca Dr. Villiame T. Mocevakaca, who was a medical officer in Fiji for about 25 years, died in July, at Yaroi, Matuku, Lau, aged 51.

After education at Queen Victoria School he went to the Central Medical School (now the Fiji School of Medicine) and qualified as a medical officer in 1937. He served continu ously from then on in Fiji’s medical services, except between 1942 and 1946, when he was in the Fiji Military Forces.

Dr. Mocevakaca left a widow, and a daughter.

Mr. C. M. Grey Mr. Charles Michael Grey, well known in sporting circles in Fiji, died on July 1, aged 62. He excelled at athletics and Rugby and was once Fiji’s professional sprint champion.

He spent much of his life working for the Government Printer.

Mr. Edward Austlc Mr. Edward Austic died on June 18 in the Gower Wilson Memorial Hospital, Lord Howe Island, at the age of 83. “Uncle Ted”, as he was affectionately known, went to the (Over)

island in 1896 with his sister, late Ada Wilson.

He worked for Mr. W. S. Thoi son and later married Mr. Thoi son’s sister, Rosario. A keen spo man, “Uncle Ted” could also t his hand to farming, fishing, p; seed collecting and carpentering, is survived by two daughters, M< and Celia.

Mr. John Thornton Yager Mr. John Thornton Yager diec Norfolk Island on June 28, aged Mr. Yager in his early days one of a group of Norfolk Islam who formed the old whaling o pany, and for many years he wor as a whaler.

After World War II he joi the Norfolk Island Administra Forestry Department, where worked until illness forced him retire in 1962. His wife died s< years ago. He is survived b) daughter and an adopted son.

Mr. George Henry Wickstead

The death occured on Nor Island on June 29 of Mr. Ge< Henry Wickstead. He was 83.

Mr. Wickstead was born at C wardine, Shropshire, England and rived at Norfolk in the early 19 He was for many years on the of the Norfolk Island Administra where he held the positions of P( Officer and Postmaster, and, fc time, assisted in the Regist; office.

The last few years of his life 1 spent as a patient at the Nor Island Hospital.

Mr. Frederick Nichols Mr. Frederick Nichols, of ] Howe Island, died there on June aged 84.

With the exception of short trij Sydney and Norfolk Island, Nichols had spent his entire lift the island.

He was one of the pioneers ol palm seed industry and active ii aspects of island life until he into semi-retirement a few years Mrs. Jack Emanuel Mrs. Jack Emanuel, wife ofi Deputy District Commissioner East New Britain, died at the N Base Hospital, Rabaul, on June For about six years Mrs. Em; was president of the Women’s 0 of the Church of England at R; and did a great deal of valuable v She and Mr. Emanuel arrived ii Territory in 1946.

There are two children at s«. in Australia.