Deaths Of Islands People

Mr. E. P. Hitchcock Ernest Pither (Ernie) Hitchcock, a resident of Papua-New Guinea for more than 35 years, was killed in a road accident near Mittagong, NSW, on September 9. He was 74.

During a long and colourful life in P-NG, Ernie Hitchcock was in turn a medical assistant, miner, soldier, trader and planter. In recent years, until retiring to live in Canberra near his daughter, Mrs. Bob Manson, and her family, he ran his plantation, Biwa, on Djaul Island, near Kavieng.

In the early post-war years he con ducted a trading establishment at Lae.

In the 30’s, Ernie Hitchcock spent a number of years mining in the Upper Watut and Surprise Creek areas, on the fringe of the Kukukuku country.

In 1942, at the age of 50, he saw active service with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, with the rank of lieutenant. He was a platoon com mander with B Company in the Wau- Salamaua area, along with the late Alf Lane and Col O’Loghlen (now Sir Colman).

Hitchcock was as tough and cun ning an NGVR leader as could be found, despite his age. With three

of his old pre-war friends, Bill Forrester, the late Jim Mayos and Jim’s brother, Bill Mayos, who were members of his platoon, he aggressively harassed Jap patrols.

When the NGVR was disbanded in 1943 Hitchcock joined the New Guinea Infantry Battalion with the rank of captain and again quickly made his presence felt in the field with his new unit, which consisted mainly of native soldiers. He was fondly referred to as “The Skipper” by his fellow officers in the NGIB.

In World War I he served with the AIF and won the Military Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Legion of Merit and was twice men tioned in Dispatches.

Sir Ragnar Hyne

Sir Ragnar Hyne, former Chief Justice of Fiji, former BSIP Chief Magistrate and holder of several legal appointments in Tonga, died in England on October 4, aged 73.

Sir Ragnar was born in Norway and qualified as a lawyer in Queens land.

He went to the BSIP as Chief Magistrate and Legal Adviser in 1929, and to Tonga in 1932 where he held the posts of Director of Edu cation, Secretary to the Premier, Chief Magistrate, Judge of the Land Court and Chief Justice of Tonga.

His first appointment in Fiji was in 1942 as Resident Magistrate and Assistant Legal Adviser to the Western Pacific High Commission.

After war service, Sir Ragnar was in Britain’s African colonies in legal posts until he returned to Fiji in 1953.

When he retired from Fiji he held legal posts in Cyprus and Gibraltar.

Mrs. Louise Agnes Lussick The death occurred at her home at West Kogarah, Sydney, on October 10 of Mrs. Louise Agnes Lussick (formerly Brunt), a member of a well-known family in Western Samoa.

Mrs. Lussick was born in Apia in 1902. She married Mr. Alf Lussick in Apia in 1922, and they moved to New Guinea to live. They remained there until 1937 when they moved to Australia.

Mrs. Lussick is survived by her husband and five children Walter (Kavieng, P-NG), Patricia (Mrs.

Turner, Brighton-le-Sands, Sydney), Alf (Canberra), Frank (Liverpool) and Stanley and Richard (Sydney).

Many relatives live in Samoa, includ

ing Mrs. Lussick’s brother Frank, who is head of the broadcasting service.

Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba, the Tui Nayau, paramount chief of Lau in Fiji, died at Lautoka on October 4 on his 69th birthday.

His son, Ratu K. K. T. Mara, was in Lautoka on election business at the time.

After a varied career in the Gov ernment service, Ratu Tevita returned to Lau to hold several posts in the Fijian Administration.

During World War II he served in the Solomons.

Ratu Tevita was a great song writer and composed several well known Fijian songs, including the famous Isa Lei.

He was a great grandson of Ratu Cakobau who ceded Fiji to Great Britain in 1874 (See also p. 41).

Atunaisa Laqeretabua

Atunaisa Laqeretabua, who re presented Fiji at Rugby many times, and who was well known as a drum major in the Fiji Military Forces, died in October, aged 63.

He was a member of every Fiji Rugby team chosen over a period of 14 years against Tonga and the New Zealand Maoris.

In World War II he served in the BSIP, and on his discharge became a banana farmer.

He leaves a widow and three children.

Dr. P. J. Monaghan Dr, P. J. Monaghan, former Chief Medical Officer in Western Samoa, died recently at Wellington, New Zealand.

He was a familiar figure in the South Pacific for many years.

Mr. A. B. Edwards Mr. Arthur Bayne Edwards who died in Fiji on October 14, aged 88, was the oldest Fiji Government pensioner.

He went to Fiji in 1899 as a cadet from the Colonial Office and held many administrative posts.

He retired in 1922.

Mr. Riley Alien Mr. Riley Allen, who was editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin for nearly 50 years, died in Honolulu on October 2 at the age of 82.

Mr. Allen took a keen interest in the Samoas over the years and visited those islands several times. The last time was in 1962 for the South Pacific Conference in Pago Pago.