Deaths Of Islands People

Mr. W. McLachlan Mr. William McLachlan, who took an active part in Norfolk Island community life and was a former president of the island’s Advisory Council, died on the island early in June. He was in his seventies.

Mr. McLachlan served in both World Wars, and was a commissioned officer in the RAN in the second. A native of Scotland, he held a Master of Arts degree from Edinburgh Uni versity.

He had lived on Norfolk for more than 40 years, Mr. H. W. Nicholls Mr. Harold Warne Nicholls, who was associated with the Fiji sugar industry as a CSR Co. official and planter for 36 years, died in Sydney on June 11, aged 87.

He was born in England and arrived in Australia, via Canada, in 1901, to join the CSR Co. His first appointment was at the Victoria mill, North Queensland.

Mr. Nicholls went to the Lautoka mill in March, 1904, working in turn on all the company’s newly established cane estates.

When he first went to Nadi all communication was by horseback or by sea, but the rail link to Navakai just beyond the present site of Nadi Airport was opened in 1904 to trans port the first cane from Nadi to the Lautoka mill, which started crush ing in 1903.

Mr. Nicholls was posted to Ba for a term in 1905, and then went to Nadi.

However, when the CSR Co. leased Tunilia estate to Mr. Mecham, Mr.

Nicholls was transferred to Lautoka office.

Mr. Nicholls later worked in the Rarawai office for five years, and then took over the lease of Solovi estate at Nadi from the CSR Co.

He was a cane planter from 1911 to 1922, when, like many other planters, he was forced by a com bination of circumstances to hand back his estate to the company.

He then rejoined the CSR Co. staff, and continued as a field officer at Solovi until he retired in 1940.

He and Mrs. Nicholls (nee Eileen Elder Smith, of Melbourne, whom he married in 1911) built a house at Bucono, along the Sigatoka coast and lived there till 1960, when they moved to Suva.

Mr. Nicholls, who outlived most of his contemporaries, was widely known and liked as a kindly English gentleman by numerous friends. In his younger days he was an excellent tennis player and cricketer.

A former member of the Planters Association of Fiji, he was probably the last of the many sugar planters, and his passing marks the end of an era.

Mrs. Nicholls died at Suva in 1962.

Mr. Nicholls is survived by a daughter, Mrs. J. C. Potts, Killara, Sydney, and three sons, Mr. H. L.

Nicholls, East Gordon, Sydney, Mr.

E. H. Nicholls, Collaroy, Sydney, and Mr. E. E. Nicholls, Pretoria, South Africa.

Colonel H. I. Allan In the June issue of PIM, in this section, the late Herbert T. Allan was referred to, erroneously, as “Lieut.-Colonel”, and as “the son of the late Percy Allan, a well-known Sydney journalist”. When he retired from military duties, he carried the full rank of Colonel; and his father was a civil engineer, Mr. Percy Allan, AMICE, and not Mr. Percy S. Allen, who was for over 30 years a senior member of the staff of Sydney Morning Herald. The errors are regretted. (See, also, “A big man who loved soldiering”, p. 85).

Mr. H. Whiteside Mr. Henri Whiteside, well known Fiji sportsman and prominent in the commercial world of the Colony as a member of the staff of Morris Hedstrom Ltd., died suddenly on June 15, aged 68.

In his younger days he excelled at cricket, hockey and Rugby.

He “retired” from the service of Morris Hedstrom in the late 1950’5, but within a few weeks returned to that firm in a relieving capacity.

His “relieving” duties lasted for several years, during which he worked in several parts of Fiji, and at Rotuma.

On his second retirement he joined the staff of Fiji Meats Ltd. as man ager of the Tavua branch.

Mr, Whiteside married twice. His first wife died in 1958.

He leaves a widow, three sons by his first marriage and one son by his second marriage.

Maneto Tokuradal A Tolai leader and former member of P-NG’s Legislative Council was

killed on June 5 when the truck which he was travelling overturn* on the Highlands Highway ne Kundiawa, Chimbu District.

He was Maneto Tokuradal fro Reimber, East New Britain, who w an unofficial member of the Fif Council.

Tokuradal was a local govemme assistant with the Department of D: trict Administration. He was workii at Kerowagi at the time of his deal Tokuradal was a prominent i dustrial organiser and a former pr sident of the Madang Workers’ Ass ciation.

Captain S. E. Gaskin Captain Sydney Edward Gaski first secretary and manager of tl Flying Angel Mission to Seamen Suva, died recently at Auckland, agi 80. He was at the mission from : formation in 1959 till he retired.

He was born in England, and the age of 15 started a maritime care which lasted for more than 50 years In World War I he served with tl Royal Navy Reserve at Gallipoli. 1921 he joined the Union Steam Sh Co., and took command of that coi pany’s ship Kaimai in 1935.

In 1953, Captain Gaskin repi sented the New Zealand Mercha Service at the coronation of Que* Elizabeth.

Mr. Noe! Levy Mr. Noel Levy, well-known F mariner and later a businessman, di< at Suva on June 19, aged 73.

He was born in Sydney, and fc lowed a marine career as an engine in Fiji till he took over his fathei watch and jewellery shop in Suva the 1930’5.

During World War 11, Mr. and Mi Levy expanded the business to man facture and sold souveniers to ove seas troops stationed in Fiji.

When Mr. Levy retired, he and h wife went to live at Vulase, abo seven miles from Korolevu.

Mr. Levy was a keen bowler ai was in Suva to play in the annu South Pacific bowling tourname: when he died.

Mr. D. L. Kapadia Mr. Dayabhai Lallubhai Kapadi one of the first Gujeratis to set i in business in Fiji, died recently ; Suva, aged 80.

He was born in Navsari, India, ar arrived in Fiji in 1912, where 1 opened a business in Renwick Roa< Suva.

He retired from active business i 1940 because of ill-health.

Mr. Kapadia leaves a widow ar a son.