Deaths Of Islands People

Bishop John Mary Aubin

Bishop John Mary Aubin a former Bishop of the South Solomons, died at Visale, Guadalcanal, on August 28, aged 85, He had spent more than 58 years in the Solomons.

Ordained a priest at Nantes, France, in 1906, he arrived in the Solomons about a year later and went to the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Mission at Rua Sura, as secretary to Bishop Bertreux and captain of the mission ship Joan of Arc.

He founded a mission station at Ruavatu in 1920, transferred to Tangarare in 1933 and was con secrated as Bishop of the South Solomons in 1935.

Bishop Aubin remained in the Solomons during the Japanese oc cupation in World War II and was accidently machine-gunned by a US fighter plane as he walked to break fast one day at Visale. He was un injured.

For his bravery in staying to help and comfort the native population Bishop Aubin was awarded the CBE by the Queen and the Legion of Honour by the French Government.

He retired in 1958 and lived quietly at Visale.

Mr. G. J. T. Hansen Mr. George James Theodore (Theo) Hansen died in Suva on September 19 after a short illness, aged 54. Mr. Hansen was born in Australia where his parents were on holiday from Fiji.

Mr. Hansen specialised in land laws, and for much of his working life was with the Native Land Trust Board, in which he gained a wide knowledge of matters connected with Fijian land.

In World War II he served with the RAF Coastal Command in Britain, and later transferred to the Middle East.

He leaves a widow, a son and a daughter.

Dr. P. T. Harper Dr. Philip T. Harper, who was a doctor in Fiji many years ago, died recently at Chertsey, Surrey, UK.

He was with the Fiji Medical Department for more than 20 years.

His first appointment was in 1915 when he was posted to Makogai as Medical Superintendent. Later he was at the old Suva Hospital, on a hill overlooking much of the Walu Bay industrial area.

He was still in Suva when the CWM Hospital was opened.

Dr. Harper was District Medical Officer at Lautoka when he retired from the Colonial service in 1939.

Mr. H. A. Matsinger The death occured in Honolulu in August of Mr. Harrison Alexander Matsinger. who went to American Samoa in 1946 at the invitation of the United States Navy to establish the first high school in the territory.

He was 71.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy.

Dr. John L. Taylor Dr. John L. Taylor, a staff con sultant to the US House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee for the past 15 years, died of cancer in Washington in August.

Dr. Taylor became ill about the beginning of the year, but continued working until five weeks before his death.

He made frequent visits to the American territories in the Pacific, and was United States adviser at the Sixth South Pacific Conference in Lae in July, 1965.

Mrs. Ann Valentine Mrs. Ann Valentine, a prominent sportswoman in Fiji, died recently aged 61.

Mrs. Valentine founded the Ba Ladies’ Hockey Association, and was a proficient tennis player, represent ing both Ba and Rakiraki in sugar company tournaments.

She was also a keen supporter of cricket, boxing and athletics.

Two of her three sons, Curling and Archie, were also prominent in sporting circles in the colony.

Mr. Basil Hall Mr. Basil Hall, a personality known to many people in Papua and New Guinea, both before and after the war, died in Melbourne in Sep tember. As a commentator for the ABC he was often heard by territory listeners, and until five or six years ago his description of the scene at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day was always a prelude to the broad cast of the big race.

As a special observer for Military Intelligence he travelled both terri tories and the Solomons extensively in the early part of the war. Then he organised a coastwatching net work in the Northern Territory and after the threat of invasion of Aus tralia had passed he transferred to the Navy and was appointed Press Relations Officer. In this capacity he landed in Tokyo with the first flight after the capitulation.

He maintained his interest in P-] after the war and contributed sew articles to PIM; he was also a re lar writer for Walkabout. A r who liked people, he was able break down the reserve of even Hubert Murray, and Cameron of T robriands.—Mß.

Ratu Waka Vosailagi Ratu Waka Vosailagi, a dire< of South Pacific Sugar Mills L Fiji, and a member of the chi family of Nadroga, died suddenly September 27, aged 48.

Ratu Waka worked for the Fi; Administration, rising to the post Roko Tui (chief) Nadroga Navosa.

About four years ago he seconded to SPSM to supervise work of Fijian canefarmers. He t joined the board of the company.

He was also a director of Resorts Ltd., owners of the Fi; Hotel on Yanuca, a few miles v of Sigatoka.

Ratu Waka was a son of paramount chief of Nadroga, R Timoci Vosailagi, who died in Ji He leaves a widow, Adi Ven Neilolo.

Hon. Siaosi Taimani Fotu The death occurred in Nukual on August 30 of the Hon. Sh Taimani Fotu at the age of 82. was a former cabinet minister i magistrate. Taimani was the 1 Minister without Portfolio to appointed by Queen Salote, and ac as Minister of Works and Police, took a keen interest in church i civic affairs until his death.

He was given a State fune which was attended by the Ki Government Assembly members i leading Tongans and Europeans. 1 graveside service was conducted the Bishop Suffragan of Nukuak Rt. Rev., Fine Halapua.

Taimani leaves an only ch ’Oto’ota ’Eva, his wife having died 1956.

Mr. R. B. Carpenter The death occurred in Sydney October 3, after a short illness, Mr. Randolph Bolton Carpenl chairman and managing director the W. R. Carpenter group of co panics. He was 67. For a tribi see p. 26.