Deaths of Islands People

Ulualofaiga T. Vaeiaa A member of the Western Samoa Parliament and a former Minister, Ulualofaiga Talamaivao Vaeiaa, died in Motootua Hospital on September 5 after a long illness, at the age of 68.

After attending Avele school, Ulualofaiga was employed by Burns Philp for three years, after which he joined the police force and served for six years. Then he became a sawmill worker and later a trader’s representa tive for E. A. Coxon. In 1950 he went into politics as member for the Vaa-a-Fonoti constituency and from 1964 to 1966 was Minister of Health in Fiame Mataafa’s second Cabinet after independence. He was trans ferred to the Ministry of Justice in the third Cabinet.

The day after he won the title Ulualofaiga in a court case, the dis trict chiefs and orators of Fagaloa un animously appointed him to the office of Faipule. In 1953 he travelled to New Zealand as one of Western Samoa’s representatives to meet the Queen after her coronation.

Ulualofaiga was buried at Vaituu tuu, Salimu, the service being attended by the Prime Minister, Tupua Tama sese Leolofi, members of the Cabinet and former Prime Minister Mataafa.

He left a wife and nine children.

Miss M. L. W. Corbett Miss Mary Lillah Watees (Betty) Corbett, an old identity of Norfolk Island, died recently, aged 83. She was born at Durradoo Park, near Bowral, NSW, and went to Norfolk Island in 1927.

She engaged in many community affairs, particularly the Red Cross.

Mrs. Ethel Dietrich Mrs. Ethel May Geraldine Dietrich, resident in Fiji for almost half a century, has died in Suva, aged 88.

Mrs. Dietrich’s association with Fiji began 47 years ago when she moved from Queensland to the island of Wakaya, then a copra plantation but now the subject of major resort and residential development pro posals.

Later she moved to Levuka where her husband, Mr. Lance Dietrich, worked in the Agriculture Depart ment. For the past 18 years, she lived in Suva.

Mrs. Dietrich leaves a daughter, Mrs. J. M. Hedstrom, two grand children and two great-grandchildren.

Chief Petrus Mailo Chief Petrus Mailo, widely re spected Micronesian leader and long time Mayor of Moen, the Truk District centre, died in the Truk Hospital on September 12, following a long illness in hospitals in Guam and Hawaii. He was 68.

Son of a former Chief of Moen, Chief Petrus succeeded to the title in 1944. The position was shortly afterwards made elective, but Chief Petrus was consistently re-elected.

Officially Mayor, he was universally known as Chief Petrus. He was always active in the interests of his people, as village council member from 1930 to 1944, Truk Congressman from 1953, and for a time president of the Truk Congress. He was a member of the House of Representatives of the Congress of Micronesia from 1965 to 1968, where he served as Vice-Speaker.

His interest in the economic life of his islands led him to become president of the Truk Trading Com pany, and he was on the board of Continental/Air Micronesia. He made visits to the US and to Japan, and travelled widely in the Trust Territory to acquaint himself with Micronesian affairs.

Among the estimated 3,000 mourners at his funeral was former High Commissioner William Norwood.

Among the many condolences was one from High Commissioner

Johnston, who called him “a truly great leader, one of those rare individuals who enjoyed the universal respect and admiration of his own people and of all others with whom he came in contact.”

Chief Petrus is survived by his wife, Chimako, and eleven children.

Mrs. F. C. Christian Mrs. Flora Clarice Christian, who died recently at Pitcairn Island, had been in indifferent health for some years. She was 63.

In 1934, she married Frederick Martin Christian, a great-grandson of Fletcher Christian. For many years she played an active part in the affairs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Mrs. Christian is survived by her husband, who is 88, a daughter and a son.

Mr. E. M. Wright Mr. Edgar Mark Wright, managing director of Fiji Meats Ltd., Lautoka, died on September 8 after a short illness.

His wife, Mrs. Maureen Wright, is Mayor of Lautoka.

Mr. Wright also leaves five chil dren.

Mr. A. Strickland Mr. Arumaki Strickland, a much beloved and respected Cook Islander, who lived on Niue Island for 25 years, died in hospital at Alofi on September 9, aged 69. He took part in several business activities, including that of a baker and general trader; later established a motion picture theatre and a mobile cinema. He was also a bus service proprietor and in 1970 he opened a garage. He leaves a widow and 12 children, most of whom live in New Zealand.