Deaths of Islands People

Ratu Dr. J. A. R. Dovi Ratu Dr. J. A. R. (Tom) Dovi, OBE, who died early in November at the age of 63, had a distinguished career, extending over more than 30 years, in the medical service in Fiji.

He was a younger brother of Fiji’s famous statesman, the late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. As Ratu Sir Lala is remembered for his work in the political arena for the Fijians, so will Ratu Dovi be remembered for his devoted service as a doctor.

He graduated from Otago Univer sity, NZ, in 1934. After three years in hospitals in NZ, he returned to Fiji to join the Medical Department.

He served in many parts of Fiji in his career, which was interrupted twice—once by service with the forces during World War 11, and the second time, at the request of Ratu Sir Lala, when, for 18 months, he was Deputy Secretary for Fijian Affairs.

On his return to the Medical Department he held posts of divis ional medical officer, Eastern, and Central. He retired from the Medical Department earlier this year, but even then continued to work for the in mates of institutions.

He was prominent as a rugby player while at university, and made one of the Otago University senior teams during a period when it was easily the strongest club side in Dunedin.

Politics was not for him to any extent, apart from being a member of the Great Council of Chiefs. But it ran in the family, and even ex tended to his wife, Adi Losalini Uluiviti, who is a member of Fiji’s House of Representatives. A brother, Ratu Tiale (Charlie) Vuiyasawa, was a member of the old Legislative Council, served a term on the Suva City Council and is now a senator.

Apart from Adi Losalini, Ratu Dovi is survived by four children.

Mr. S. H. Wilson Mr. S. H. Wilson, a prominent planter in the Savusavu area of Fiji, and a former nominated member of the Fiji Legislative Council (1947-50), died at Savusavu in November, aged 85.

He was an active worker for planters throughout his life and founder president of the Planters’

Club at Savusavu. He had two pro perties, Naseva and Oneva.

It was through his persistent efforts

that the Fiji Government eventually agreed to build a wharf at Savusavu.

Mrs. M. Refshauge Mrs Mamie Refshauge, mother of Dr. Joan Refshauge, who was once Director of Maternal and Infant Welfare in Papua New Guinea, died recently in Brisbane. Mrs, Refshauge was prominent in Country Women’s Association affairs for many years.

She lived in Port Moresby in the 50s and early 60s. She was made the first life member of the CWA in PNG in 1961, having been an active member of the Port Moresby branch, the first branch in the territory and founded in 1951.

She was seen regularly helping in the CWA tearooms, in the old Church Hall in Douglas St., Port Moresby.

She worked untiringly to help to raise funds for CWA buildings in Port Moresby and Boroko.

Mr. Gordon Barry Childs The death in a motor accident in October at Soraken Plantation, Bougainville, of Mr. Gordon Childs, district plantation manager for the Choiseul Plantations - Burns Philp group of nine Bougainville properties, reduces still further the dwindling number of long-time Bougainville residents.

Gordon Childs had been on Bou gainville since 1952, first as a plan tation overseer with Choiseul, then as manager of Teopasino from 1953 to 1962, when he took over as DPM.

He left a wife, Helen, a daughter and a son.

Mr. R. A. Khan Mr. Rahmat Ali Khan, who was a transport industry pioneer in Fiji with a horse and buggy, died in November. He was about 100. He went to Fiji from the Punjab to work in the cane fields and, after serving his indentures, settled on a cane farm at Sabeto, near Nadi.

In the 1920 s he bought a horse and buggy and opened a passenger service from Sabeto, operating to Nadi and Lautoka, This venture eventually became M. R. Khan Bros., which now operates a fleet of buses.

Mr. C. M. Smith A former district officer and plan tation manager in New Guinea, Mr.

Campbell Mills Smith, of Chatswood, Sydney, died in Concord Repatria tion Hospital on October 27 aged 77.

He became a district officer after World War I, but resigned in 1922 and married Rieka, daughter of the late J. M. Rondahl.

He remained in New Guinea as manager of Kulon plantation at Kokopo, later joining the Agricultural Department. In 1933, he left New Guinea for good.

Mr. Raymond Perry Archer

Mr. Raymond Perry Archer, who had lived in Rarotonga continuously since 1945 and was one of the island’s “senior citizens,” died at his home in Pue on November 19, aged 81.

He was born in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, and during World War I served in the US Army Air Corps and, in World War II with the Ame rican Service Administration. He was a tall, jovial man of private means.

He is survived by his Cook Islands’ wife, Pupukura, a son and three daughters.