Islands People

Deaths of Islands People

Dr A. Prater Dr Alexander Frater who spent many years in Fiji in private practice and as principal of the Fiji Medical School, died recently in Auckland, aged 65. He graduated in medicine and gained a diploma in tropical medicine at Sydney University. He was principal at the school from 1946 to 1953, and was then in private practice in Suva for about 10 years.

When he left Fiji he continued his practice in New Zealand.

Mrs C. P. Kearsley The death has occurred at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva of Mrs Constance Penelope Kearsley at the age of 80.

The eldest daughter of Mr Herbert Ambler, she was educated at Suva Public School and was named dux of the school in 1908. Later, she taught at the same school, leaving it in 1914 on her marriage to Mr William Kearsley.

She leaves a son, Mr Peter Kears ley, a former Fiji magistrate now living in Sydney, and five daughters, Miss Dorothy Kearsley, of Suva, Mrs Betty Gurd, of Australia and formerly of Suva, Mrs Joyce Scherrer, of the United States, Mrs Nancy Thomson, of Suva, and Mrs Elima Higgins, of the United States.

Mr George Toalit One of the pioneer teachers in the New Ireland, East New Britain and Bougainville districts of PNG, Mr George Toalit has died at his home village of Samo, near Namatanai at the age of 57.

He began his teaching career in 1932 at Utu, near Kavieng, and, after the war, established the Matupi school near Rabaul. This was followed by several others in different parts of PNG. He retired in July, 1970.

Ratu Jeremaia Tavaiqia, MBE More than 5,000 mourners includ ing the Prime Minister of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, attended the funeral in Fiji on December 5 of the Tui Vuda, Ratu Jeremaia Tavaiqia, who collapsed and died on December 3, shortly after speaking at Navutu village church. He was 57.

Traditional ruler of a large area around Lautoka, Ratu Jeremaia was regarded as a wise and enlightened chief who had worked hard to im

prove living standards for his people.

Lali drums were beaten as his body lay in state at his bure in his village of Viseisei and the women of the village held an all-night vigil as part of the ancient ritual always observed on the death of a Fijian chief.

Mr C. Barlow One of a small group of enthusiasts who helped the Niue islanders to form and send to the Arts Festival in Suva a team which won high praise for its performances, Mr Colin Barlow has died suddenly while on leave in New Zealand.

Mr Barlow, who had worked on Niue as an education officer, was to have returned there in February for a second two-year term. During his first tour he became involved in work to preserve the islanders’ culture and traditional skills and as secretary of the Niue Cultural Council he did much to reclaim for the people examples of their traditional arts which had been disposed of overseas, and encouraged the elderly people on the island to instruct the young people in their arts.

Beth Dean, wife of Victor Carell, the festival organiser, pays this

tribute to Mr Barlow: “Colin Barlow was a forthright friend and a man of conviction with immense energy to press through to its logical con clusion whatever cause he had chos.en to back. He had foresight and the commonsense that provided firm foundations for his ideals.”

Mr Thomas Prince The death occurred in Gatton, Queensland, in late November, of Mr Thomas Prince, well known in New Guinea before the war as a miner and planter. He was in his late 70s.

Mr Prince was one of the pioneers of the Wau-Edie Creek goldfields, having gone there as early as 1926.

He returned briefly to New Guinea after the war before moving his interests to Australia, where he operated a banana plantation in northern NSW and later acquired a Sydney hotel. He retired from busi ness a few years ago because of fail

ing health.

Mrs Marion Taylor, widow of former NG District Officer Ted Taylor, described the late Tom Prince in December as “liked by everyone who knew him, and truly a gentle man”.