Deaths of Islands People

Prime Minister Norman Kirk The South Pacific lost a good iend when New Zealand’s Prime inister, Mr Norman Kirk, died sud nly on August 31. He had been ill-health for some weeks after an ►eration for varicose veins, but was pected to recover. Pacific Islands’ iders were quick to pay tribute to m; some of them attended a jmorial service in Wellington and bsequent funeral in the small South and town of Waimate where he is born in 1923.

Mr Kirk, more than any other NZ ime Minister or Island Affairs inister in the last 20 years or so, solved himself in Pacific Islands’ itters, not only territories for which • country was responsible.

He took an active part in formal therings involving the South Pacific, ;h as the South Pacific Forum and ; South Pacific Conference. In :t, he had planned to lead the NZ egation to the South Pacific Con ence in Rarotonga in September. [n trade and transport he directed w Zealand in a course of co ;ration with South Pacific nations.

Dr H. K. Carlot Dr Henry Kalfau Carlot, who ved with the British medical ser e in the New Hebrides for 20 irs, died suddenly at Vila in gust, aged 43. The Presbyterian ssion sent him to the Central Medi- School, Fiji, from which he duated in 1953. He was appointed the British medical service in >4. during the service he went over s several times to attend courses. 1969 he gained his diploma in )lic health at the University of igo, NZ. In 1973 he attended a ior administration and manage rs course at the University of the ith Pacific. He was appointed jyalier du Merite National for his dees to the condominium. )r Carlot is survived by his wife six children.

Father Calixte everal generations of Tahitians Id testify to the mission work of her Calixte who after 54 years in nch Polynesia died in August, d 78, at the Trinity Home of the ?us Fathers. lorn in France as Pierre Olivier,

Father Calixte served continuously in the French Pacific from his arrival there in 1920, working in the distant Australe and Tuamotu groups as well as Papeete.

Mr Alex Hopper His large circle of friends and associates were shocked at the death of Mr Alex Hopper following a fire at his KHinwata plantation, New Britain, on August 28 and at the injury in the same fire to his wife Patricia. The fire, believed to have started from a lamp, destroyed the plantation home, which was also occupied by children on school holi days, including three Hopper children.

Mr Hopper died from his injuries several hours later at Nonga Hospital, where his wife was also admitted.

Alex Hopper went to PNG with

the Australian Army during the war and settled in Rabaul in 1948, open ing an insurance office, and becoming involved in timber and plantation in terests and stockbroking. For many years he was president of the Rabaul Chamber of Commerce; he was presi dent of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of PNG and was closely involved in community affairs, having also served at one time on the Rabaul Town Council.

Mr Kevin Atkinson Mr Kevin Clark Atkinson, a former PNG District Commissioner, died in Ohio, USA, on September 10, aged 55. He was buried in Southport, Queensland, on September 17. Mr Atkinson was bom in Port Moresby, the son of O. J. Atkinson, and joined the Papuan Administration as a cadet in 1937. His early patrol work in cluded discovery with C. J. Anderson of the present site of Mendi, Southern Highlands. He served with the rank of captain in wartime Angau. He leaves a wife, Patricia, two sons and a daughter.