Deaths

Mr T. Patton Mr Terence Patton, who died recently in Suva, age 77, was a pro minent businessman and sportsman for many years. He went to Fiji in 1924, and in 1932, with his brother in-law, Mr Eddie Storck, set up busi ness as a coachbuilder, and under taker. After being active in rugby, athletics and cricket for many years, Mr Patton turned his attention to bowls, and in 1962 managed the Fiji team at the Commonwealth Games in Perth. He married Miss Olivia Storck in 1927. He is survived by her, and nine children.

Mrs I. F. G. Downs Mrs Judith Downs, wife of Mr lan Downs, a prominent figure in New Guinea for a quarter of a cen tury, died in Sydney in November after a long illness. She married Mr Downs in 1943, and after World War II lived with him in various parts of New Guinea, where he held a number of official posts.

Judith Downs, who had a lively sense of humour and a capacity for friendships, was an active hostess and supporter in the busy days when lan was a District Commissioner and later member of Legco and the House of Assembly, and Goroka coffee planter. They shared wide interests. They have lived in New South Wales and Canberra in recent years. She is survived by her husband and a son.

Miss L. A. Hawkes Living in retirement in UK for a number of years, Miss Lucy Amelia Hawkes died recently in High Bickington, North Devon. She was well-known in the South Pacific, hav ing given long years of devoted nursing service as matron of the hos pitals on Norfolk and Niue islands before going to Avarua Hospital, in the Cooks.

Mr F. H. Luff Pearler, gold prospector, civil ser vant, planter and soldier, Mr Frank Henry Luff, formerly of Papua New Guinea, has died in Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital in Brisbane, aged 70 years. Mr Luff, who was born on his father’s pearling lugger between Thursday Island and Daru in Papua, worked on the lugger as a youth. After a spell in the Papua government administration, he pros

pected for gold at Edie Creek; then managed family plantations at Bogad jim and Dogumor, both near Madang. In 1935 he struck gold at Wewak. During World War II he served as a scout with the Volunteer

Rifles, later with Angau. After the war he managed Siar plantation for W. R. Carpenter until returning to Dogumor from which he retired in 1960. He leaves a widow (nee Miss Alice Ruby Steer),