Deaths

Ratu Napolioni Dawai. The Tui Nadi died when his car struck a power pole near Nadi airport on November 17.

He was driving with his son, Ratu Navula and grandson Ratu Josefa Senator Ratu Napolioni Dawai had a long career as a civil servant, soldier and politic j an A keen sportsman, he was an enthusiastic rugby player and was closely connected with the Nadi rugby side.

He was for a long time the Roko Tui Ba and later became chairman of the Ba Provincial Council. It was then that he began work on the $1.3 million council complex opened by the prime minister last October.

His abiding concern had always been the development of the Western Division and it was over this issue that he made a dramatic exit from the Alliance Party in 1981 after criticising the government for what he called its neglect of the west.

Ratu Napolioni first entered parliament in April, 1977 when he won the Ba-Nadi Fijian communal seat for the Alliance with a large majority over Ratu Mosese Tuisawau.

After leaving the Alliance Party, he joined the Western United Front but lost his seat to the Alliance’s Mr Apisai Tora in the 1982 general election.

He was nominated by the Opposition to the senate shortly afterwards.

He leaves a widow and seven children. Ratu Napolioni was 65.

Anna Maria Christian, who was born on Norfolk Island in 1899, died in hospital on Octo ber 19.

She was one of the six children of James Adams and Amy Caroline (nee Christian), She married Benjamin Christian, who died several years ago, in 1941.

Her only child, daughter Hydie Narrell, returned to Nor folk from Australia for the funeral.

Panditamayal Sharma, retired headmaster and priest, died in

Suva aged 76 on November 5.

He taught in several schools on Viti Levu and also served as a visiting teacher in the Western Division.

After his education he work ed as a printer at Pacific Press Ltd and later became a teacher with the Methodist Mission School in Toorak, Suva.

He retired, after a distin guished career, as headmaster at Samabula Government School.

After his retirement, Pandit Sharma was involved in reli gious affairs as a Sanatan Dhar am priest.

He is survived by four sons, four daughters and several grandchildren.

Jack Fraser, a former long time resident of Norfolk Island died in New Zealand, aged 84 on October 12.

Mr Fraser and his wife Edith were married on the island and their four sons attended the Central School.

He was formerly a successful farmer on Norfolk and in his younger days was a keen foot baller.

He was awarded a medal for bravery after attempting to save the life of another islander in a well accident.

Kollie dc Roburt, the wife of the president of Nauru, Mr Hammer de Roburt died in Australia on November 11.

Dalipa Mahajan owner of Tacirua Transport Ltd died at the War Memorial Hospital in Suva on November 22. He was 95.

A pioneer of the Suva bus industry, Mr Mahajan started his service between Suva and Tamavua in 1936.

He built the business over the years from a single bus to the fleet of 38 that he left.

He was bom in Jallandar, Punjab and came to Fiji in 1914.

He was a supporter of many religious and educational insti tutes and was for many years president of the Samabula Sikh temple.

Mr Mahajan is survived by his wife Shiu Raji, nine children, six sons and three daughters and

23 grandchildren.