A PACIFIC PIONEER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 3107, 28 December 1921, Page 6

A PACIFIC PIONEER.

EGBERT HENRY HEAD. LONDON, OK. 24. News has just been received in Portsmouth, which may not yet have hoei sent to New Zealand, of the death on : lonely island in the South Pacific of Mi Robert Henry Head, whose career road; like a romance. He was horn in Portsmouth eighty eight years ago; at the age of thirtythree was shipwrecked in the Spoil Pacific, and guided by a lantern held In a missionary, swam to Nine Island. Here he remained till the day of hi; death, and became a big trader it copra. For fifty-five years he assistec missionaries and undertook, without payment, the medical work of tin island, even to the amputation ol limbs and other surgical work and dentistry. He married on the island, and hat' fifteen children, avlioju he sent to New Zealand to be educated. He loved tin Niueans with a passion that worked wonders, and his goodness caused tin name of Britain to be revered b\ natives, amongst whom he was know) as "The Great "White Man.” He was instrumental in ridding the island o; pirntes. The day of his funeral was cloudless, but; as the collin was borne from the house there was a cloud clap ot thunder accompanied by lightning, which struck several natives, who interpreted this as a salute from heaven that “The (treat White Man” had entered his rest.