DEATH OF THE GOVERNOR OF TAHITI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12524, 17 March 1904, Page 5

DEATH OF THE GOVERNOR OF TAHITI.

By TelegrapJi.~-Prea» AB«oc!lation.«-J3bpyriglit. fj: PBEatANirLE, March 16. The Governor of ; Tahiti, M. Petit, ■on ; ae-

count of serious illness, left the steamer on which he was proceeding to France. He became worse, and died : at the Grosvenor .Hospital. . : M JEdouard Petit was recently in Auckland, on his way to Marseilles, having joined; the s.s. La Vllle de la CiotaL While here he was obviously very ill, suffering, as he ex- j plained to a representative of the Hebaid. i from a serious affection of the liver. : His Excellency hinted that his illness was due to long residence and hard work in tropical climates. He < was connected with "the French Colonial Office for many years, and was formerly Chef du Service d'Afrique in the Colonial Ministry. He was also at one time Governor of the islands of Reunion and Bourbon, and had worked in Madagascar. He began his public career as an officer in the French navy. He was Governor of the French establishments in. : the Pacific for three years, with headquarters at Papeete. Here he worked very hard, often, he said, 15 hours a day consecutively, week after week, getting the administration in order, and organising the municipal affairs of Papeete. When he left for Europe he held a reception, at which the Consular representatives of Great Britain, United States, and Germany were present, together with leading European and native : personages. M. Petit was accompanied by Mme. Petit and I family, and was attended on the voyage by I Dr. Brunati, chief of the Public Health Dej partment of Tahiti. From the Depeche I Coloniale, it was clear that M. Petit was one of the most highly valued members of the Flench Colonial Service.