PIONEER OF FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20721, 14 November 1930, Page 14

PIONEER OF FIJI.

DEATH OF SCHOOLMASTER. MR. DAVID GARNER-JONES. SERVICES TO EDUCATION. Associated with education in Fiji for over 35 years, Mr. David Garner-Jones died suddenly at Levuka, Fiji, on Wednesday. A Welshman by birth, Mr. ' Garner-Jones camo to New Zealand many years ago and settled in Auckland, whero he was on the original staff of the Napier i Street School. He went to Levuka as a - young man and took up a position as I schoolmaster at tho Levuka Public 1 School. For many years he was head- , master of tho school, a position he ro- , linquished about seven years ago owing to ill-health. Mr. Garner-Jones had known every | Governor of Fiji since Sir John Bate Thurston nnd many notable New Zealand people had accepted his hospitality. Ho retained happy memories of tho time when Mr. Richard Seddon, then Piitne Minister of New Zealand, was his guest when on a visit to the Islands. Mr. Garner-Jones was very proud of his pupils, many of whom wero natives of high birth and later occupied responsible positions in the Civil Service. His pupils included white children, halfcastes, Chinese and Indians. Ono of Mr. Garner-Jones' most vivid recollections was that of the last cannibal feast held in tho Islands, in 1897. Thero had been trouble with tho natives at Yungana, on the north coast of Vanua Levu, and tho steamship Clyde was despatched to quell tho disturbance. A native member of tho punitivo force was killed by the Fijiana and the body duly prepared for the feast. As a matter of fact the only portions that were eaten were tho palms of the hands and the affair was moro a gesture of defiance against tho authorities than a return to cannibal practices. About three years ago Mr. GarnerJones came to Auckland after an absence of 20 years and underwent an operation for his eyesight. He had since lived in retirement at Levuka.