THE LATE CHARLES JOHN PARHAM.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1926, Page 4

THE LATE CHARLES JOHN PARHAM.

A LOYAL CITIZEN OF Tll'lO RAIPUR IS. Earlier in the week the death of Air Parham a; is announced. He passed away on .July 14, at his residence, Suva. The cause of death uus heart failure after a long illness, patiently borne. His age was 67 years. Clnu'les John Parham, was barn in Runeltowu, Ontario, Canada, in the year 1859'; and was proud of his descent from '.m old English family which had settled in Chelmsford, Alassachassets in 1664. As a Canadian he had specie, 3 , cause for pride in that his family 1:■ 1 1. the then New England Colonies after the Declaration of Independence, and so ttinied the thanks of their King, in common with other loyalists.

He pioneered in many parts of the world, following tTie profession of mining and electrical engineer in Arizona, California, Afoxieo, Jamaica, South Africa., and New Zealand.

Combining great courage with high principles, he came safely through many adventurous experiences in what was in reality the “Wild AVest,” and subsequently proved his loyalty by taking a prominent part in the defence of Bulawayo in the second Afatahele War, as well as by volunteering for service with the Rhodesian Light Horse at the time of the Jameson Raid.

After tho Boer AVar he, in common with so many other Britons, found there was no place for them in the country so hardly won ; and so in 1907 he came to New Zealand.

In 1920 he went to Fiji to establish a cocoamit plantation at Rukuruku Bay, in A’amia. T,cvu, and during the comparatively few years of his residendo there won from both whites and Fijians respect for his high principles and frank expressions of opinion.' It was duo to the stand he made in his dealings witfi the natives that Xavakasiga District is perhaps unique in Fiji in the freedom the planters enjoy from the corrupt demands of the. Fijian Chiefs. Elsewhere planters pay a bribe of ns much as £5 per head when recruiting labour. Indeed he lived up to his motto of “Verito Sans Peur,” wherever he was, both when 'at the height of his profession ‘ in South Africa and other places, and as a pioneering planter in Fiji.