Henry Harrison Vaskess: Difference between revisions
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'''Henry Harrison Vaskess (~1891-1969)''' | '''Henry Harrison Vaskess (~1891-1969)''' | ||
* Colonial Secretary at the time the bones were brought to Fiji. | * Colonial Secretary at the time the bones were brought to Fiji. | ||
** The Colonial Secretary was virtually a dictator. The Governor was a ceremonial figure and might set policy, but the Colonial Secretary was the CEO. He had three telephones on his desk, gave orders, and approved spending. | ** The Colonial Secretary was virtually a dictator. The Governor was a ceremonial figure and might set policy, but the Colonial Secretary was the CEO. He had three telephones on his desk, gave orders, and approved spending.<ref>2003 interview with [[Gatty]].</ref> | ||
* "Prince of Bureaucrats" not just because he had an iron-bottom and a mind for endless details, but because he was | * "Prince of Bureaucrats" not just because he had an iron-bottom and a mind for endless details, but because he was incorruptible.<ref>2003 interview with [[Tofiga]].</ref> | ||
* [[Tofiga]] agrees that Vaskess was not the kind of man to be careless about his responsibilities. "You could squeeze blood from a stone more easily than you could get money from Vaskess." He thinks Vaskess retired in the mid- | * [[Tofiga]] agrees that Vaskess was not the kind of man to be careless about his responsibilities. "You could squeeze blood from a stone more easily than you could get money from Vaskess." He thinks Vaskess retired in the mid-1940s (easily checked in the ''Civil Lists''). He was a good man, careful and responsible. His wife was in Australia. His room was barren--he was clearly not in the habit of taking things from the office to decorate his quarters. Vaskess did a lot of exercise to keep fit. He walked from his home each day up the Museum hill to the office, carrying a bag of sandwiches for his lunch and having a smoke. He would arrive before 8 AM and leave at 5:30 PM. | ||
:: (In 1946, Vaskess helped Tofiga's home community on Vaitup in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvalu Tuvalu] (formerly the Ellice Islands) purchase the island of Kioa in Fiji.) | :: (In 1946, Vaskess helped Tofiga's home community on Vaitup in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvalu Tuvalu] (formerly the Ellice Islands) purchase the island of Kioa in Fiji.) | ||
* Short ad found in an old magazine in Auckland: "H. H. Vaskess (Proprietor). Fairview House, Suva Fiji." | * Short ad found in an old magazine in Auckland: "H. H. Vaskess (Proprietor). Fairview House, Suva Fiji." | ||
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** Keith Harrison Vaskess, born 23 Aug 1924. | ** Keith Harrison Vaskess, born 23 Aug 1924. | ||
** Colin Francis Vaskess, born 12 Sep 1927. | ** Colin Francis Vaskess, born 12 Sep 1927. | ||
== Notes == | |||
<references/> | |||
Revision as of 02:25, 28 March 2009
Henry Harrison Vaskess (~1891-1969)
- Colonial Secretary at the time the bones were brought to Fiji.
- The Colonial Secretary was virtually a dictator. The Governor was a ceremonial figure and might set policy, but the Colonial Secretary was the CEO. He had three telephones on his desk, gave orders, and approved spending.[1]
- "Prince of Bureaucrats" not just because he had an iron-bottom and a mind for endless details, but because he was incorruptible.[2]
- Tofiga agrees that Vaskess was not the kind of man to be careless about his responsibilities. "You could squeeze blood from a stone more easily than you could get money from Vaskess." He thinks Vaskess retired in the mid-1940s (easily checked in the Civil Lists). He was a good man, careful and responsible. His wife was in Australia. His room was barren--he was clearly not in the habit of taking things from the office to decorate his quarters. Vaskess did a lot of exercise to keep fit. He walked from his home each day up the Museum hill to the office, carrying a bag of sandwiches for his lunch and having a smoke. He would arrive before 8 AM and leave at 5:30 PM.
- (In 1946, Vaskess helped Tofiga's home community on Vaitup in Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) purchase the island of Kioa in Fiji.)
- Short ad found in an old magazine in Auckland: "H. H. Vaskess (Proprietor). Fairview House, Suva Fiji."
- Probate #10701.
- Born ~1891. Died July 7, 1969. Death record #65/69.
- His wife, Coral Loloma (Letford) Vaskess, died in Canberra on 20 Jul 1990.
- Two sons:
- Keith Harrison Vaskess, born 23 Aug 1924.
- Colin Francis Vaskess, born 12 Sep 1927.