FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR THOMAS.

Shannon News, 6 March 1923, Page 3

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR THOMAS.

On Saturday there was born© to their last resting place in the Levin cemetery the mortal remains of the late Mr George Thomas, and the sad occasion was marked by a* heart-felt manifestation of the sorrow his untimely • passing hence has caused in the community. A large and representative attendance joined in the funeral cortege, and were present at the graveside, amongst these being the Mayor and several Borough Councillors, members and officers of the Horowhenua County Council, representatives of the various bodies the deceased was connected with, and members of the staffs of the Levin Chronicle, Otaki Mail and Shannon News. The pall-bearers were drawn from the late Mr Thomas’s fellowworkers on the Levin Chronicle. The Rev. J. C. Davies impressively read the Anglican burial service, the first part at deceased’s late residence, and finally at the graveside, where he was assisted by Mr T.' Brown. The casket was completely hidden under a mass of beautiful wreaths, forwarded in token of their sympathy by many local residents and by the Levin Borough Council, Y.M.C.A. and Weraroa Cricket Clubs, the Levin, Chronicle proprietary, the Chronicle staff, the Otaki Mail, the literary staff of the Manawatu Standard (Palmerston), the journalists of Palmerston (Manawatu Times and N.Z. Farmer). Mrs Thomas and her family and the late Mr Thomas’s relatives have been deeply touched by the warm expressions of sympathy they have re r ceived during the past few ' days. These have come both from Levin and many outside centres, and have helped in aio small degree to lighten the blow of sudden bereavement. The Chronicle has received a large number of messages testifying to the worth of our late colleague and to the loss journalism has sustained. Among these, Mr W. H. Field, M.P., wired: “Just learned with deepest regret of death of my dear , friend, George Thomas; unspeakably sad for his widow and children; accept sympathy lor Chronicle’s severe loss.” Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P. for Wallace, wired: “Learned of the death ol George Thomas with sincere regret; he was a sterling character, and held in the highest esteem in this district, where he was widely known and very popular.” A brother scribe, in a sympathetic letter, writes: “As. a journalist George Thomas stood in the front rank on the provincial press. He was keen, conscientious and loyal, and lor ferreting out the elusive paragraph wa& one of the most successful men 1 knew. In this respect the Dominion press will be the loser, as,his informative notes ;were regularly copied by the papers .throughout, ilie country.’'’ The Palmerston Standard says: “Mr Thomas ‘was, prior , to going to Levin, employed on the literary staff of the Standard,, and while in our employ he proved , himself to be a conscientious and painstaking journalist, who always gave his best services in the interests of his employers. During his residence here deceased made many friends, who will /learn with regret of his demise at a comparatively early age. We deply sympathise with Mrs Thomas and her children in the bereavement they have sustained.” A. AND P. COMMITTEE ADJOURNS. A meeting of the Horowhenua A. and P. Society took place in the Druids’ Hall on Saturday, the business being to go into the results of the last show and to pass accounts in connection therewith, also to discuss the suggested Mardi Gras it is proposed to hold in connection with the Horowhenua Racing Club. Before opening the meeting, the president, Mf A. McLeavey, asked the meeting to pass a vote of sympathy with Mr s Thomas and'family in their recent bereavement, and_ that*a letter of condolence from the society he forwarded. The president said that, as it. seemed to be the general wish that they should adjourn as a further mark of sympathy, he would only ask the meeting to pass the minutes and all accounts in connection with the show, lor payment. It was then moved by Mr J. McLeavey and seconded by Mr R. V. Brown, that the meeting adjourn until Saturday, the 10th inst. This was carried.