The Late Mr. William Thomas.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 63, 12 September 1887, Page 2

The Late Mr. William Thomas.

Mr. William Thomas, who diod on Saturday last at the age of 79, was one of Wellington's earliest settlers. Ho arrived at Wellington in the ship London in the year 1842, and has therefore been a settler of 45 years' standing. During this long term of colonial life, dating as it does from the cradle days of this colony, Mr. Thomas has passed through many vicissitudes. After remaining in Wellington about three years be, with his wife and three young children, undertook the arduous task of walking from Wellington to Wanganni, and many were the difficulties encountered during that eventful jonrney. The country they had to pass throngh was for the most part inhabited by Maoris hostile to the whites. Rivers had to be forded, and the sandhills formed their resting-place at night. Soon after their arrival at Wanganui, there was tronble with the natives there. It was a most trying time for the handful of settlers located there, for it is stated that there were 1500 Maori warriors and only 50 white men in the place. Many indignities had to be submitted to by the devoted band of whites, who were anxiously looking for the arrival of British troops from Wellington, "Ah," Mr. Thomoi would say, "that was indeed a happy day when the troops oame to our relief. For np to that time none of us, who lay down to rest at night, felt any great assurance that we should see the morning." Mr. Thomas's whare waa quite near to that of the Gillfillan family, who were cruelly murdered by the natives one night, and the consternation that act caused may be well imagined. The Maoris were very arrogant at that time, and robbed the settlers at their own sweet will. Mr. Thomas was robbed of almost everything he possessed — in faot he had only one blanket left to cover the family, and for food they, with many others, had little bnt fern root to eat. Mr. Thomas returned to Wellington and was shortly afterwards employed as foreman in the erection of Monnt Cook Barracks, and many othor works undertaken about that time by the Imperial Government. In 1836 he removed with his family to the Ahuriri district (Hawke's Bay), where he remained up till 1885, when he rot turned to Wellington to end his days. Mi>. Th/omas, like many others who have resided for ftny great length of time in Wellington, cherished a groat affection for the place. He leaves a widow and two sons, George and Charles, and one daughter, Mrs. W. H. Fordham, to mourn their loss. Mr. Thomas was an enthuainstic lover of music, and he took a prominent part in the earliest musical societies of this city. This great love of musio has been inherited by his s6n Charles, tha composer and author of the Industrial Cantata, which work was so successfully produced At the New Zealand Exhibition, recently held iri this city.