THE LATE MR. THOMAS SYMES.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15095, 11 June 1919, Page 6

THE LATE MR. THOMAS SYMES.

AN ESTEEMED SETTLER

News came through on Sunday mprriiag of the cteutn in a private Hospital an. Nelson of lur. 'i'homas cymes, a'very old and. hignry respected resident of Takalsa (writes our laKaKa correspondent). Mr. bymes was a very old identity heivs uaving u.kou iissi/oiatecJ with so many public bodies and taken isueh an active part in any movement in the XakaKa world fur a very longuiy period. For many years ->ir. Cynics owned and .managed sawn,ills in the . .various parts or tnc vaney, and afterwards went on to the land, working a, farm of his own at Central Takaka. ! iDuriug the past few years he made the ; •Farm over to a son, and took an office ;In the townsuip and did a considerable \ fousiuoss as land and estate agent. He also acteu for the State Fire Insurance and held other agencies. Mr. Symes had always taken an active part fiu many locai bodies, and had been •chair*!!-.• n of the Central School Com■/•iittv'i1 and ;: i^en^-er v.i UK? A'cisim liduci-.tion -Board. In (furthering the interests of education Mr. Symes did groat and lasting -work for this district. l<or un;.,. jo«:h ne was .secretary to the Takaka Athletic Club, end always to-jk a iuc-n in^rost in ail clean sport. .V.-y his death the Agricultural and Pastoral Association lose a valuable and hard working member of scheir committee —one who had stuck to fiis post from tlie very beginning of things. Mr. Symes was quite an authority on the doings and sayings of the early settlers here, and could amuse any company for hours with his S:appy way of telling die tales of the oideu days. His bluff, hearty manner •■and good natured, cheery ways and •voice will bo sorely missed by us all jfor many a long day. The funeral, v/hieh took place en Monday after-it'.-oon, was very largely attended, representatives of all local bodies, leading citizens, and settlers from all parts of the district attending to pay their Hast respect to the deceased gentleman. The bearers consisted of vestrymen of Ifche Church of the Epiphany, Mr. Symes X-.aving been on this vestry for a great aiumber of years. In the absence of the Rev. F. J. Daynes, the vicar of the parish, the service was conducted i.y the Rev. G. "Widdup, of Oolling\rood. Mr. Symes leaves a widow and igrown tip family, who have the sincere sympathy of the entire community in their great loss.