OBITUARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 190, 13 August 1938, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR. EDWIN THOMS After a short illness, another of Rangitikei’s early settlers passed away peacefully at his home, '■Riverdale,’’ Porewa, Marton, on Friday morning in the person of Mr. Edwin Thoms. As a farmer lie had resided at "Riverdale" lor a number of years and, by his quiet and unassuming character, had made a host of friends in the district. A member of the Marton District A. and P. Association since its inception, he was elected as a member of the committee in 1918 and a vice-president in 1930. Although he was approached on several occasions to take over the presidency ot the association he declined on account ot not being in the best of health. Last year he expressed a wish to retire as a vice-president in order to allow another member with aspirations fcr the presidency to take his place, and as a fitting reward for his long and valuable services, Mr. Thoms was elected a life member. During his term of office he made several donations of cups for competition in the sheep section and in order to perpetuate ills memory and, in appreciation of the association’s gesture in electing him as a life member, he recently donated a 15-guinea challenge cup for a competition which has not yet been allotted. As chief steward in the sheep section for several years he was one of the most ardent workers at the “working bees” in preparing the grounds for the ■ annual shows and his cheery smile an.i i good nature will be sadly missed in the future. As a member of the Rangitikei Hunt Club, Marton Jockey Club, N.Z. National Party and Marton Club he was heavily interested in the work of these associations and was always to the fore in any movement that was for the betterment of the district. The late Mr. E. Thoms was a son of the late Mr. Charles Thoms (first engineer for the Rangitikei County Council in 1877) and he has four brothers —William (Te Kuit'). Arthur (Wanganui), Ernest (Pukekohe) and Herbert (Papakura). He married Miss C. Bartlett, a daughter ot the late Mr. Samuel Bartlett (of Tutaenui) and a widow and two daughters Mrs. Lee-Jones (Wellington) and Miss B. Thoms (Porewa), are left to mourn the loss of a loving husband and father. The funeral wilt leave at 2 o'clock this (Saturday) afternoon from “Riverdale” for the Mt. View Cemetery. _________