REV. L DAWSON THOMAS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2584, 19 August 1909, Page 2

REV. L DAWSON THOMAS.

HIS RETURN TO GISBORNE. The Rer. L. Dawson Thomas, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, who left Gisborne at three hours' notice three months ago on receipt of a cablegram announcing his wife’s serious illness in a private hospital in Sydney, returned to Gisborne by the s.s. Moura yesterday afternoon. Interviewed by a “Times” representative, Mr. Thomas stated that lie crossed over to Sydney in the Warrimoo, and, on the doctor’s advice, took Mrs. Thomas to the snowy country on the western tableland, near Bathurst. During the six weeks be spent in the west, Mr. Thomas acted as locum tenons lor Archdeacon Howell, rector of Blarney. On liis return to Sydney, at the request of the Archdeacon, he returned to Blarney to take another Sunday’s duty. Unfortunately, on their return to tho city, they found Mrs. Thomas’ doctor was seriously ill, and it was therefore impossible to ascertain whether the lady’s health had sufficiently recovered to enable her io make the return trip to Gisborne. Though tlio sojourn in the' bracing air of the ..snowy country had apparently done. Mrs.. Thomas’ health a great dead of good, the doctor’s report had not been obtained bofore Mr. Thomas left for home.

Mr. Thomas found ..that the reports of the unbounded prosperity prevailing in New South Wales/ had been in no way exaggerated. The State was on the crest of a wave of phenomenal prosperity, and a record year is assured for wool and wheat. A great outcry was being raised against the Railway Commissioners for not providing enough rolling stock to cope with the increased carriage of products owing to the.good seasons. It was considered that a trcniendoii? congestion would occur at the. country Tilxl way when the shearing and haryAs£ seasons were at their height. The Com mission-' ors have already placed an order (of 1309 new trucks, but this will be altogether inadequate to cope with the stiftin. Mr, Thomas’ duties carried him into the very heart of the rabbit infested country, and ho has no hesitation in saying that New South Wales’s chief curse is “bunny.” After completing his duties at Blarney, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas made a short stay on one of tho largest western sheep stations, and he had it direct from the owner that the cost of eradicating the pest- had amounted to as much as £30,000. Tho boundaries had to be enclosed with wire-netting, while there was also a Very lioavr expenditure for trapping. This was all very well for’the wealthy iand owners, but the small farmers felt the strain severely, and many of them had been absolutely ruined by the pest. The carrying capacity of most estates had been reduced by half, and country that carried one sheep to tho acre a few years ago will now barely carry half-a-sheep per acre. The curse of the rabbit had, strangelyq enough, proved a blessing to many, in that it is giving employment to innumerable trappers. A largo rabbit freezing works is in full swing at Blarney, and in the busy season upwards of £2OOO per week is paid out to trappers. During his short stay in the city, he was able" to see something of the work of the church in alleviating distress ir. the congested areas. "What appealed to him very strongly was the opening of a “Home of Peace lor the Dying,” conducted by the Church of England. Football was very much to the fore while Mr. Thomas was in Sydney, and the great match between the Maoris and the New South Wales League representative team created a vast amount of interest, and, unfortun I'nly, not a little feeling. The Pousouh.v team was also playing in Sydney, ai d they returned to New Zealand m me same boat*. Mr. Thomas found them a line lot of fellows, but they wore all showing the effects of the hard tinsels they had engaged in on the other side. Mr. Thomas has returned very much benefited by his stay in sunny New South Wales, and plunges at once into his parochial work. Asked as to his future movements, vfr. Thomas stated that if the doctor’s report as to Mrs. Thomas’ health is satisfactory, he intends to settle down in Gisborne and permanently remain in the parish. Mr. Thomas will officiate at all the services at Holy Trinity Church next Sunday.