DEATH OF ME DAWSON BY DROWNING.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 81, 11 December 1883, Page 2

DEATH OF ME DAWSON BY DROWNING.

(PEE UNITED PEEB9 ASSOCIATION.) Ashbubtos, This Day. Alfred Dawson went out to bathe yesterday with his three brothers and two brothers-in-law. He got into the breakers, and was washed out to sea. The body came ashore half-an-hour afterwards. An inquest will be held to-day. [The above was published as an extra yesterday.] Dawson is dead ! Those words flashed along fhe wires yesterday, brought sorrow and genuine mourning into Feilding. No man who ever trod on the land of this settlement, had earned so thoroughly the affection, esteem, and respect of all classes of the community, as the brave young fellow who has passed away. A gallant gentleman, a good Christian, a faithful servant, are words that applied to him in their fullest meaning — a true friend, of a simple pure-mindedness, innocent of evil even in thought, an upright man, and a good citizen — he was an honorable man, pure in thought and in deed. He never did an unworthy act, his hand was open, and the cry of sorrow found in him a ready sympathiser, not merely in words, but by active charity. He has died without a sin on his soul, as far as it is possible for frail and erring humanity to be siuless. He said no unkind word of any man, however much lie may have been iempted ; and no man can say he ever did him wrong. He had a daily beauty in his life. Whatever he hud to do, he did it with all his might. He had resigned his position as Manager of the Bank of Australasia to accept a partnership in the firm of Halcombc and Sherwill of this town. Before finally taking up his residence in Feilding and to cast in his lot with us permanently, he went on a brief visit to his friends in Canterbury, of which province lie was a native. It was expected that he would have returned here either to-day or to-morrow, in order to complete all business arrangements during the presence of Mr Halcombe in Peilding. It had been willed otherwise. He was an active member of the Manchester Volunteer corps. He was a moving spirit in the Peilding Athletic Sports, and no man can fill his place. Ho was an esteemed brother in the Masonic body, being Junior Warden of the Feilding Lodge. He was a Churchwarden of St. John's Church, also treasurer, and a member ot the cricket and football clubs. We may safely say that no man who has yet resided in this settlement will leave so many friends behind him to mourn his untimely end. We sincerely sympathise with the members of his family in their affliction, for ho was the " flower of the flock."