OBITUARY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 85, 27 April 1937, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR JOHN DAWSON The death occurred yesterday at Hastings of Mr John Dawson, of Frederick street, one of the early settlers and pioneers of this district. Mr Dawson was wriliar with Hastings in its smallest begmnings, for he arrived at Napier by the Mary Queen on November 9, 1879, at the age of 22 years, and was a resident of this district when the Frimley Estate extended to Nelson street, and the now Ibickly populated area arouud Lornwail Park, was open farui lands. Mr Dawson, ht. v ould have celebrated his 82nd birthday to-day had he lived, has spent the last 60 years of his life in Hastings, except for 12 years on the Clive Grange Estate. Upon coming to the district he worked under Mr N. Williams on.'the Frimley . Estate until 1908, when he purchased a section in Clive Grange. This he worked until J920, when he retired and settled down in his residence in Frederick street Though he did not I takfe a prominent part in public affairs, he nevertlieless won the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He was a zealous worker on behalf of the Methodist Church. The late Mr Dawson was twice ir.ar-

ried, his first wife, who was Miss liuth Brant, of Carlton,- Hull, England; predeceased him in 1890, and his eecqnd wife, who was Mrs Alice Read, of Hastings, also predeceased him in 1920. There were left thre© daughters- — Mesdames M. Pugh, of Mercer, and Tocker, of Taneatua, and Miss Maud"' Dawson, of Hastings — and two sons — Messrs I Allan Dawson, of Meeanee, and Albert Dawson, postmastar at Balclutha. The funeral took place this afteruoon at the Hastings cemetery and was afctended by a big number of people, representative of all sevtions of tbe cnmmunitv.