DROWNING OF MR DAWSON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 16, 17 December 1883, Page 2

DROWNING OF MR DAWSON.

[Ashburton Guardian.] Wo are sorry to have to record a sad aqpident which occurred at Longbeach on Sunday ruqrning, by which Mr Alfred Dawaon, manager of tlje Bank of Australasia at Feilding, lost his life. Mr Dawson, who lias been on a visit during the past fortnight to his father, a well-known farmer ai Waterton, went m company with his brothers, Walter, Joseph, and Charles, and his two brothers-in-law Messrs Hugh Mirr and John Barr, to bathe m the sea. The deceased, who was a strong swimmer, was warned pf danger existing from the strong undercurrent^ bujididnot regard the warning. 4-fter he had swam some distance he got into the breakers, and it is supposed that the back-wash was too strong and took him out to sea, as his companions suddenly lost sight of him. The body was washed ashore about half-anhour afterwards, at 11.30 a.m , and was conveyed to the father's house, to await the iuquest, Much sympathy is felt throughout the distiict for Mr Andrew Dawson m his sad bereavement. The deceased was about 26 years of age, and was spending a fortnight's holiday at Longbeach, in-

tending" to retuk to the North oil Wfli" neaday next, tfHE FUWERAIi. A large number of residents proceeded to Waterton m order to attend the funeral ot the late air Dawson. The various Masonic Lodges m Ash burton also met at tho Somerset Hall, and after the Lodge had been opened, the Brethren to ihe number of about 60 were also driven to the Waterton Cemetery, where the funeral ceremony took place. The Key. F. A. Scott, the Incumbent of Ashburton, read the beautiful service of the Church of England, and the Masonic ritual was read by the W.M. of the Somerset Lodge. The Masonic Brethren, according to ancient custom, dropped a piece of acacia over the coffin after the service, before leaving the cemetery.-. A large; number of the neighboring settlers attended the funeral, and much sympathy , was expressed with the bereaved rela-: tions m the sudden loss of so promising a young man.