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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Captain William Darling Dawson

Captain William Darling Dawson, Chairman of the Johnsonville Town Board for the period 1894–1896, is an old salt who, after nearly forty years of “life on the ocean wave,” has found a “snug harbour” in his pretty little estate of three acres on Woodland Road, Johnsonville. Born in the county of Durham, England, Captain Dawson went to sea in 1857, and had many experiences in many parts of the world till his retirement in 1893. After several years in American ships, during which he worked his way up from the forecastle to the position of chief mate, he passed his examination as second mate under the English Board of Trade, and at once joined the ship “Clasmardon,” 1598 tons, in which he went to Aden. This vessel was engaged in the transport service during the Abyssinian War, at which time, on the death of the chief officer, Captain Dawson was promoted to the vacant post. The ship foundered in a cyclone near Akyab, East India, and Captain Dawson with five other survivors was exposed for thirty-six hours lashed to the cuthead before being rescued. In 1872 he become master in Sydney of the brig “Derwent,” in which he visited many New Zealand and Australian ports. In 1874 in Sydney he took command of the brigantine “Hannah Broom-field,” which had been purchased by Messrs. Greenfield and Stewart, of Wellington, and brought her to that city, since which time his home has been in the Colony. Remaining in charge of the “Hannah Broomfield” till 1879, he joined the New Zealand Government steamer “Stella” as second mate, from which he was transferred to the s.s. “Hinemoa.” Cantain Dawson was afterwards in command of the s.s. “Stormbird,” and of the p.s. “Manawatu,' in which he remained until the sale of the Wellington and Wanganu line of steamers. He was then employed by the late Captain W. R. Williams as master of one of his barques and afterwards of his steamers. On the sale of his vessels to the Union Steamship Captain William Darling Dawson page 1068 Company, Captain Dawson continued as captain of the s.s. “Maitai,” which vessel he commanded till she was lost on the New Zealand coast. He was subsequently in charge of several of the Union Steam Ship Company's steamers. When he left the sea in 1893 he was captain of the barque “Weathersfield.” The subject of this notice, who has been a member of the Masonic Brotherhood since 1863, when he was initiated in Lodge Courage with Humanity, No. 551, E.C., Calcutta' settled in Johnsonville in 1894. In 1871 Captain Dawson was married to a daughter of the late Captain John Johnstone, of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.