Obituaries Australia

Mr. John Beddows died at the residence of his daughter at Laman-street, Cook's Hill, on Thursday, at the age of 75 years. Deceased, who was a retired boilermaker, was well known, not only in Newcastle, but also in Sydney and Melbourne, where he did pioneer work in establishing boilermakers' societies and in furthering the eight hours movement. He was for the first nine years of its existence treasurer of the Newcastle Boilermakers' and Iron Shipbuilders' Society, and held the position of guardian at the time of his death. He began work at Galloway's, at Manchester, where he rose to be a lending hand. He came to Australia in 1855, having as a fellow passenger the father and mother of the present leader of the Labour party in the New South Wales Parliament, and on the voyage out Mr. J. S T. McGowen was born. In Victoria he was a contractor under the Government for the building of bridges. While there he took an active part in the eight hours movement, and in the initiation of a Boilermakers' Society in Victoria. He came on to Sydney in 1859; and, after working at Monanglo and Penrith, he established the Boilermakers' Society in the mother capital. This was in 1875. Then he came to Newcastle as foreman boilermaker for Moyes and Donald, who used to have a business at the rear of where the Victoria Theatre now stands. He was also foreman boilermaker for some time at Rodgers' foundry in Lower Church-street. His funeral will take place this afternoon.