Obituaries Australia

John Dixon

Sydney Mail, 25 August 1900, p 445

It goes almost without saying that the news of the death of Mr. John Dixon, senior inspector of collieries, was received yesterday with profound feelings of regret. He was generally respected throughout the northern district, and also by all who had any acquaintance with him in other parts of the colony. He was a straightforward, honorable man in private life, a really good citizen, and a most conscientious officer of the Mines Department. The fact that he could not get about his official duties worried him during the past week or so. He had his mind made up to accompany the chief inspector, Mr. A. A. Atkinson, on Monday last, to the opening of the mine at Gunnedah, which was sealed down after an explosion which occurred there some months back. Without his knowledge his son, Mr. Jonathan Dixon, wrote to Mr. Atkinson saying that his father was not in a fit state to undertake the task, and received a reply to the effect that Mr. Dixon need not worry, and that Mr. Trumble would go in his stead. Even this troubled him, for, after being the inspector for the mine all through, and having taken a prominent part in the sealing down operations, he had wished to be present at the re-opening. But the time came on that very Monday for him to take to his bed, and he remained there (with but a few intervals of sitting up on a chair) until an old disease interfered with a blood-vessel and brought about a quick termination of a good and well-spent life. The people of Merewether were shocked at the news of his death, for as late as Sunday last Mr. Dixon was twice in his old place at the Primitive Methodist Church, and on the very evening of his death he had been cheerily chatting with Mr. Winchester of the local Coal Fields Office, and the Rev. Mr. Smith, a Church of England Minister from Rockley, near Bathurst, an old friend of his.

Miss Dixon was alone with her father when the premonitory signals of the end came. She felt powerless to do all that she wished, and her requests for assistance were at once heeded by the neighbours. The end came just a couple of minutes before his son, Mr. J. Dixon, arrived. Besides the Stockton and Dudley disasters, which, as explained yesterday, had an effect on his constitution, Mr. Dixon was pained greatly over the exhaustive inquiry concerning the management of the Newcastle Company's A pit, of which he had made many inspections. The day before he died he had had certain published correspondence on the subject read to him, on which he had commented.

Among the telegrams received yesterday expressing condolence with the relatives were messages from the Revs. J. B. Penman, of Mudgee, and B. Metcalfe, of Leichhardt, who were formerly in Merewether; the Rev. J. Penman, of Balmain; Mr. A. A. Atkinson, chief inspector, and Mr. W. Humble, Government colliery inspector (who was wired to at Gunnedah by Mr. H. Winchester). Mr. Jonathan Dixon, a brother, who is a colliery manager at Westport, New Zealand, wired: "Deeply grieved at news," and mourn with you." Many other people wired their sympathy, and all stated that they would if possible be present at the funeral, which will leave Merewether near the old Hamilton pit at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Arrangements are being made for the brethren of the Masonic Lodge to attend the funeral, the deceased having been a member of the Lodge St. John, at the Junction. In his time Mr. Dixon had acted as Primitive Methodist minister. This was some years ago, when the Newcastle circuit was awaiting the arrival of the Rev. E. C. Pritchard. He had also been president and vice president of the conference, and was for many years a delegate thereto. He had been 39 years a local preacher, and kept day and date and place of delivery of each of the thousands of sermons which he was always proud to say he had preached in the P.M. Church pulpits. The funeral to-day is sure to be largely attended.