FURTHER DETAILS.

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 42, 18 February 1918, Page 8

FURTHER DETAILS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. News was received last evening of the death by drowning at Whangarei early yesterday morning of Dr. Bedford, Professor of Economics and History at Otago University. Dr. Bedford arrived in Auckland about 23rd January, on a lecturing tour in the interests of temperance. He had spoken at several centres, and he was to have addressed a public meeting in the Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday evening. He reached Whangarei on Saturday evening in company with' the Rev. John Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, and was the guest of the Rev. E. Clark, Methodist minister. He left the house early , yesterday morning with the intention of bathing in the Mair Pool, in the'still water of the Hatea River, a favourite resort of swimmers. He met R. Cooper, a local resident, coming away from tho pool. Mr. Cooper pointed out to him the dangerous spots and currents. Cooper had not proceeded far when he heard cries for help. Hurrying back, he reached the Mair Pool just as Professor., Bedford was. sinking. -Although only an indifferent swimmer, Mr. Cooper attempted to rescue the drowning man. His efforts, however, were -unavailing. He then ran for help, returning with several swimmers, who attempted to recover the body by diving. After several futile attempts the police.were sent for, and the body was obtained by dragging the pool, with nets. At the inquest the Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to drowning. The evidence faflsd to disclose that deceased was in ill-l%lth or that there was any external injurj^ Dr. Bedford was b%n at Leeds, Yorkshire, in 1877, and ca\rt» New Zeafend with his parents in TVJ6. He studied ]aw in Auckland and YVellington, and won his B. A. degree at iVnedin in 18 1J9,, when he was awarded t)e Macandrew prize for political economy. He became an M.A. irt 1901, with honours in political science. He contested the Caverfiham seat unsuccessfully in that year, but wa» elected as an Independent Libeial for Dunedin in 1902. He lost tho soat in 1905.' Since then Dr. Bedford I had taken'part, in public affairs outside Parliament. He was a prominent Prohibitionist. He practis3d law iv Dunodin. Daring his term in Parliament Dr. Bedford was associated with ttie late Mr. T. E. Taylor, the late Mr. G. Laurenson, and Mr. F. M. B. Fisher in the "New Liberal" movement. About twelve months ago, Dr. Bedford toolo up the work of a field secretary to the. V.M.C.A., and was absent from New Zealand on this duty for about four months. He also gave up a good deal of time recently to a series of lectures on eugenics under the ■auspices of the V.M.C.A. ' -■ ' At the time of his death, Dr. Bedford was touring the Dominion in company with the Hev.*John Dawson in the interests of the Prohibition movement, having agreed to devote five weeks of his vacation to this purpose. Many of the ministers in the city churches last evening referred with deep feeling to the loss sustained not only. by the temperance cause but by the Dominion as a- whole by the death of Dr. Bedford, and deep sympathy was expressed with Mrs. Bedford and-.her family.