REMARKABLE CAREER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26607, 1 November 1947, Page 6

REMARKABLE CAREER

FORMER POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DEATH OF MR JOHN DWYER Daily Times Special Service CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 31.. A former police superintendent in Christchurch, Mr John Dwyer, died this morning at the age of 90. In his remarkable career in the force, lasting more than 43 years, he was associated with many famous cases, and earned two awards for bravery. He was publicly presented with a silver medal for the rescue at Dunedin of a woman and her child from a blazing building in 1882, and in 1891 received an award from the Royq} Humane Society for the rescue of a drowning man from the harbour at Oamaru. . Born on New Year’s Day, 1857, ,in Ireland, Mr Dwyer came to New Zealand at the age of 21, in the City of Auckland which was wrecked at Otaki. No lives were lost, but most of the passengers, including Mr Dwyer, lost nearly all their belongings. He joined the police force soon after his arrival, and was first stationed at Dunedin in 1878. He transferred to the Otago goldfields in 1897, and remained there for 18 months as a sergeant. and then came to Christchurch. In 1902 he was promoted to the rank of sub-inspector and sent to Dunedin.. After six months there he returned to Christchurch. Mr Dwyer was in charge of police during the New Zealand International Exhibition at Christchurch in 1906-07. He was promoted inspector at Napier. He transferred to Dunedin in May, 1912, and was promoted to superintendent in 1913. One of his most difficult assignments while at Dunedin was connected with the strike in 1913. His last shift was to Christchurch, in 1914. He retired in August, 1921, at the age of 65. Police officers will act as pall-bearers at his funeral. Mr Dwyer is survived by his wife and three daughters, and one son.