88 TO-DAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 8

88 TO-DAY.

MR ARTHUR DUDLR DOBSON. EXPLORER AND SURVBYOft, Mr Arthur Dudley Dobson, enters upon his 89th year to-day, is tm» of the few remaining survivors of tks Canterbury Pilgrims who arrived W "the First Four Ships." and his muj friends, not only in Christehurch, fcat in Canterbury, will wish him many yeaq of continued her.lth and happiness. Mr Dobson was born in London on Sep. tembcr 9th, 1841. and was nine years of age when his father, Mr Edward Dohao* (for many years Canterbury Provincial and Railway Engineer) and his f»w»sw arrived by the Cressy at Lyttetto* | in 1850. In 18-53 he started 4 under his father. to aerv* |fi j years' articles .is engineer aaj : surveyor. Afterwards he, was gaged* in connexion -with the the Lyttelton tunnel, and on sarnji for various purposes, from the ttA nnlin to the Waitaki rivers. He was gfc tached as topographical surveyor to tkf Canterbury Geological Survey, and the first survey of the Mount C4OS Glacier: with Dr. von Haast he asees&i Mount Cook for nearly 8000 ft in X9H and 1564. He explored and surveyed the West Coast from the Grey riverJg Abut Head, and from the sea to fja. mountains; and discovered ArflnS Pass (named after him), which prWi§ the best route for the road betnM§| Canterbury and Westland. Amongst-<2 important engineering projects Mr Des* son was connected with, before been*, ing City Engineer of Christciurch, wgjl the construction of Warraambool (Tlfc toria) breakwater, a work that eMt> £150.000. From 3 891 to 1921 Mr Dsfc> son was City Engineer. Mr Dobatf is an ex-president of the Canterbioy Automobile Association, in which h 4 continues to take an active interest. Hie has been foi a long period connects! with the Christehurch Beautifying Association, in recent years as presided Mr Dobson's other interests are cated by the fact that he 3s a mem!** of the New Zealand Society of <S® Engineers, the New Zealand Ifstitet# of Surveyors, the Philosophical Instl* tute of Canterbury, the AstronomiM Society, the Australasian the Advancement of Science, and 4 former member of the Institute of

gineers (London), and of the Geologii cal Society (London). * Mr Dobson has seen Chrirtchureh from a swamp and a few sandhills, habited by a handful of white men, H the City it is to-day. One of hit dreams was to witness the development of hydro-electricity, and to see Christchurch a smokeless City, a state «C things that daily ifl coming near®. U complete realisation;