NEW YEAR HONOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20761, 2 January 1931, Page 8

NEW YEAR HONOURS.

THE DOMINION LIST.

TWO NEW KNIGHTS. MR. LEYS, OF AUCKLAND. MR. ARTHUR DUDLEY DOBSON. [BY TELEORAPn.— PttESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. An announcement has been issued by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloo, to tho effect that His Majesty tho King has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the new year, to confer the following honours: — KNIGHT BACHELOR. Mr. Arthur Dudley Dobson, of Christchurch: e Mr. Cecil Leys, of Auckland. O.M.G. Mr. George Alexander Troup, Mayor of Wellington. Mr. Alexander Crabb, secretary of High Commissioner's Department, London. G.B.E. Mr. William Waddel, superintendent, State Advances Department, Wellington. HONORARY 0.8. E. Malletoa Tanumaflli, Western Samoa. SIR ARTHUR DUDLEY DOBSON. Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson is a veteran explorer and engineer and his name is perpetuated in Arthur's Pass, which he discovered in 1864 while he was exploring the ranges to find an access to the West Coast goldfields from Canterbury. Born in London in 1842, he came to New Zealand as a boy of eight and was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch. He entered the Canterbury Provincial Survey Department and was surveying in the Southern Alps when he was 20 years of ace In 1863, when 21 years of age, he took a contract under the Government to survey and map the then unknown West Coast from Greymouth, and the following year discovered Arthur's Pass. In 1000 he was appointed assistant provincial engineer to the Public Works Department in Nelson, being engaged on waterworks and opening up tho West Coast goldfields. He was appointed provincial engineer in 1871 He became chief surveyor to the Public Works Department in 1875 and during the next three years laid out the Westport-Ngakawau railway. _ On the abolition of the provinces he joined his father in private engineering practice in Christchurch and in 1885 went to England in connection with the Midland Railway project. Ho subsequently went to Australia, and, in partnership with Mr. J. B. Mackenzie, constructed tho Warrnambool breakwater. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed city engineer in Christchurch, retiring a few years ago. Although 09 years of age, Sir Arthur is still in private practice in Christchurch. Ho served on the Auckland Water Supply Commission in 1927.

SIR CECIL LEYS. Sir Cecil Leys, whose knighthood has been conferred in recognition of services performed to the profession of journalism in New Zealand, is managing-director of New Zealand Newspapers, Limited, which controls the Auckland Star and Christchurch Times. Born in 1877, he was educated at the Auckland Grammar Schoo and won diplomas at Lincoln Agricultural College. He joined the reporting staff of the Auckland Star in 1895, and in 1897 spent a year in London with the New Zealand Press Agency. Ho became assistant-editor of the Auckland Star in 1903. During the war, from 1915 to 1918, he saw active service, first in the Balkans with the Red Cross, to which ho presented an ambulance car, and later as an officer in the Royal Naval "Volunteer Reserve during the operations in the Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed editor of the Auckland Star and managingdirector in 1926. When New Zealand Newspapers, Limited, was formed last year no became managing-director of the company. In addition to his,journalistic associations, Sir Cecil Leys has taken a keen interest in the social and cultural life of the city of Auckland. He is president of the Leys Institute, established under the will of his uncle, the late Mr. William Leys, and founded by his father, the late Dr. T. W. Leys, as a library and a community centre for the young people of the Ponsonby district. He is a member of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum and a member of the governing bodies of many literary, dramatic and artistic societies. Ho is also a director of the New Zealand* Press Association. MR. G. A. TROUP. For four years Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup has long been connected with tho business and public life of the city. Born in London, of Scottish parentage, ho was educated in Aberdeen and indentured in Edinburgh to tho architectural and engineering professions. Ho came to New Zealand when 20 years of ago and entered the Government Survey Department and later the New Zealand Railways, in which he rose to the position of engineer and officer in charge of the architectural branches. Ho left the Railway Department in 1924 and devoted his energies to his many business interests, acting as chairman of directors for a number of companies. He is a member of the advisory board of tho McCarthy Trust, a member of the board of Scots' and Queen Margaret Colleges and tho board of governors of tho Wellington Rotary Club. He has been associated with the Wellington Boys' Institute since its inception and has been president for over 25 years. Among the many fino public buildings which lie designed was the Dunedin railway station. _ Ho was elected a member of tho Wellington City Council in 1920 and became Mayor in 1926. Among his many interests is a love of art, and he is a life member of tho Royal Academy. MR. ALEXANDER CRABB. Mr. Alexander Crabb is secretary at the High Commissioner's Office in London. He is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and was formerly on tho veterinary staff of the New Zoaland Government. Later he was transferred to London as veterinary officer in tho High Commissioner's Office, and was appointed official secretary to tho High Commissioner in succession to Mr. T. E. Donno in 1923. MR. WILLIAM WADDEL. Mr. William Waddel has been connected with the State Advances Department since 1895. He was born iij the South Island and entered a mercantile office before joining the Government Service. He was appointed officer in charge of the State Advances Department in 1897 and in 1907 was promoted to tho position of deputysuperintendent, holding that post until 1922, when ho was appointed permanent head of tho department. Mr. Waddel is a member of the Public Trust Office Investment Board, the Government Insurance Board, tho State Fire Insurance Board, the Dominion Land Purchase Board and tho Public Service Superannuation Board.