SIR ARTHUR DOBSON DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1934, Page 7

SIR ARTHUR DOBSON DEAD

PIONEER OF CANTERBURY. EXPLORER, SURVEYOR, ENGINEER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, March 5. The death has occurred of Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson, aged 92, pioneer, explorer, surveyor and engineer, and one of the best-known figures in Canterbury. Sir Arthur died early this morning after two days’ illness. He had been remarkably active almost to .the last He was bom at London in 1842 and arrived at Lyttelton when ; only nine years of age. He saw Christchurch and Canterbury rise from a swamp and sandhills, and spent his life in the service of the country. Sir Arthur was educated at Christ’s College, and was one of the first pupils at the original school on the present college site. After helping his father, Mr. Edward Dobson, then Canterbury provincial and railways engineer, to survey the Lyttelton tunnel in 1853, he worked for a time with Dr. von Haast in the alpine regions of Canterbury. Then, in 1863, when the Government called tenders for a survey of the West Coast, Arthur Dobson, now 21 years of age, gained a contract to survey the new district from the Grey River to Abut Head. He chartered a small schooner of 18 tons, loaded it with stores at Nelson, and took a full week to beat down the stormy coast to the Grey River, and there the schooner was piled up on the beach. The crew were paid off, but, undaunted, the young surveyor continued his survey with the aid of Maoris and completed it successfully within 18 months. During that time he discovered Arthur’s Pass.

The greatest work of': his life Sir Arthur considered to be the erection of a breakwater at Warmambool, Victoria, under contract of £150,000, in 1889. After various undertakings on his return to New Zealand Sir Arthur was appointed Christchurch city engineer at the age of 59, retiring in 1921. He was connected with 21 organisations in the city aid abroad, and was knighted in 1931 in recognition of his outstanding services to the country and to science. A man of outstanding personality, he was cheerful in all circumstances, resolute in danger, inspiring,in energy, and proficient in a wide range of subjects, including music and horticulture. His chief outdoor recreation was bowls.