Arthur Dudley Dobson
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (9 September 1841 – 5 March 1934) was a pioneer surveyor, engineer and explorer. Born in London, he came to Lyttelton
, New Zealand
in 1850 on one of the First Four Ships. He is best known for taking the first party of Europeans over Arthur's Pass.
, London, in 1841. He was the son of Edward Dobson
(1816–1908) and Mary Ann, née Lough. His father was a surveyor and railway engineer, which had a major influence on his life. He received his early education in Nottingham
.
When the railway boom ended in England, his father decided to emigrate to New Zealand. He purchased land from the Canterbury Association
and sailed to the colony on the Cressy
, one of the First Four Ships. The Cressy arrived in Lyttelton
on 27 December 1850. He took his two oldest boys with him, George (1840–1866) and Arthur.
His father found that life in the new colony with two young sons was challenging, and they were sent to their uncle, Reverend Charles Dobson, the vicar of Buckland
in Tasmania
, where they stayed for three years. On their return journey, they landed in Nelson
, where they stayed with another uncle, Alfred Dobson. He was surveying the Nelson region and soon after became the Nelson provincial
surveyor.
Meanwhile, his mother had arrived on the Fatima, which had landed in Lyttelton exactly one year after them, on 27 December 1851. She had the other children with her: Mary Ann (1844–1913), Caroline (1845–1932), Edward Henry (1847–1934) and Maria Eliza (b. 1848). His remaining siblings were born in New Zealand: Robert (1852–1893), Emily Frances (1857–1943), Herbert Alex (1860–1948) and Collet Barker (1861–1926).
As his father had been appointed Canterbury provincial
engineer in 1854, the financial situation improved, and the boys were sent to Christ's College
, then the best school in Christchurch. Prior to this, Arthur was taught by the Reverend G. Cotterill in Lyttelton.
. They then surveyed the Rangiora
main drain, which resulted in reclaiming 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of swamp land.
Arthur Dobson spent several months surveying in North Canterbury, reaching Lake Sumner
and the Hurunui River
. From December 1860, he spent two years with the German immigrant geologist Julius von Haast
. Haast was appointed provincial geologist in February 1861, and he undertook much geological work with Dobson. The two undertook geological surveys, explored and surveyed the Kowai River
, explored the Southern Alps and its glaciers and tried climbing mountains, succeeding with Mount Torlesse but failing to scale Mt Cook.
His father supervised the construction of the Ferrymead Railway
, connecting the wharf in Ferrymead
with Christchurch and opening on 1 December 1863. This was New Zealand's first public railway. A telegraph line was built along the rail corridor between Lyttelton and Christchurch, and when it opened on 1 July 1862, it was the first telegraph line in New Zealand. New Zealand Post
celebrated the centenary with the publication of two commemorative stamps.
His father's most important project was the superintendency of the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel
, an engineering feat that is recognised with a Category I heritage protection by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
. Arthur Dobson prepared many of the sectional drawings.
In 1863, he went to the mostly unexplored West Coast of the South Island for seven months of survey work. His area of work extended from the Grey River
to Abut Head
, and inland up to the Main Divide
. His brother Edward, meanwhile, was clearing a rough track over Harper Pass. Arthur Dobson returned to Christchurch and reported his findings to the chief curveyor, Thomas Cass.
Cass then commissioned Arthur Dobson in 1864 to find out whether there is a suitable pass from the Waimakariri
watershed to the West Coast. George and Arthur Dobson set out in March 1864, later to be joined by their brother Edward at Craigieburn
. While George surveyed road lines there, Edward and Arthur proceeded to explore the high country. On the advice of West Coast Māori chief Tarapuhi, they found a pass that steeply descended to what became known as Otira
; the route had long been used by Māori for trading pounamu. Arthur prepared a report, which included a sketch of the unnamed pass, and presented it to Cass.
Soon after, the discovery of gold triggered the West Coast Gold Rush
. Edward Dobson was commissioned to examine every possible pass to the West Coast from the watersheds of the Waimakariri, Taramakau
and Hurunui River
s. After finishing his examination, he declared that "Arthur's pass" was by far the most suitable to get to the gold fields. The provincial government decided that a road was to be built between Christchurch and Hokitika, a distance of 156 miles, and Edward Dobson was put in charge of the project. The road was opened on 20 March 1866. The alpine pass became known as Arthur's Pass, with a nearby village
and a later a national park
also taking this name.
On 1 October 1866, Arthur Dobson was appointed assistant provincial engineer for Nelson
. Soon after, he married and started a family. The following year, he explored the Motueka
and Karamea
districts, and surveyed a track over the Mount Arthur Range. In April 1869, he became the district engineer for the West Coast gold fields that were located within the Nelson Province, with him being based in Westport
. In May 1871, he was promoted to provincial engineer, and in December of that year he became chief surveyor. While still employed by the Nelson Province, he was put in charge of railway construction in Westport by the government in October 1872.
He resigned his roles with the Nelson Province in 1875 over a change in provincial government. He was then appointed by central government as the district engineer for Nelson, with responsibility for railway construction. He mapped the Westport coalfields with James Hector
.
In 1884, he went to London, where he had many interests, all fed by his London life; met botanists, geologists, went to concerts and galleries, and took lessons in the flute. When he returned to New Zealand in 1885 the depression changed his circumstances: he worked in Victoria
until 1889, returned to New Zealand and took over his father's business.
He was Christchurch City
Engineer from 1901 to 1921. He was knighted in 1931.
Haast became Dobson's brother in law on 25 June 1863, by marrying his sister Mary at St Mary's Church in Heathcote Valley
. The couple had four sons and a daughter.
His first son Arthur George Dobson, Selwyn County engineer, died on 17 January 1905 (aged 37) after having been thrown from a cart. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery
two days later.
His wife died on 27 September 1930, aged 83 years. His second son, Ernest Henry Dobson, also died before him. He is also buried in Linwood Cemetery (but in a different area of it), having died on 16 October 1931. He was interred the following day. His headstone reads: "In loving memory of Ernest Henry beloved husband of Elizabeth Mary DOBSON and second son of Sir Arthur Dudley and the late Eleanor DOBSON Died 16th October 1931 aged 62 years At rest"
Arthur Dobson died on 5 March 1934 at Christchurch of cardiac arrest. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery the following day in the same plot as his first son and his wife. His tombstone reads:
Arthur's Pass was named by his father for him, and the village
and the National Park
are derived from his name, too. A memorial cairn is placed at the alpine pass.
Dobson Street in Spreydon
is named for him.
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1850 on one of the First Four Ships. He is best known for taking the first party of Europeans over Arthur's Pass.
Early life
Arthur Dudley Dobson was born in IslingtonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London, in 1841. He was the son of Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson was Provincial Engineer for the Canterbury Province from 1854 to 1868.-Early life:Edward Dobson was born in London, probably in 1816 or 1817. His parents were John Dobson, a merchant, and Elizabeth Barker. By the time he started his apprenticeship as an architect and surveyor in...
(1816–1908) and Mary Ann, née Lough. His father was a surveyor and railway engineer, which had a major influence on his life. He received his early education in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
When the railway boom ended in England, his father decided to emigrate to New Zealand. He purchased land from the Canterbury Association
Canterbury Association
The Canterbury Association was formed in order to establish a colony in what is now the Canterbury Region in the South Island of New Zealand.- Formation of the Association :...
and sailed to the colony on the Cressy
Cressy (ship)
The Cressy was one of the first four ships in 1850 to carry emigrants from England to the new colony of Canterbury in New Zealand. The Cressy was the last to arrive on 27 December. The other ships were Charlotte-Jane, Sir George Seymour and Randolph.The passengers aboard these four ships were...
, one of the First Four Ships. The Cressy arrived in Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
on 27 December 1850. He took his two oldest boys with him, George (1840–1866) and Arthur.
His father found that life in the new colony with two young sons was challenging, and they were sent to their uncle, Reverend Charles Dobson, the vicar of Buckland
Buckland, Tasmania
Buckland is a village on the Tasman Highway in Tasmania, Australia. The post code is 7190. It contains an historic church, St John the Baptist church. At the 2006 census, Buckland had a population of 193.-History:...
in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, where they stayed for three years. On their return journey, they landed in Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
, where they stayed with another uncle, Alfred Dobson. He was surveying the Nelson region and soon after became the Nelson provincial
Nelson Province
The Nelson Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-History:The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the...
surveyor.
Meanwhile, his mother had arrived on the Fatima, which had landed in Lyttelton exactly one year after them, on 27 December 1851. She had the other children with her: Mary Ann (1844–1913), Caroline (1845–1932), Edward Henry (1847–1934) and Maria Eliza (b. 1848). His remaining siblings were born in New Zealand: Robert (1852–1893), Emily Frances (1857–1943), Herbert Alex (1860–1948) and Collet Barker (1861–1926).
As his father had been appointed Canterbury provincial
Canterbury Province
The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River in the north and the Waitaki River in the south...
engineer in 1854, the financial situation improved, and the boys were sent to Christ's College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
, then the best school in Christchurch. Prior to this, Arthur was taught by the Reverend G. Cotterill in Lyttelton.
Professional career
After he finished his schooling, he was apprenticed with his father. An early task for the father and son team was to determine the depth of mud in Lyttelton HarbourLyttelton Harbour
Lyttelton Harbour is one of two major inlets in Banks Peninsula, on the coast of Canterbury, New Zealand. The other is Akaroa Harbour.Approximately 15 km in length from its mouth to Teddington, the harbour was formed from a series of ancient volcanic eruptions that created a caldera, the...
. They then surveyed the Rangiora
Rangiora, New Zealand
Rangiora is a rural town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest town in north Canterbury and the seat of the Waimakariri District Council.-Geography:...
main drain, which resulted in reclaiming 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of swamp land.
Arthur Dobson spent several months surveying in North Canterbury, reaching Lake Sumner
Lake Sumner
Lake Sumner, known as Hokakura in Māori, is a lake situated 100 km northwest of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The lake is located in the Lake Sumner Forest Park; the Hurunui River and several other lakes also lie within the park.The Lake Sumner region is a popular area...
and the Hurunui River
Hurunui River
The Hurunui River is the fourth largest of the four principal rivers in north Canterbury, New Zealand, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres. The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps, to the Pacific Ocean....
. From December 1860, he spent two years with the German immigrant geologist Julius von Haast
Julius von Haast
Sir Johann Franz "Julius" von Haast was a German geologist. He founded Canterbury Museum at Christchurch.-Biography:...
. Haast was appointed provincial geologist in February 1861, and he undertook much geological work with Dobson. The two undertook geological surveys, explored and surveyed the Kowai River
Kowai River
The Kowai River is a river in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand. It rises on the southern flanks of the Torlesse Range and travels south, emerging from the foothills of the Southern Alps near Springfield. The river turns east across the upper Canterbury Plains before joining the Waimakariri...
, explored the Southern Alps and its glaciers and tried climbing mountains, succeeding with Mount Torlesse but failing to scale Mt Cook.
His father supervised the construction of the Ferrymead Railway
Ferrymead Railway
The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealand's first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. On the opening of the line to Lyttelton on 9 December 1867, the Ferrymead Railway became the Ferrymead Branch and...
, connecting the wharf in Ferrymead
Ferrymead
-Geography:Ferrymead is located on the Avon Heathcote Estuary, close to the point where the Heathcote River drains into the estuary, and three km west of the eventual outflow into Pegasus Bay. To the north lie the oxidation ponds from Christchurch's main sewage treatment works, which are within a...
with Christchurch and opening on 1 December 1863. This was New Zealand's first public railway. A telegraph line was built along the rail corridor between Lyttelton and Christchurch, and when it opened on 1 July 1862, it was the first telegraph line in New Zealand. New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post, commonly referred by its acronym, NZPost is a State owned enterprise responsible for providing postal service in New Zealand.-History:...
celebrated the centenary with the publication of two commemorative stamps.
His father's most important project was the superintendency of the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel
Lyttelton rail tunnel
The Lyttelton Rail Tunnel, initially called the Moorhouse Tunnel, links the city of Christchurch with the port of Lyttelton in the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island. It is the country’s oldest operational rail tunnel, and is on one of the first railway lines in the district...
, an engineering feat that is recognised with a Category I heritage protection by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
. Arthur Dobson prepared many of the sectional drawings.
In 1863, he went to the mostly unexplored West Coast of the South Island for seven months of survey work. His area of work extended from the Grey River
Grey River
The Grey River / Māwheranui is located in the northwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It rises in Lake Christabel, one of numerous small lakes on the western side of the Southern Alps,12 kilometres southwest of the Lewis Pass, and runs westward for 120 kilometres before draining into the...
to Abut Head
Abut Head
Abut Head is a forested headland on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located north of the village of Whataroa and west of Harihari, and is southwest of the Westland District's main centre, Hokitika. On the southern side of the headland, the Whataroa River meets the Tasman Sea. To...
, and inland up to the Main Divide
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
. His brother Edward, meanwhile, was clearing a rough track over Harper Pass. Arthur Dobson returned to Christchurch and reported his findings to the chief curveyor, Thomas Cass.
Cass then commissioned Arthur Dobson in 1864 to find out whether there is a suitable pass from the Waimakariri
Waimakariri River
The Waimakariri River is the largest of the North Canterbury rivers, in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows for 151 kilometres in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean....
watershed to the West Coast. George and Arthur Dobson set out in March 1864, later to be joined by their brother Edward at Craigieburn
Craigieburn, New Zealand
Craigieburn is the name of several geographic features in northwest Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island.The Craigieburn Range of mountains is located on the south banks of the Waimakariri River, south of Arthur's Pass. The Craigieburn Valley ski area is world renowned, and it located on its...
. While George surveyed road lines there, Edward and Arthur proceeded to explore the high country. On the advice of West Coast Māori chief Tarapuhi, they found a pass that steeply descended to what became known as Otira
Otira
Otira is a small township seven kilometres north of Arthur's Pass in the central South Island of New Zealand. It is on the western approach to the pass, a saddle between the Otira and Bealey Rivers high in the Southern Alps...
; the route had long been used by Māori for trading pounamu. Arthur prepared a report, which included a sketch of the unnamed pass, and presented it to Cass.
Soon after, the discovery of gold triggered the West Coast Gold Rush
West Coast Gold Rush
The West Coast Gold Rush on the West Coast of New Zealand from 1864 to 1867 populated the area, which up till then had been visited by few Europeans. Gold was found near the Taramakau River in 1864 by two Māori, Ihaia Tainui and Haimona Taukau...
. Edward Dobson was commissioned to examine every possible pass to the West Coast from the watersheds of the Waimakariri, Taramakau
Taramakau River
The Taramakau River is in the northwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It rises in the Southern Alps, 80 kilometres due east of Hokitika, and immediately below the saddle of the Harper's Pass, and runs westward for 75 kilometres into the Tasman Sea 15 kilometres south of Greymouth.Several...
and Hurunui River
Hurunui River
The Hurunui River is the fourth largest of the four principal rivers in north Canterbury, New Zealand, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres. The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps, to the Pacific Ocean....
s. After finishing his examination, he declared that "Arthur's pass" was by far the most suitable to get to the gold fields. The provincial government decided that a road was to be built between Christchurch and Hokitika, a distance of 156 miles, and Edward Dobson was put in charge of the project. The road was opened on 20 March 1866. The alpine pass became known as Arthur's Pass, with a nearby village
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. It marks part of the boundary between the West Coast and Canterbury regions, 140 km from Christchurch and 95 km from Greymouth. The pass lies in a saddle between the valleys of the Otira River, a...
and a later a national park
Arthur's Pass National Park
Arthur's Pass National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand.It was established in 1929, becoming the first national park in the South Island and the third in New Zealand. It is bisected by State Highway 73. The road passes through Arthur's Pass village and the mountain pass with the...
also taking this name.
On 1 October 1866, Arthur Dobson was appointed assistant provincial engineer for Nelson
Nelson Province
The Nelson Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-History:The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the...
. Soon after, he married and started a family. The following year, he explored the Motueka
Motueka
The town of Motueka in the South Island of New Zealand lies close to the mouth of the Motueka River, on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is, after Nelson and Richmond, the third largest centre in the Tasman Region, with a population of 7125...
and Karamea
Karamea
Karamea is a town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.It is the northernmost settlement of any real size on the West Coast, and is located 96 kilometres north-east by road from Westport. There is no other connecting road to the town - the road north ends at the Kohaihai River some...
districts, and surveyed a track over the Mount Arthur Range. In April 1869, he became the district engineer for the West Coast gold fields that were located within the Nelson Province, with him being based in Westport
Westport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
. In May 1871, he was promoted to provincial engineer, and in December of that year he became chief surveyor. While still employed by the Nelson Province, he was put in charge of railway construction in Westport by the government in October 1872.
He resigned his roles with the Nelson Province in 1875 over a change in provincial government. He was then appointed by central government as the district engineer for Nelson, with responsibility for railway construction. He mapped the Westport coalfields with James Hector
James Hector
Sir James Hector was a Scottish geologist, naturalist, and surgeon who accompanied the Palliser Expedition as a surgeon and geologist...
.
In 1884, he went to London, where he had many interests, all fed by his London life; met botanists, geologists, went to concerts and galleries, and took lessons in the flute. When he returned to New Zealand in 1885 the depression changed his circumstances: he worked in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
until 1889, returned to New Zealand and took over his father's business.
He was Christchurch City
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
Engineer from 1901 to 1921. He was knighted in 1931.
Family, death and commemoration
Dobson married Eleanor, the daughter of the Nelson Provincial Council survey staff member Henry Lewis, on 20 November 1866 at Nelson. They had four children.Haast became Dobson's brother in law on 25 June 1863, by marrying his sister Mary at St Mary's Church in Heathcote Valley
Heathcote Valley
-Location:The suburb is dominated by the approaches to the Lyttelton road tunnel, a major arterial that passes through the Port Hills. The road is part of the State Highway 74 network...
. The couple had four sons and a daughter.
His first son Arthur George Dobson, Selwyn County engineer, died on 17 January 1905 (aged 37) after having been thrown from a cart. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery
Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch
Linwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is the fifth oldest cemetery in the city that still exists and it is virtually full. Opened in 1884, it has seen some 20,000 burials. The first burial, of the Sexton's wife, was held even before the cemetery was...
two days later.
His wife died on 27 September 1930, aged 83 years. His second son, Ernest Henry Dobson, also died before him. He is also buried in Linwood Cemetery (but in a different area of it), having died on 16 October 1931. He was interred the following day. His headstone reads: "In loving memory of Ernest Henry beloved husband of Elizabeth Mary DOBSON and second son of Sir Arthur Dudley and the late Eleanor DOBSON Died 16th October 1931 aged 62 years At rest"
Arthur Dobson died on 5 March 1934 at Christchurch of cardiac arrest. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery the following day in the same plot as his first son and his wife. His tombstone reads:
Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson K.B. d 5 March 1934 aged 92. Discoverer of Arthur’s Pass, 1863. District Engineer, Nelson-Westport goldfield 1878. City Engineer of Christchurch from 1901 to 1921.
Arthur's Pass was named by his father for him, and the village
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. It marks part of the boundary between the West Coast and Canterbury regions, 140 km from Christchurch and 95 km from Greymouth. The pass lies in a saddle between the valleys of the Otira River, a...
and the National Park
Arthur's Pass National Park
Arthur's Pass National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand.It was established in 1929, becoming the first national park in the South Island and the third in New Zealand. It is bisected by State Highway 73. The road passes through Arthur's Pass village and the mountain pass with the...
are derived from his name, too. A memorial cairn is placed at the alpine pass.
Dobson Street in Spreydon
Spreydon
Spreydon is a middle-class suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. The most central street through Spreydon is Lyttelton Street. Spreydon is flanked by the suburbs Barrington, Hoon Hay, Riccarton, and Lower Cashmere....
is named for him.