Arthur Dudley Dobson

Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (9 September 1841 – 5 March 1934) was a New Zealand 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.

Early life

Arthur Dudley Dobson was born in Islington, 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.

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.

Professional career After he finished his schooling, he was apprenticed with his father. 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. This was New Zealand's first public railway. A telegraph line was built along the rail corridor between Lyttelton and Christchurch,

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 Heritage New Zealand. Arthur Dobson prepared many of the sectional drawings.

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 Rivers. After finishing his examination, he declared that "Arthur's pass" was by far the most suitable to get to the gold fields.

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.

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 and the National Park are derived from his name, too.