DOBSON, Sir Arthur Dudley 1841–1934

Born in London, son of Edward Dobson (q.v.) who took his family to Lyttelton on the Cressy in 1850. In 1851 sent to Tasmania for education, then 1853 taught by the Rev. G. Cotterill in Lyttelton and later went to Christ's College, Christchurch. Began surveying and engineering under his father, prospected for coal, explored, and carried out topographical surveys. In 1869 was district engineer for the Nelson and West Coast goldfields, then district engineer under the government in charge of railway construction; in 1884 was sent to London. Had many interests, all fed by his London life; met botanists, geologists, went to concerts and presumably to galleries, 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; was Christchurch City Engineer 1901–21, knighted 1931.