“It would be difficult to imagine a greater contrast than that which exists between the level grass levels plains in the east of the Canterbury Province, and the rugged forest-covered country of the west. Tasman, in 1642, described the west coast of New Zealand as a ‘great land uplifted high,’ reminding him of the ‘Island …
Tommy Cass knew life’s ups and downs. By the time he was surveying the 33,000 acres that would become the Deans’ future rural station of ‘Homebush’ in 1851, Tommy had earned the respect and admiration of all those around him. You get the feeling that he walked along with a great confidence and self knowledge …
Sir Julius von Haast was born Johann Franz Haast. “…a boy in heart until the day he died…” was once said about this German geologist. Before his journey to New Zealand in 1858, Julius traveled around Europe and married Antonia Schmitt. His studies of geology and mineralogy at Bonn University unbelievably were not his reasons …
Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841 – 1934) Died of old age Place of Death: Christchurch Crossed the terrain that became known Arthur’s Pass Buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch The story of Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/sir-arthur-dudley-dobson-1841-1934/ Photo taken by Chris Bulovic
Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson was truly a man-child amongst men! Arthur first entered into history as a nine year old, aboard the ‘Cressy’ with his father Edward Senior and his older brother George. His mother and younger siblings would arrive the following year aboard the Fatima – the Canterbury Association’s 19th ship. Edward Senior struggled …
The area that we now know as the suburb of Spreydon was first owned by Augustus Moore who named it after his family’s land back in Ireland in 1853. Some reports stated that he farmed his land but he is remembered today as a brewer, running a drinking establishment named the ‘Spreydon Arms’ which was …
On 17 March 1864, young surveyor Arthur Dudley Dobson crossed the harsh terrain that would become Arthur’s Pass. “Returning to Christchurch, I made a sketch of the country I had been over, and handed it with a report to the Chief Surveyor [Thomas Cass]. I did not name the pass, but when the gold-diggings commenced …
In 1863 – two years after Cobb & Co began its coach service in the goldfields of Otago – a Cobb & Co coach rumbled into Christchurch for the first time – from Timaru. With surveyor [Sir] Arthur Dudley Dobson finding a suitable passage from the Canterbury Plains to the West Coast the following year …
