St Pauls Papanui Cemetery - Christchurch City Libraries

“ Vanity apart, I am the only man in the province capable, from my knowledge of the
principles of construction, of undertaking such work as the cathedral.”
In 1864 an Englishman, Robert Speechly, was appointed supervising architect. He
laid the foundations of the cathedral but economic depression meant that, in 1868,
work had to be abandoned for a decade. When the task was resumed, Mountfort was
supervising architect.
There were those who recognized Edward Dobson’s contribution to the development
of the province. In 1861 he was unhorsed when crossing the swollen Rakaia River.
The Press gave thanks that he had survived: ‘There is no single man in this country
whose life is more valuable, whose loss would be more felt, and whom it would be
more difficult to replace’. However, in 1868 he lost the position of provincial
engineer and left Canterbury without receiving
… a word of thanks or an expression of regret, without a gesture from the
provincial council or a function from its citizens. How many dinners were
given and toasts drunk to pompous nobodies; and yet he departed unhonoured
and unsung.
Perhaps Dobson was undervalued because he was of independent character, ‘brusque,
abrupt and given to plain speaking’.
Edward Dobson became engineer to the Melbourne and Hobsons Bay United Railway
Company. When the company’s lines were purchased by the Victorian government,
Dobson again became a government servant. He carried through a water supply
scheme, building the Anakies dam and Malmesbury reservoir.
In 1876 Dobson returned to Canterbury and, in private practice, was responsible for
the erection of bridges, irrigation races and river protection work. Arthur Dudley
Dobson stated that there was consulting work to be done which was
…quite suitable for my father, who was getting past field work, and who, from
his long experience with Christchurch and district, was much wanted for
advice on law points involving title and occupation of land etc.
Johannes Carl Andersen saw him in these later years as he walked along Chancery
Lane and Gloucester Street.
He wore a roomy grey top hat and usually held a key at the end of a piece of
red tape in his right hand, and the key he twirled as he walked like a revolving
planet at right angle to his line of march. He smiled affably to acquaintances
as they passed, between whiles blowing out his cheeks as he emitted his breath.
Between 1887-92 Edward Dobson was lecturer in engineering at Canterbury
University College.
Edward’s son, Arthur, was knighted. His son-in-law, geologist and founder of
Canterbury Museum, Julius Haast was also knighted, being known usually as Sir
Julius von Haast.
St. Paul’s Papanui Cemetery
2007
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