MR. ERNEST D. DOBSON

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 136, 6 December 1938, Page 13

MR. ERNEST D. DOBSON

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") . BLENHEIM, this day. The death occurred at the Wairau Hospital last evening of Mr. Ernest ! Douglas Dobson, of Blenheim, at the age of 75 years. The late Mr. Dobson, who was one of the oldest licensed surveyors in New Zealand, was a member of a family connected with early survey work in the South Island, being the son of the late Mr. Alfred Dobson, first provincial engineer of Nelson and Marlborough, who was responsible for much of the early survey work in Blenheim, and a cousin. of Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson, well known for his pioneer surveying and engineering in Canterbury and on the West Coast. Born in Blenheim in 1863 he was educated here, and in 1879 joined his father on the land plans of the railway from the Grovetown school to Blenheim. In 1880 he was associated with various road works undertaken by the Public Works Department in Marlborough and afterwards he rejoined his father. In 1887 he set up in private practice, being, engineer to the Wairau River Board, and was engaged on flood relief works. In 1887 he became a licensed surveyor and in 1897 an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, London. He was a member of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers. In 1901 he accepted a position as engineer at Masterton, and for a time was also town clerk. During this period he extended the sewerage scheme of Masterton and installed the first public septic tank in New Zealand. He was connected with a water supply and land drainage scheme at Eketahuna, being consulting engineer to the council there. In 1903 he left for Westport, where he was appointed general manager of the borough. During his 10 years there he was responsible for a sewerage scheme and the improvement of the water supply. In 1919 he left for Samoa and installed a water supply at Apia. Returning to New Zealand in 1921 he undertook survey work for the Public Works Department in the Gisborne district and from there he returned to Blenheim, where he continued his private practice and was also entrusted with the Wairau River works, at a cost of over £50,000, construction of the Omaka and Marchburn bridges and the Havelock wharf. Mr. Dobson, who was twice married, leaves a widow, six sons and six daughters.