History
The pass is named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934), who led the first party of Europeans across the pass in 1864. He had been informed of the presence of a pass, which had been used occasionally by Māori hunting parties by a West Coast Māori Chief, Tarapuhi. It is also believed that writer and explorer Samuel Butler had seen the pass several years earlier, but was unable to explore it at that time. The timing was perfect, as the West Coast was soon to be hit by a gold rush, and easy access to the Tasman's coast became imperative.
Read more about this topic: Arthur's Pass (mountain Pass)
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