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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Mr. Archibald Hilson Ross
Mr. Archibald Hilson Ross , Mayor of Dunedin for the year 1880–81, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, in 1821, and lived for several years at Sunderland, in which he was a town councillor and a guardian of the poor. On coming out to Dunedin, in 1859, Mr. Ross accepted a position as chief draughtsman in the survey office. He afterwards entered into business on his own account as an optician, and carried it on until a few years before his death. As a resident of Roslyn, he became a member of the borough council on its constitution, and in 1879 was elected Mayor of the borough. Mr. Ross was also a member of the Dunedin City in 1880. He was an active member of the Benevolent Trustees, and was chairman of the Otago Harbour Board for five or six years. In 1887 he was elected to represent Roslyn in the House of Representatives, defeating Messrs Carlton and Hutchison; but in 1890, the boundaries of the district having been considerably changed, he was defeated by Mr. Dawson Mr. Ross was a careful astronomical observer, and took an active intest in the observation of the transit of Venus in 1874 and 1882. He was a member of the Otago Institute, and contributed several papers at its meetings. Mr. Ross died at his son's residence, at Pahiatua, on the 8th of December, 1900, and left a widow and a grown-up family, The eldest daughter is married to Mr. H. Skey, of Leith Valley, Dunedin.