Robert was articled to E. A. Mackechnie, a leading Auckland solicitor, and admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court at the unusually early age of age of 21[1] in 1881.[2][3] He became a leading Auckland solicitor before moving to the Waikato, to enter into partnership with Sir Frederick Whitaker, of Hamilton,[1] managing the Kihikihi and then the Cambridge branch of the business, before moving to Hamilton in 1889,[4] when Sir Frederick's health was failing. He became registrar of deeds in Invercargill in 1903,[4] then in 1905, a stipendiary magistrate in Auckland,[5] then Rotorua and, about 1918, in Hawke's Bay. After nine years he retired to Napier.[1]
On June 23, 1885, at St Paul's Church, Auckland Robert was married to Elizabeth Augusta Minnitt, eldest daughter of Major Charles Goring Minnitt,[8] late of the Waikato Militia,[9] which he commanded at Kihikihi.[4] She was a granddaughter of Sir Frederick Whitaker.[10]
He was survived by three sons and two daughters.[1]
Elizabeth Caroline Dyer 1886–1967
Eileen Dyer 1887–1969
Robert William Dyer 1889–1962[11] Robert William was wounded during the war in 1915[12] and married in 1918.[13]
Robert was elected to Hamilton Borough Council in 1899[15] and was Mayor of Hamilton from 8 May 1901[16] until 13 May 1903,[1] He had lost mayoral elections in 1898[17] and 1899,[18] but was elected unopposed in 1901[19] and 1902.[20] In summing up his 3½ years on the council, he said the streets were in better order, but regretted making no progress with a replacement of the Union Bridge and not completing the water supply scheme. Money had been spent on a dinner for the prime minister,[21] possibly a reason for his obituary describing him as an ardent supporter of Richard Seddon.[1]
