[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.

[1] As stipendiary magistrate at Whakatāne, he gave evidence in the lengthy case against Rua Kenana Hepetipa in 1916.

[6] Robert was born in Mahurangi, the son of Robert Coates Dyer, at that time a farmer, who subsequently became a member of Auckland Provincial Council and later a teacher at the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell, and then headmaster at Cambridge District High School.

[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.