Captain Norman Beaumont, (6/9/1887-22/9/1934). "amongst the fastest vessels"

OBITUARY

CAPTAIN BEAUMONT 

As a resident in Dunedin for twentynine years, Captain Norman Beaumont was well known in this city, and, though not pushing himself into the notice of the public, he became a useful citizen, ever ready to contribute of his extensive knowledge concerning marine matters and being a very agreeable companion to those persons who knew him intimately. The announcement of his death at his residence in High street on Saturday will therefore be read with regret by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. 

He was born at Huddersfield, Yorkshire, on September 6, 1857, was educated at the Bedford Grammar School, and when sixteen years old went to sea, apprenticed to Messrs Devitt and Moore, sailing in the Rodney, St. Vincent, and Outalpa between London and Australia, sailing ships that were amongst the fastest vessels trading in those days, principally engaged in the wool trade. Having served his apprenticeship he remained with the company as officer until the age of twenty-three years, when he joined the Union Steam Ship Company, and served with this company for twenty-two years, having command of the s.s. Maori, Southern Cross, Ovalau, Upolu, Kawatiri, Richmond, Flora, Te Anau, Moura, Tarawera, Waihora, and Taviuni, trading between the South Pacific Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. On retiring from the Union Company in 1903 Captain Beaumont took up the position as pilot at Auckland, which position he held until he joined the Government service in 1905 as Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at Dunedin. This position he held till his retirement on superannuation thirteen years ago. 

During the Great War Captain Beaumont’s experience was frequently availed of by the Government in advising as to the superintending and equipping of transport vessels. In late years, after leaving the State service, he occupied himself in marine surveying. 

All his life Captain Beaumont was a systematic student of marine literature, thus becoming an authority on the subject generally, and not merely a shipmaster. But he was for ever thinking out practical problems, and one of the results of that thinking was the invention and, with the aid of his wife, the perfecting of a life jacket, known as the Salvers, which is in use in many vessels.

Mrs Beaumont survives her husband, with one son, Llewellyn, and one daughter, Mrs Gerald Fitzgerald.  -Evening Star, 24/9/1934.

Karitane Cemetery.