Best, George Charles, 1841-1914 (Person)

SummaryFormerly harbourmaster and pilot at Thames, appointed at Tauranga on 9 September 1879, succeeding Captain Hannibal Marks, who drowned with his son Hannibal in Tauranga Harbour on 16 August 1879. Supervised building of 4,000-gallon freshwater reservoir on Mauao, 1886, undertook customs duties, and transferred to Russell in 1887 as collector of customs and harbourmaster. Retrenched after 21 years’ government service, 1891; died at his residence, Calliope Road, Devonport, on 3 May 1914, aged 73, after about 50 years’ involvement in Auckland maritime affairs.SourcesScott, Bob, Mount Maunganui: A History of the Land and Early Settlers from 1864, p. 16Cunningham, Bruce and Ken Musgrave, A History of Mount Maunganui (1989), p. 17:Bellamy, A. C., Tauranga 1882–1982 (1982), pp. 234–235Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IX, Issue 959, 4 November 1880, Page 2AJHR, 1875—letter from Captain Best at Grahamstown Harbour Office, confirming his Thames serviceArabin, Shirley, "The Pilot House on Mauao", Tauranga Historical Society Blog Friday, 13 June 2025George Charles Best (abt. 1841 - 1914): WikiTreeNotes taken from "Northern Luminary", Sat. March 7, 1891Obituary, New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1914, Page 8Widow of Mariner: Death of Mrs Ellen K Best (Sun (Auckland), 18 May 1927, Page 16)

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Personal Information

First Name(s)George CharlesSurnameBestDate of Birth1841Date of Death3 May 1914Place of DeathDevonport, AucklandOccupationHarbour MasterCaptain

Whānau

MotherBest, Mary Ann née ?FatherBest, George CharlesChildrenBest, George Henry Charles, 1873-1961Best, Frederick William, c.1876-1945Best, Sidney HerbertBest, Kate

Partner

PartnerBest, Ellen Kate née Reynolds

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AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | People

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Best, George Charles, 1841-1914 (Person)