Norman Richard Fisher died in Montreal on 15th June, 1961, at the age of 83.
Born in New Zealand and trained at the Otago School of Mines, Mr. Fisher gained the Associateship in Mining and diploma of Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer in 1899. Three years later he graduated B.Sc. in mining engineering at New Zealand University.
He worked for short periods at Kaitangata colliery, Otago, Waihi Gold Mining Co., Auckland, New Inkerman Gold Mining Co., Reefton, and as shift foreman with Round Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Co. In 1899 he spent some months at Cumberland Tailing Cyanide Works, Reefton, and was engaged on gold dredge design and construction, followed by general survey practice. In 1901 he worked as shift foreman at Round Hill Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Co.’s mine, Southland, and then as assistant manager of the Fortification colliery, Otago. After another period on dredge design, Mr. Fisher took up the position of assistant engineer and surveyor to Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board in 1902, and in the following year was promoted resident engineer. During this period he also did consulting work on behalf of several mining companies.
Mr. Fisher went to America in 1906 on his appointment as superintendent in charge of the construction of a division of the Hudson and Manhattan underground railway, New York. He moved to Canada in 1907, and was manager or consulting engineer of various enterprises in Northern Ontario and elsewhere, including Coleman Development, Silver Bar, Haileybury Frontier, Red Jacket, Bellellen, Pearl Lake, and North Dome mining companies. He was vice-president of Bellellen Mining Co. for several years. He held the position of general manager and consulting engineer, Temiskaming Mining Co., Ltd., Cobalt, from 1907 to 1914, and was associated with the opening up of Wright-Hargreaves mine, Kirkland Lake, and McIntyre Porcupine in the Timmins area. From 1921 to 1929 he was at Thetford Mines, P.Q.; he formed Shield Development Co., Ltd., and when later the property was revived he became a director and retained this position until his death. He was consulting or executive engineer to many mining organizations in Canada and overseas in his later years.
Mr. Fisher served as a member of the Empire Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions from 1924 to 1927 and took a prominent part in the first three Congresses, 1924, 1927 and 1930.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1906 and was transferred to Membership in 1912. He had been a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy since 1908, and served as district councillor during 1914-23 and 1926-28, and held office as Vice-President for the session 1924-25 and was President in 1929-30.
Vol. 72, Trans IMM 1962-63, pp.142-3
