FISH, HENRY SMITH (1838-97) was born in a London suburb, where his father (who died in Dunedin) was a prosperous painter and glazier. Educated at Cave House School, Uxbridge, he sailed with his parents in 1849 for Melbourne, finished his education and training as an oil and colour merchant there, and in 1863 came to Otago. He married (1867) Jane, daughter of Captain Carr.

Fish was elected M.P.C. for Dunedin City 1870 and sat in the Council until the abolition, being provincial secretary in the executive of D. Reid (1875). He was first elected to Parliament (for Dunedin South) in 1881. In 1884 he was defeated by James Gore but he regained the seat in 1887, and retained it in the combined City electorate in 1890. In 1893 he was again defeated, but he was returned to Parliament again in 1896. He was a diligent legislator, a good speaker and a determined advocate. Fish's principal public service, however, was in the City Council, to which he gave nearly 30 years of conscientious, disinterested and farseeing work. Elected to the Council first in 1868, he contested the mayoralty in 1869 against Birch (who won by 54 votes). In 1870 he was elected (defeating John Griffin) and in 1873 he retired and was defeated in the Council election (by Evan Prosser). In 1874 he re-entered the Council, but retired in 1875, was re-elected in 1876, resigned shortly afterwards to qualify for nomination to the Otago harbour board, and then regained his seat in the Council (1877). H. J. Walter defeated him for the mayoralty in 1878, and having turned the tables the following year, Fish was disqualified as a council contractor. He was defeated in 1880 by A. H. Ross and in 1881 he retired from the Council for five years. He again contested the mayoralty (against Haynes) in 1892, and was elected in 1893 and 1894. In 1895 he was defeated by Wales. He resigned from the Council in 1897, having been six times mayor.

Fish exercised a determined and forceful influence on civic affairs, especially on the development of essential public works and finance. He was prominent also in friendly societies and other forms of working-class cooperation. He was 40 years a member of the M.U.I.O.O.F. (which he joined in Melbourne); in 1877 he was D.P.G.M. and 1878 P.G.M. In 1896 he was first chief of the Lodge Hope of Dunedin I.O.G.T. He was a director of the Otago Caledonian Society, and president in 1893-94. Throughout his life Fish was an active supporter of charities and sports societies. He died on 23 Sep 1897.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Otago Daily Times, 15 Dec 1890, 24 Sep 1897. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 143

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