HATCH, JOSEPH (1838-1928) was born in London, his father being a furrier by trade and an alderman. A staunch Baptist, he wished his son to become a clergyman, but his bent was in another direction and he was apprenticed first to printing and then to a wholesale druggist.

At the age of 19 Joseph emigrated to Melbourne, and was employed in the drug firm of Youngman and Co. for six years. Being sent in 1862 to Dunedin to advise on opening a branch there, he decided to settle in Invercargill, and T. W. Kempthorne opened the Dunedin house. Hatch was in partnership with J. D. Hayes in Invercargill for some years. He became interested in seal and penguin oil and owned the cutter Mary Brilliard, 13 tons (which was wrecked at New River heads in 1873). She was replaced by the Awarua (built at Bluff), which sailed a good deal on the West Coast and to the Auckland islands, and was wrecked at Rarotonga. (The Awarua picked up the survivors of the ship Derry Castle). Hatch then bought the Gratitude, 114 tons, in Sydney. He took over the penguin oil business (which was initiated by William Elder, of Port Chalmers), and as its headquarters was at Macquarie islands he had to move to Hobart to fulfil the requirements of the Tasmanian Government in leasing the station to him. At Macquarie island the Gratitude was lost (1898) and she was replaced by the Jessie Niccol. When she was lost (1910) he bought the schooner Clyde, which was lost on her first voyage (1911). The Rachel Cohen was the last sailer Hatch owned, and she was eventually equipped with an oil engine. Hatch lost much money in this trade and sold out to a company which had no better fortune, closing down in 1918.

While in Invercargill Hatch took a leading part in public life. He was a member of the City Council for some years, and mayor in 1878, and represented Invercargill in Parliament (1884-87), being defeated by Feldwick. He was a determined stonewaller. He was the first secretary of the Invercargill fire brigade and was an enthusiastic volunteer both in Melbourne and in Invercargill.

Hatch died on 2 Sep 1928. He married (1872) a daughter of Henry Wilson (Melbourne).

N.Z.P.D., 2 Jul 1929; Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Ingram and Wheatley; Southland Times, 4 Sep 1928; Parlty Record. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 200

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