DOCHERTY, WILLIAM (1846-96) was born in Glasgow. Coming to New Zealand as a young man, he spent much of his time prospecting and exploring in the western districts and fiords of Otago. For some years he lived at Dusky Sound where in 1878 he discovered a copper lode which he hoped to develop. He found coal on Coal Island in Preservation Inlet, but not a considerable reef, and he brought specimens of asbestos from the fiords, but again the quantity was not sufficient. In company with George Hassing (schoolmaster, of Heddon Bush), Docherty once crossed the Southern Alps in northern Otago to the West Coast. He received some government assistance as the result of a recommendation by the goldfields committee of Parliament. He died on 20 Mar 1896 at Cromarty, Preservation Inlet.

Hansard, 28 Oct 1884; Southland Times, 23 Mar 1896; Otago Daily Times, 3 Jun 1878, 10 Jan 1885.

Reference: Volume 1, page 123

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