Although always associated with Wanganui, Alexander Hatrick was born in Smythesdale, Australia in 1858 and came to Wanganui in 1875. In 1889 he entered the shipping trade with the barquetine St. Kilda, which was mainly engaged in the inter-colonial trade. His shipping interests later extended to the Whanganui River and in 1892 his firm A. Hatrick & Co. began a regular steamer service to Pipiriki with the side paddle steamer Wairere. Later this service extended to Tangarakau and in 1903 to Taumarunui. At the height of Hatrick's riverboat service, 12 steam and motor vessels and three motorised canoes plied the Whanganui River. He had the Houseboat 'Makere' built in 1904 and was instrumental in the development of Pipiriki House. He was Mayor of Wanganui from 1897 to 1904, a member of the Wanganui Harbour Board from 1887 to 1906, founder of the Beautifying Society and the Commercial Club. During his term as Mayor, the Opera House was built, the Gas Works taken over, the Okehu Water Works developed and a lot of other developments undertaken in the town and district. His untimely death on the 30th July 1918 was just before the demise of the tourist trade. Wanganui should always be grateful that this farseeing and talented man lived and worked at an important time of the district's development. The company A. Hatrick & Co. continued despite the death of Alexander Hatrick, being controlled by the family. Later on Ronald Hatrick (Alexander Hatrick's youngest son) took over thr business and continued trading under the name A. Hatrick & Co. for quite some years before changing it to Wanganui River Services Ltd. The company started to use buses after the opening of the Wanganui River road in 1934, this meant there was no use left for the steamers which by now were getting very old and needed replacing. The buning down of Pipiriki House in 1959 and Ronald Hatrick's death in Wellington Hospital as the result of a chronic illness on 15 April 1964 marked the end of this service although some boats still remain under private ownership to this very day. Ronald Hatrick was buried in the Family plot in the Aramoho Cemetary next to his Father. |
Alexander Hatrick |
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