"OUR 40TH YEAR"

Auckland Star, Volume 304, Issue 304, 23 December 1926, Page 9

"OUR 40TH YEAR"

A. J. ENTRICAN AND CO., LTD. IMPORTERS, GENERAL MERCHANTS. One of the old-established Auckland business houses that has made remark - I able progress in recent years is the firm of A. J. Entrican and Co., Ltd. Almost the whole of the early history of the firm is linked up with the name of Mr. A. J. Entrican, who has had a most interesting career. Born in 1858, in County Tyrone, Ireland, Mr. Entrican was educated at the Edwards' School, Castleberg. He first went to business in Londonderry in March, 1874, and arrived in Auckland by the ship Ben Nevis, on January 11, 1880. It is interesting to note that Mr. William Smith, of the firm of Smith and Caughey, Ltd., was a passenger on the same boat. He was employed by the late Charles Major, a merchant, and father of the recent headmaster of King's College. He was assistant and then manager of the Wellesley Street business up to January, 18S2. Then he bought the business and entered ; into partnership with the late Mr. Taylor, as Taylor and Entrican. This part- : nership was dissolved in July, 1885. He represented Mr. Arthur Heather, mer- \ chant, for some two years. Then he ! commenced business as commission agent ! in Tyrone Buildings, the site now occu-1 pied by the new Dilworth Building, in March, 1887. This gradually developed from a commission business into a combination of wholesale grocery and manufacturers' agent. Business grew so rapidly that it became necessary for Mr. Entrican to make a business trip to the Old Country in 1592, when he made arrangements for the importation of essential supplies. On his return his brother, Mr. J. C. Entrican, joined him in partnership, and the business was from then carried on as A. J. Entrican and Co.! The concern progressed to such an extent that a second portion of the Tyrone block was added in the same year (1892). In 1902 the company leased from the Auckland Harbour Board two sections at the corner of Customs Street East and Gore Street, which they still occupy. A contract was let for the erection of the present warehouse in 1903, and the premises were finished and occupied in September, 1904. In April, 1904, the firm was further developed by forming it into a limited liability company with a capital of £40,000. Since that time the business has more than kept pace with the remarkable advancement of the city and province. The capital of the company has since been increased, and the firm sends its representatives over more than half of the North Island, while its ! operations are spread over the whole of New Zealand and the islands of the Pacific. The business now comprises wholesale grocery, provisions, oilmen's stores, tobaccos, crockery and glassware, cutlery, stationery, confectionery, household ironmongery; in fact, everything that is required by the general storekeeper outside drapery, boots and heavy ironmongery. The company specialise in confectionery, stocking the best lines in British, Canadian, and Continental brands. The firm is also one of the largest dealers in dried and canned fruits, both Australian and American, and makes a special feature of the Mediterranean fruits, nuts, etc.; as well as fruit products from the Far East. Mr. A. J. Entrican is managing director as well as the chairman of the Aboard. Mr. J. C. Entrican retired from the active portion of the business two years ago, but still remains a director of the firm. The success is largely due to the fact that the men engaged are all practical men, having been thoroughly trained in the business. The firm has an immense clientele and has the respect of the trade, being in every way a house which caters well for its customers. Though the firm has passed through a hard winter it has never had such a rush of business as it is coping with at present. This may be in some measure the result of the improvement in butter and wool prices. The staff is working at high pressure to get their orders away in time for the Christmas trade. The directors of the firm, Messrs. A. J., J. C, and R. G. Entrican, A. Furness, P. Le Grice and J. Cuthbertson, are all employed in the firm's business and the whole of their time is devoted to the interests of their clients in importing and having available at a moment's notice, goods of all descriptions from the world's markets. The secretary of the company, Mr. A. S. Maughan, is in his 35th year of continuous service with the firm.