DEATH OF CITIZEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22348, 20 February 1936, Page 12

DEATH OF CITIZEN

MR. A. J. ENTRICAN

LONG PUBLIC SERVICE FORMER DEPUTY-MAYOR' One of Auckland's most respected citizens, Mr. Andrew Jack Entric/m, formerly for many years deputy-mayor of the city, died yesterday, in his 78th year, after a brief illness. Mr. Entrican had an unsurpassed record of service to local government, extending over ,"38 years, and his work for public causes of all kinds covered nearly half a century. A man of remarkable energy, which led many people to underestimate his age, Mr. Entrican pursued his usual business and other activities until a fortnight ago, when he suffered a stroke. This was followed by a second, from which he did not recover.

Born at Stoneyfield, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1858, Mr. Entrican began his business career with a firm of merchants in Londonderry. At the age of 21 he decided to try his fortune in New Zealand and sailed for Auckland in the emigrant ship Ben Nevis. On the voyage, which lasted 15 weeks, he and other young men among the passengers were called upon to take their share of scrubbing the decks. Often they had to mount guard over the galley, otherwise they would not have had the meals to which they were entitlod. " God's Own Country " Speaking at a gathering after his retirement from the City Council last year, Mr. Entrican said he vividly remembered the Sunday morning in 1880 when the ship, with sails set, brought him into Auckland Harbour. The church bells were ringing, and never since had he known a moro beautiful day. "I thought it was God's own country," he added, "and I think so still." Not long after his arrival he became assistant-manager of a retail business owned by Mr. Charles Major. Later he took it over in partnership with Mr. Samuel Taylor. This association was dissolved in 1885, and Mr. Entrican then set up for himself as a commission agent. In spite of the acute economic depression which prevailed in New Zealand at that time he was successful, and his business developed into that of a general merchant. In 1887 ho established the firm of A. J. Entrican and Company, and in 1892 he was joined by his younger brother, Mr. J. C. Entrican, who had come to New Zealand seven years earlier. For the rest of his life Mr. Entrican was the executive head of the business which is now known as A. J. Entrican, Sims Company. Church Activities From his arrival in Auckland Mr. Entrican took a keen interest iri the affairs of St. James' Presbyterian Church, Wellington Street, and particularly in a debating society, and parliamentary union, which was connected with it. Among the members of this society were several men who later became notable in public affairs, including the late Mr. Justice Cooper and the late Dr. T. W. Leys. For 47 years, and until his death, he was superintendent of the Sunday school. One of his pupils was a future Mayor of Auckland. Mr. G. Baildon, under whom many yeara after he served as deputy-mayor. For about the same period Mr. Entrican was an elder of the church and one of its staunchest' supporters. In 1897 he was elected to the Auck-. land Harbour Board, and in the following year to the City Council as a representative of the South Ward, under the mayoralty of Mr. Patrick Dignan. One of his treasured possessions was an agenda-paper of the first meeting he attended. This consisted of a single sheet, and the items of business numbered six. On his retirement last year Mr. Entrican painted a picture of the city as it was then, with a population of 35,000, very rough streets, horse trams, inadequate drainage and sewers which discharged on to the harbour mud-flats. The contrast with Auckland of to-day, he said, could hardly be exaggerated. Councillor for 35 Yearß Resigning from the Harboyr Board in 1899, Mr. Entrican sat continuously as a city councillor until 1918, and again from 1920 until May of last year. He served under 10 Mayors, and was deputy to six of them, holding that office for about 17 years prior to hi 3 retirement. He received repeated praise for the invaluable help that he was always ready to give in the absence of the Mayor or as his representative at public functions. With this task he was content, and he never aspired to higher office, although on three occasions he was returned at the top of the City Council poll. Mr. Entrican rejoined the Harbour Board in 1907 and remained a member of it until 1921. serving as chairman .in 1910 and 1911. The other offices which he held make a considerable list. He was for 17 years a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank, and presided at a meeting of the board only a day or two before his last illness. Among the bodies on- which he served were the executive of the Auckland Patriotic Association, the board of governors of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, the Auckland Fire Board, the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, the Leslie Presbyterian Orphanage trustees and the Auckland Sunday School Union. Ho took a loading part in emergency work during the influenza epidemic of 191S and was mainly responsible for organising the peace celebrations the following year. On his retirement from the City Council Mr. Entrican received a copy of a minute expressing appreciation of his long and self-sacrificing service to Auckland. Later, at a gathering in tho Chamber of Commerce Hall, lie and the retiring Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, were each presented with an address and a gift subscribed for by a large body of citizens.

Mr. Entrican married, in 1883, Miss Elizabeth Mackay, who survives him. There is one son, Mr. 11. G. Entrican, of Takapuna.

WORK FOR THE CITY TRIBUTE BY THE MAYOR On hearing of the death of Mr. Entrican, the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, sent the following telegram to Mrs. Entricnn; —"J learned with deep sorrow of the passing of your husband and my dear and very old friend. On my own bolialf and 011 behalf of the corporation and citizens of Auckland, for whom over many vears ho laboured so faithfully and well, I tender to you and your family heartfelt sympathy in your bereavement. May the kindly thoughts of your fellow citizens console you and as far as is possible assuage your grief." Members of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum stood in silence at their meeting yesterday as a mark of respect to tho late Mr. Entrican. The president, Mr. A. T. Pv croft, said Mr. Entrican bad been a member of tho council for many years.