Seeking information for a story on the Entrican family of Auckland, New Zealand.

A.J. Entrican & Sims was a coffee and spice / wholesale provision merchant based in Customs Street East, Auckland, New Zealand - now named Australis House the building constructed circa 1904 still stands today and was recently refurbished as part of the Britomart Precinct project. The company went on to be one of the most successful of its kind in the country.

A respected and powerful member of the community, A.J. (Andrew James, 1859-1936) Entrican served as a city councillor and was for a great many years deputy mayor and a trustee of Auckland Savings Bank, amongst other titles of significance he held. He married Elizabeth Mary McKay and they produced about ten offspring.

His brother was apparently R.J. Entrican (Robert James,1868-1928 ) also an Auckland-based merchant who married Annie Lamb. They had four or so children including Alexander Robert (Pat) Entrican who was a well-known civil engineer and forestry administrator (featured bio on Dictionary of New Zealand) who played an important part in the history of his particular industry.

Robert William Gallaugher went into business with another of Andrew's brothers J.C (James Cuthbertson, 1864-1951) Entrican for a time - Their business was named Gallaugher & Entrican. Like Entrican & Sims they were also dealing as wholesale provision merchants. J.C. Entrican also served on the council and after a few years parted ways with Gallaugher and joined his brother at A.J. Entrican & Sims to form A.J. Entrican & Co.

I ran across this photo (below) and have discussed it with a descendant who thinks that "Missy" may be Ellen Isobel Entrican was born in 1906. This photo was taken in 1909 and the child looks to be around 3 years old or so. Ellen was Pat Entrican's sister.

Any titbits on family history appreciated. You can see the type of stories I do here, this one on a similar firm named Brown Barrett & Co (which were, incidentally, just two doors away from Entrican on Customs Street East):

longwhitekid.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/the-baron-of-britomart-john-mckail-geddes-and-brown-barrett

Portrait of Missie Entrican, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-57972