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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. P. A. Philips

Mr. P. A. Philips, J.P., was the first Mayor of Auckland, under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, and as such held office from 1869 to 1872, and he was subsequently Town Clerk for twenty-seven years. He was born at Brighton, England, on the 11th of June, 1831, and came out to New Zealand in 1847. In 1851 he was married in Sydney to Miss A. Myers, who died in 1888, having had eleven sons and three daughters, of whom, however, only eight survive. Mr. Philips was in business in Victoria Lane and Shortland Street, and at the corner of Queen and Shortland Streets, as a hardware merchant and ironmonger, for about twenty-five years. He was induced to enter public life as chairman of the City Board of Commissioners in 1869, which he filled for two years, when he succeeded in introducing municipal management under the Municipal Corporations Act of 1867, and became the first mayor under that statute, and a J.P. for the Colony. He was also elected member of the Provincial Council, where his warm advocacy of city interests proved him to be one of the city's staunchest friends. He succeeded in obtaining the control of the city endowments, then only realising a rent roll of about £1500 per annum. The rental was soon raised to £3000, and is now about £12,000 a year. Mr. Philips was chairman of the Improvement Commissioners, who were empowered to deal with the Albert Barracks and the Parks Reserve, and he succeeded in getting this reserve vested in the city. He also secured numerous other reserves by the junctions of streets, Alten Road, and elsewhere. Mr. Philips was a Resident Magistrate for about four years; was elected a member of the Board of Education by the Provincial Council; was a member of the first Harbour Board, and a member and for many years president of the Mechanics' Institute. He succeeded in getting the Free Libraries Act brought into operation, and assisted materially in getting the Free Library and Museum permanently opened on Sundays. He was Worshipful Master of the Lodge Waitemate (English Constitution), and the first W.M. to receive a handsome jewel for his services. On four occasions public addresses and purses of sovereigns were presented to Mr. Philips in recognition of his services to the public. For about twenty-five years Mr. Philips has been president, treasurer and secretary of the Hebrew congregation in Auckland, and he has also acted as Auckland correspondent for newspapers in Melbourne, Sydney and London. In addition to work in that connection, Mr. Philips has been a constant contributor to the Auckland press in the persistent advocacy of public interests, and he is, besides, the author of some amusing sketches entitled “Reminiscences of Early Days and “Memories of the Past,” which had a quick sale. As a town clerk Mr. Philips was always considered one of the best in the Colonies, and he had to leave office principally on account of his failing eyesight.