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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Cordial Manufacturers

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Cordial Manufacturers.

Brodie, C. W. (late George Cooper), Cordial and Aerated Water Manufacturer, Thorndon Quay, Wellington. Telephone 262 Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This business, established in 1853, has been conducted by Mr. Brodie since 1888. The wood and iron building used for the works contains over 2500 square feet of floorage space. The machinery, which comprises bottling racks and corking and aerating machines, is driven by waterpower. The trade extends to the city and country districts. Regular shipments of all ingredients used in the trade are received by the proprietor. His specialties are aerated waters, cordials, and an exhilarating drink known as “Brodie's Beer.”

Dixon, Mrs. George, Aerated Water and Cordial Manufacturer, 3 Dixon Street, Wellington. Telephone 378. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Agents: Auckland, Mr. Arthur H. Nathan; New Plymouth, Mr. E. L. Nathan. Dixon's Cordial Factory is the oldest business of its kind in Wellington. The premises occupied were originally built for the purpose of a saw-mill by Messrs. Compton Bros., but were purchased by Mrs. Dixon in 1886. The late Mr. Edward Dixon established the business in Cuba Street as long ago as 1852. It was most successfully conducted by its founder until the year 1875, when it was taken over by his son, the late Mr. George Dixon, who had for many years been connected with his father's
Premises of Mrs. Geo. Dixon.

Premises of Mrs. Geo. Dixon.

page 612 business, and had acquired a thorough knowledge of the trade. In his hands, therefore, the factory flourished and developed with the growth of the city. About the year 1870, he married Miss Duck, the present proprietress, and for some years before his untimely death, Mr. Dixon took his wife into his confidence in relation to the secrets of the business, including, of course, the mixing of Essences, which is so important a part of the manufacture of Cordials. Mrs. Dixon soon became thoroughly competent to undertake the management of the establishment. Mr. Dixon was lost overboard from the s.s. “Taiaroa” during a heavy gale at sea on the 26th June, 1883. In consequence of this sad accident the management of this large concern has rested upon Mrs. Dixon, who has conducted it with conspicuous ability. The factory consists of a large wooden building of two stories in height, and comprises about 10,000 square feet of floorage space. There is also a brick factory of one story, which has a floorage space of 1,600 square feet. There is a grand chimney stack of from eighty to a hundred feet high, which creates a strong draught for the furnaces. The machinery, which is of the latest possible description, is driven by a fine horizontal steam-engine, and comprises Codd's patent bottling racks, Hogben's bottling rack, turnover bottling rack (by Dan Bylands, of Manchester and London), also a corking rack, and a Barnett and Forster's double cylinder aerated water machine. This last machine is one of the largest and best that has ever been imported into the Colony. Its capacity is 500 dozen for a period of eight hours. Mrs. Dixon has a first-class staff of hands, some of whom have been with the firm for considerably over twenty years. Dixon's cordial factory has been well known for a long period for the superior make of Ginger Ale. Besides this well-known beverage there are the no less popular Lemonade, Soda Water, Football Punch, Lithia Water, and a very excellent cricketer's drink which is known by the letters “W G.” The brick factory has a substantial concrete floor, and is large and airy. The success of the factory is largely due to the splendid supply of water from a deep well which has been sunk on the premises, and which is clear, good, and free from minerals. It is pumped into a large tank with a capacity of 1000 gallons, which is situated in the wooden portion of the factory. There is also a tank containing 600 gallons, which is heated by steam to supply hot water for the purpose of washing bottles. The bottle-washing is carried out by proper machinery, propelled by steam power. The ground floor of the large wooden building is used for the purpose of storing bottles, packing, labelling, and other work preparatory to sending the cordials from the factory. The first floor contains a large and valuable stock of corks and general stores used in connection with the business. The syrup department is situate in a comfortable room supplied with two substantial coppers for boiling the syrups, besides a large number of tubs which contain the several essences and mixtures used in connection with the various drinks turned out with such good results by this firm. Dixon's cordial factory has held appointments to Governors of the Colony ever since its establishment, and the present Governor, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, has been pleased to continue the appointment. Sir W. Jervois, Sir George Bowen, Sir H. Robinson, Lord Onslow, Sir A. Gordon, and Sir James Prendergast, when acting-governor, all conferred their patronage on this firm. Two waggons and a cart and five horses are constantly employed in the delivery of beverages in the city and suburbs. Mrs. Dixon is a direct importer of essences, bottles, and other materials used in the trade. The business is a very large one, and extends from one end of the Colony to the other; and Ginger Ale especially has been shipped to all parts of New Zealand; it has likewise been sent to Sydney, and other towns in the Australian colonies, Fiji, and the South Sea Islands. The accountant of the firm is Mr. Charles Godber, who has been closely associated with the business for over twenty-three years. At the various exhibitions that have been held from time to time, Mrs. Dixon has been very successful with her Aerated Water and Cordial exhibits, and was awarded prize medals both at the Wellington and Sydney exhibitions. Mrs. Dixon's family consists of one son and three daughters.
Phoœnix Aerated Water and Cordial Company (Maurice Kauffman Samuel, Proprietor), Cornhill Street, Wellington. Telephone 880. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Thorndon Quay. The Phœnix Cordial Factory was established a good many years ago, and gained a high reputation for the quality of the products manufactured there. The first proprietors were Mossrs Walter Grey and Co.; but after the cessation of that company the concern was allowed to get somewhat out of condition. Since coming into the hands of Mr. Samuel, however, in January, 1895, a very marked change has been apparent. The machinery has been all put in thorough order, and many important additions made, including a seven-horse-power gas-engine, a patent water purifier and a gas purifier. All kinds of refreshing summer and winter drinks are made at the Phœnix Factory, and a good trade is done in town and country, full employment being found for eight hands. The premises are of brick and contain 6000 square feet of floorage space. The trade mark is a phœnix. The proprietor, Mr. Maurice Kauffman Samuel, was born in Sydney, and is the son of the late Mr. Kauffman Samuel, who married in Sydney and in 1842 brought his family to Wellington. Mr. Samuel, sen., then entered into partnership with Mr. Jacob Joseph, under the style of Samuel and Joseph. In 1851 the subject of this notice went to London to be educated; and, after five years' preparation at a boarding school, had a year at the London University School, and then returned to the Colony. This was in 1857, when Mr. Samuel was sixteen years of age. On his return he went to Timaru, and at twenty years of age was the
Mr. M. K. Samuel.

Mr. M. K. Samuel.

page 613 owner of a store there. In those days, he took an interest in horseracing, and, besides many other races, won the Maiden Plate against Otago and Canterbury horses. In 1866 Mr. Samuei went to Hokitika and started business as an accountant and trade assignee. The West Coast was flourishing in those days, and money was free. A sovereign each was the “small” charge for landing the passengers from the steamers over the bar and into the port. In 1873 Mr. Samuel came to Wellington and entered into partnership with Mr. T. J. Ladd, at one time well known at the capital, under the style of Samuel, Ladd and Co., general merchants, etc., with the late Mr. Philip Moeller as a sleeping partner. The firm were agents for the Standard Insurance Company, and placed all the Wellington shares of that company. After a while Mr. Ladd retired from the firm, and was soon followed by Mr. Samuel, leaving Mr. Moeller to carry on alone. Since that time to the present Mr. Samuel has been practically out of business, and his return to it after so many years was a surprise to his friends. He is working up a good business, and has every prospect of doing well. Mr. Samuel is an unattached Mason, having been initiated many years ago at Coromandel. In his younger days he was a cricketer of some standing, being included in the first eleven at Napier in the seventies, and playing for Timaru against Oamaru in 1864.
Thomson, Lewis, and Co. (Alexander Thomson and Alfred Maurice Lewis), Aerated Water, Cordial, and Golden Ale Manufacturers, “The Crystal Springs Mineral Water Works,” corner of Lorne and Argyle Streets, Wellington, corner of Bond and Crawford Streets, Dunedin, Campbell Place, Wanganui, and Otaki. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Branches at Wanganui and Otaki. The present proprietors acquired the Wellington business in 1887, and have conducted a large and growing trade up to the time of writing. The ground occupied by the Crystal Springs Mineral Water Works is fully half an acre in extent. Suitable buildings of wood and iron, some of them being two stories in height, have been erected, about half the ground being occupied. The other portion is available for storage and yard requirements. The factory, which is a hive of industry, is replete with the most modern plant for the production of all kinds of aerated waters, cordials, and non-alcoholic beverages. A three-horse-power Otto gas-engine supplies the motive power for driving the various appliances, which consist of one large soda-water machine, generators, steam bottler, and three hand bottling machines. Messrs. Thomson, Lewis and Co. are direct importers of the patent bottles used, which are so well known; they also import the various classes of chemicals necessary for the successful manufacture of their waters. They have established business relations with some of the best English and Continental firms, and are able to obtain the goods they require at the lowest cost. They keep a large staff of hands, and three vans are kept going in the City. Their golden non-alcoholic ale has been in such demand that a special plant has been put down to help in its production. As manufacturers, they stand in the front rank, their soda water being considered of the best and purest quality made in the colonies, and their goods being freely recommended by the
Mr. A. M. Lewis.

Mr. A. M. Lewis.

medical profession. This firm have secured large and valuable contracts, such as the supply of the vessels of the Union Steam Shipping Company, which they now hold for the third term of three years, and the Wellington Hospital for the fifth year. Mr. Lewis, the resident partner whose portrait appears herein, was born in London, where he served seven years to the trade. Coming to Auckland in 1880, per ship “Lady Jocelyn,” he came on to Wellington and took a situation in the works of which he is now one of the proprietors. After two months he was sent to Nelson to manage a branch of the business, remaining three years. He was afterwards in business in Dunedin, but sold out and returned to Wellington, accepting a position as working manager of the Wellington Aerated Water Company, which was subsequently purchased by him, in conjunction with Mr. Thomson.

Other Cordial Manufacturers.

Allison, L. (trading as the Union Manufacturing and Export Company), Aerated Water, Pickle, Vinegar, and General Condiment Manufacturer, 37 Kent Terrace.

Bacon, Mrs. J. L., Cordial Manufacturer, 78 Tory Strect. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Established 1886 by Mr. Bacon.

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