Editor's note:—

In the early pioneering days breweries were established in most of the small settlements as no doubt this was an easy way to overcome the problems of transport. In many parts of the Nelson Province both hops and grain were grown from early times so, with ample supplies of good clean water, the raw ingredients were near at hand.

In his reminiscences the late David Drummond stated that he was the ferry boy at the Motueka River crossing, and said 'I used to pull Mr Thomas Rowling, a stonemason by trade, across the river morning and night. He was building a brewery for Mr John Staples. The building is still standing (1934), and, being built of stone, it will be there when most of Motueka's old landmarks have disappeared. Mr Staples kept the brewery going for a number of years. When I grew a bit older I often called in and had a glass of Staples' ale which was always on tap, and good ale it was.'

(Dominion Breweries Ltd. had considered rebuilding the old brewery as a Centennial project but the buildings had deteriorated beyond the stage where this was possible).