The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]
Brewers, Maltsters, Wine and Spirit Merchants
Brewers, Maltsters, Wine and Spirit Merchants.
Including—Bottlers, Brewers and Maltsters, Wine and Spirit Merchants.
Mr. Louis Ehrenfried, whose name was well known throughout New Zealand (but more particularly in the Auckland and Thames districts, where he founded his prosperous business as a wine and spirit merchant in 1868), was born at Hamburg, and emigrated with his brother Bernard to Australia over forty years ago. After a stay of some years in that continent, the brothers decided to try their fortune in New Zealand, the Colony having come into prominence owing to the outbreak of the Dunstan gold “rush” in Otago in 1862. The brothers went into various business ventures, and commenced packing stores to the goldfields. They acquired a valuable station property at Mataura, but later on were obliged to dispose of it, in consequence of having to meet a guarantee for a friend, for whom, without any consideration whatever, they had made themselves liable. When they left the district for the West Coast goldfields, the residents presented them with a piece of plate and an address expressive of regret at their departure. On the West Coast they page 333 experienced the usual ups and downs of a goldfield, and their want of commercial success made it impossible for them to meet all their claims. Nevertheless, when they closed the business on the West Coast, Mr. Ehrenfried resolved that, sooner or later, he should meet all his engagements, amounting to several thousands of pounds. This he succeeded in doing in late years, and the creditors, in token of their appreciation of his highly honourable act, made him a handsome presentation. In 1868, the Ehrenfried Brothers came north and went to the Thames, where they established a brewery and laid the foundation of what has turned out to be one of the most successful businesses in the colony. On the death of his brother in 1869, Mr. Louis Ehrenfried continued the business and launched out into other districts, extending his operations to Auckland. In 1885, he purchased the well-known and old-established business of Messrs R. Whitson and Sons, Queen Street. The trade continued to increase, and Mr. Ehrenried's well-directed enterprise brought him the success which deservedly followed. He was ably assisted by his nephew, Mr. Arthur M. Myers, who managed the business for the last fifteen years of his uncle's life, and who is now its managing director. In 1897, on the 26th of February, Auckland lost one of its most respected citizons in Mr. Ehrenfried, who died at his residence in O'Rorke Street, from a complication of diseases, which defied successful treatment by his medical attendants, Mr. Ehrenfried was a generous, open-handed man, ever ready to assist any deserving case irrespective of denomination. He was a liberal supporter of the Hebrew synagogue, being a member of the Jewish faith. Rarely in the history of the Colony has there been seen such a spontaneous tribute to the excellence of a departed citizen, as that witnessed at the funeral of Mr. Ehrenfried. Thousands of citizens of all denominations assembled at the cemetery to pay a last tribute to the man who was so well loved by his fellows. When at the Thames, he served as a councillor for some years, and in 1880, was mayor of the borough. He filled other public offices and was made a justice of the peace. He was a member of the order of Foresters, and as a bowler was vice-president of the Auckland Bowling Club. The chief characteristic of Mr. Ehrenfriod was his well-known philanthropy; he not only gave, but gave gladly. In his death, Auckland suffered a great loss, for he had proved himself a good and worthy citizen.
Mr. Moss Davis, the Proprietor, is one of Auckland's most popular and highly-esteemed citizens. Though he is a prominent figure in business circles, he has not yet taken any active part in public life. He is an assiduous worker, and, having the responsibilities of a large concern on his shoulders, is necessarily a very busy man. Mr. Davis has assisted to improve the hotels in Auckland, and has also done much to raise the status of the trade by getting a good class of licensed victuallers into the houses, and securing a close observance of the licensing laws. He is assisted in the management of the business by two of his sons, Messrs Ernest and Eliot Davis, both of whom are popular in business circles.
Mr. Archdale Tayler, Accountant, was born on the 11th of May, 1855, at Weybridge, Surrey, England. He is the eldest son of the Rev. Archdale Wilson Tayler, M.A., of Trinity College, Dublin, and was educated at the Leeds Grammar school, Yorkshire. On leaving school, at the age of eighteen, he entered the employment of Robinson Clay and Co., cloth manufacturers and merchants, of Leeds. He landed at Wellington in August, 1880, by the ship “St. Leonard's,” and in March, 1883, removed to Auckland, where he entered the employment of William McArthur and Co., with whom he remained eleven years, till they gave up business in 1894. Mr. Tayler was for three years accountant at Cook and Gray's, and is at present accountant for the Captain Cook Brewery, Ltd. He is a Fellow of the Incorporated Institute of Accountants of New Zealand, and sometime local secretary for Auckland, and also sometime secretary of the Warehousemen's Association, and Insurers' Protection Association. Mr. Tayler was for many years a member and soloist of the Auckland Choral Society. He was one of the original founders of the Auckland Amateur Opera Club, in 1885, and played John Wellington Wells in the “Sorcerer,” Gaspard in “Les Cloches,” the Lord Chancellor in” Marquis de Pontsable in “Madame Favart,” Koko in the “Mikado,” the Duke of Plazatoro in the “Gondoliers,” and Sherwood in “Dorothy”; and has also acted as stage manager for the club during the last eight or nine years. He is well known on the concert platform. It has often been said that he mistook his vocation in life, and there is little doubt that, had he adopted the stage as a profession, he would have distinguished himself. In July, 1887, he married Lilias, eldest daughter of Mr James Gartside Culpan, and grand-daughter of Mr William Culpan, one of the pioneer settlers who arrived in Auckland by the ship “Jane Gifford,” in 1842.
Hanna, photo.Mr. A. Tayler.
Mr. John Mowbray, the Managing Director, is well known in business circles, and the senior partner of J. M. and J. Mowbray, sharebrokers and land agents, of Shortland Street. For years past, since the golden days of the Caledonian mine, in 1869, he has been connected with sharebroking in Auckland, and on the retirement of Mr. J. M. Lennox, he was elected to the important and onerous position of chairman of the Auckland Stock Exchange. He has the reputation of possessing special ability in all matters in connection with the brewing industry, in which he figures so prominently. Mr. Mowbray is in every way a popular and useful citizen of Auckland.
Mr. A. Seccombe, a Director, is a son of the late Mr. John Carroll Seccombe, and has been closely identified with the brewery since his youth.
Mr. H. M. Jervis, Junior, Secretary of the Great Northern Brewery Company, has been connected with the brewery for over thirteen years. The greater portion of the hotel work has been ably executed by him; and to his sterling business aptitude, tact, and courtesy, the prosperous state of the brewery at the present time is in a large measure due.
Mr. Philip Luckie, the Accountant, has an efficient staff under him.
Mr. James Brewin, who has been connected with “Seccombe's” for twenty-seven years, is one of the most capable brewers in Australasia. He has a perfect knowledge of his business; both as a maltster and a brewer, he is up to date, and is in every way fitted to manage such an important branch of the business.
Hipkins And Coutts (John Joseph Hipkins and Alfred Coutts), Wine and Spirit Merchants, Bottlers, and General Commission Agents, Elliot Street, Auckland. Established in 1895. The firm started as bottlers of Messrs Speight's celebrated Dunedin ale and stout, but owing to the wonderful expansion of its trade, and in order to meet the requirements of its numerous customers, it added the wine and spirit business. Messrs Hipkins and Coutts secured the sole agency of some of the most celebrated brands of whiskies, namely, Keith's Cadzow Old Liqueur Whisky, Baxter's Barley Bree, and P. Dawson's Perfection Scotch. These three brands are noted for their purity and age, and are guaranteed to be ten years old before shipment to the colony. Large bulk stocks of these whiskies are kept by the firm, and bottled and stored in its extensive cellars, whence it is forwarded to the firm's customers. Messrs Hipkins and Coutts bottle these whiskies from the wood in their natural purity, and they find that they are in great page 336 request in town and country. The Adelaide wines, which are bottled by the firm, are known for their purity and excellence, and are highly recommended by the medical faculty to invalids. The Wanganui cider, of which the firm has the sole agency, is manufactured from the proper cider apples, grown by the Wanganui Cider Company. This beverage has the reputation of being the finest made in the colony, and is extensively consumed during the summer months. The business of the firm has increased so much that two travellers are now employed in the interests of the company in town and country. The premises in Elliot Street are fine brick and concrete buildings, with ample cool cellarage, where large stocks of bottled wines (Spanish, French, and Australian), ales and spirits, are kept maturing, previous to delivery to the firm's customers. About seven men are employed in the bottling department, and at times they are unable to supply the demand. Owing to the energetic commercial qualities of the two partners, the business of the firm is one of the most progressive in Auckland.
Mr. John Joseph Hipkins is a native of West Bromwich, near Birmingham, England. He learned the iron trade with his father, who was a well-known ironmaster, and came to New Zealand in 1884. For a number of years he was with the Auckland Freezing Company, and in 1895, he and Mr. Coutts started their present business. Mr. Hipkins is very musical; he possesses a fine tenor voice, and is a member of St. Paul's church choir. He is an enthusiastis member of the Auckland Bowling Club. Mr. Hipkins is married, and has a family of four.
Hanna, photo.Mr. J. J. Hipkins.
Mr. Alfred Coutts is a son of Mr. John Coutts, the well-known superintendent engineer of the Northern Steamship Company. He was educated at the Auckland College and Grammar School, and learned the ironmongery business in one of the large Auckland houses. After serving his apprenticeship he went to Australia, in 1884, and for a number of years was engaged there in various pursuits. Mr. Coutts returned to New Zealand in 1890, and for several years was travelling representative for a prominent ironmongery firm in Auckland. He severed his connection with that firm in 1895, when he and his partner, Mr. Hipkins, started their present flourishing business. Mr. Coutts is well known in musical circles, and is a member of the Auckland Amateur Opera Club, and of the Ponsonby Musical Society, and possesses a fine tenor voice. He is also a member of the Ponsonby Bowling Club. As a Freemason Mr. Coutts is a member of Lodge Ara, No. 1, New Zealand Constitution. He is married, and resides at Shelley Beach Road.
Hanna, photo.Mr. A. Coutts.