Manning, S., And Company, Ltd. Directors: — Messrs W. P. Cowlishaw (chairman), G. G. Stead, and J. Shand; solicitors, Messrs Garrick, Cowlishaw, and Fisher. Manager and secretary, Mr. W. C. Hill; Brewers and Bottlers, Christchurch Brewery, Lower High Street, Christchurch. Bankers, Union Bank of Australia, Ltd. This well-known company has taken its place in the front rank of the large brewery concerns of the Colony. Its history has been one of continuous development and substantial growth. The nucleus of the business was formed by Mr. Samuel Manning in a very unpretentious way in the year 1860. In those days the total capacity of the plant was equal to two hogsheads of beer at one time; now the present plant will turn out forty hogsheads at one brewing. The area occupied is nearly nine acres, on which are substantial and permanent buildings. These comprise a large brick brewery, which replaced the original wooden building, and the offices fronting Lower High Street, the building being handsomely finished in Hoon Hay, Mount Somers, and Oamaru stone. From the entrance and lobby are the countinghouse, manager's room, and strong-room on the ground floor, and the board-room and committee-room on the other floor. The entire suite of rooms is handsomely finished with plastered cornices and ornamental ceilings, and the office fittings are executed in figured rimu relieved by ebonized bolection mouldings. The brewery is thoroughly up to date in every respect. Steam-power is generated by a seventeen horse-power Cornish boiler with Galloway tubes, Westport and Cardiff coal being exclusively used. The immense mashing tun and coppers are worked from this boiler, as well as a six and a half horsepower steam-engine by Messrs. Anderson and Co., fitted with a patent injector for forcing water into the boiler under pressure. This engine works the crushing mill, the elevator buckets, and the various pumps for transferring the liquor in process of brewing from one receptacle to another, and for raising water to the top of the building. At the basement of the brewery there is an immense underground concrete tank, which holds 4000 gallons, and is fed by artesian water. The pump may be utilised at a moment's notice for the suppression of fire, the premises being fully supplied with hose and couplings. Each floor is connected by speaking-tubes, which communicate also with the offices. Apart altogether from the brewery, there is a large bottling department in a handsome two-storey brick building in Lower High Street. The ground floor of this building is divided into two parts, one being used for the purpose of bottling and the other for page 292 storage. The first floor is used for the storage of cases, corks, and other materials. Messrs, Manning and Co. have been prizewinners at various exhibitions, the Brewery gold medal having been gained by them in Christchurch and a bronze medal was also obtained for bottled ale at the Melbourne Exhibition. Thirty-two employees are regularly engaged, the wages sheet being £60 per week, exclusive of the office and managerial staff, the brewer and two travellers. There is a large trade done throughout all parts of New Zealand. The company was incorporated in 1881; its capital being £120,000, of which £72,000 is paid up, and uniform dividends at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum have been paid since its inception.