"GOLD TOP" ALE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 16

"GOLD TOP" ALE.

A GROWING- INDUSTItY. . On» of tho industries closely associated witli th» progress of Gisborno is the brewery and aerated waters factory, whore 'he well-known "Gold Top" alo is browed. A. fair indication of the growth of the business is afforded by tho following figures and comparisons. Dealing first with wages and salaries for the year ended March 31, 1809, the sum of .£1551 Is. Bd.'was expended, whilo for tho last financial year tho amount totalled .£9106 10s. Id., or an increase of nearly 500 per cent, in thirteen years. Tho employees at the present time number eighty. It is impossible to deal with all tho items of expenditure, but it is interesting to note that tho payments to the Gisborno Harbour Board for the year ended April 30, 1912, for wharfages amounted to .£551 4s. Bd., on aerated waters, cordials, ales, and stout, which nro claimed to be of finest quality. Of late years a great export trade has arisen in "Gold Top" ale, and this is responsible for a large proportion of the expenditure. Tho growing demand for "Gold Top" would seem to bear out all that the proprietors claim for it—an ale that, to Borrow a saying, "made Gisborne famous." It is known and is in demand practioally throughout the Dominion, is slocked by tho coastal and intercolonial boats, and is said to be listed on the wine-card of at least one P. and O. liner. With an export trade of this nature it has been founa neoessary to instal the latest and amongst tho many different types may be mentioned the two 20th century bottlewashers, each capable of turning out close on 1000 dozen of perfectly-washed bottles during a working day of eight hours. Another up-to-date machine is the world s labeller, an ingenious device, by means of which two labels are affixed to the bottle in tho one operation. A very fine lemon squash is also manufactured at tho factory, and has almost as wide a reputation as "Gold Top. It is manufactured from local lemons, and the skin 9 are casked and sent outsidoto firms who convert them into candied peel. '