MANUHERIKIA BREWERY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1241, 11 December 1885, Page 3

MANUHERIKIA BREWERY.

Alexandra may hoc be in a position to boast of many public works. This we opine is not so much by reason of its incapacity to support them as rather that money is scarce, and capitalists have been chary in embarking upon business enterprise in the provinces of the Colony. To stand the test of time goes at least for something in these days, and the Manuherikia Brewery has done it for well nigh quarter of a century. Not only has this business stood tirm during that period, but it has extended itself very considerably since its origin. It is only six years ago since i.B pre prietors Messrs Theyers an I Beck were forced to make very extensive additions to their malting premises. , The business in their hands has grown more robust year by year, so that now the whole resource of the establishment is required to meet extending! wants. • Mr M'Naughton, the esteemed manager, did us the fav ir lately of conducting us through the brewery, [t cannot for a moment he said that the exterior of the building, is very imposing, it» somewhat primitive rooffin g gives but a f dot idea.of the importance of the .interior, although the entire pile' is encased within the strongest of stone masonry. The grain store is at present pretty full, containing fmm 800 to 1000 bushels of barley hailing chiefly fiom lia Valley and Speargrass Flat. The grain from here is malted in two iron tanks capable of holding 10 ba s apiece, and fiom the extensive floors it is lifte i by means of a hoist into the kiln—a large apartment soled with iron wire, and heated by means of two furnaces. This kiln can finish over 30 bags per week. The barley is then introduced into a grana y fit to accbinra idate somethinglikelhOO bushels. The material is then driven to the crusher near at hand, which is propelled by a water wheel 16ft in diameter, and which in a sing'o hour can yield a sufficient supply for a brewing. The crushed material now finds its way to the boilin’ water tank, which holds 11 hogsheads, with suitable firing apparatus, Fiom thence the liquid is introduced by tin pipes into the mashor of equal size, built of Kauri pine. This process accomplished, it now runs to the copoer pan by means of a copper tube, and this also is able to take in the maximum quantity. From here the connection is maintained by a copper tube, which leads into two troughs of the same metal. The upper one has a very fine sieve, which purifies the liquid, while the other directs t.he fl iw to she refrigerator b meath which is tempered by a nicely devised water supply. The beer now undergoes the last process, being led to the gyle tubs composed of kauri, whe e, after fermenting, the liquor falls by ludnriibber tunes into the hogsheads, which occupy the coolest of cellars, roomy enough to accommodate 50 in num ber. The lowest portion of the building is devoted to the manufacture of mratel waters of all descriptions, and from the comm 'tiou in this department wo should say that the lighter beverages are largely used in tne neighbourhood. The brewery as the present time is very busy, and the output usually involves two brewings per week. We may mention that the hops chiefly used in the work are Nelson an 1 Tasmanian. About six months ago the firm secured a plentiful supply of m gnificent water from the Old Woman Range, which seems to suit better than that secured from the Alexandra Corporation. From the Teviot up to the Lakes the Alexandra Brand is well known, and the excellence of the manuf icture will through time commend itself to a stall wider district. The work giv s employment to four hands, and some eight horses are required in the conduct of the business.