ALBION BREWING COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 3818, 20 May 1875, Page 3

ALBION BREWING COMPANY.

The first general meeting of the shareholders of this Company, held in the lower hall of the Athenaeum to-day, was attended by about forty shareholders; Mi G. W. Eliott being in the chair.

The report stated that the shareholders comprised business and professional men of first standing, over sixty hotelkeepers, and a large number of grocers. The directors had engaged as brewer a first-class man of extensive English and Colonial experience, whose testimonials as to character and ability were o£the highest class, his English experience having been acquired in one of the most extensive and popular breweries in JBurton-on-Trent. Sfr Joseph Eskdale, late manager of the Distillery Company* bas been appointed general manager and secretary'; Mr P. Enssell traveller. That a contract had been with Mr D. M’Gill to build a two-storey brick ceiiw: 1 * l° n B hy 66ft wide ; the upper storey to be used iw a granary and storeroom. This will give ample acc«?. malo<^a .^ 011 f° r fermenting 1,000 hogsheads of beer at on" an< * will meet all the requirements of the large bu^. 1116 ? 8 anticipated. The necessary alterations u? the plant, &c., are now being proceeded with, and will be completed in about eight weeks’ time, when brewing can be commenced. Malting operations had been commenced. The guarantee of eight per cent., which was promised by the prospectus, was considered of such importance that the interim directors left the mode of settlement to the permanent directors.

The Chaibman in moving the adoption of the report said that the Company had been successfully floated, and that more shares than were required were taken up, and the business thereupon was commenced by the provisional directors, who for the time being became managing directois e» officio. They transferred their powers to five managing directors, who had principally conducted the business since. By producing a first-class article the directors hoped to secure the whole trade, not only of New Zealand, but also of the other Colonies. Mr J. S. Webb, in seconding the motion, said that one at time he had been subjected to a deal of abuse lor the part he had taken in getting up the company, but the meeting to-day showed the public had not believed in those who spoke so strongly. He hoped the future of the company would give the lie to those who had made the accusations referred to.

The report was adopted nm, con. The following gentlemen were appointed a permanent board of directors Messrs G. W. Eliott, H. S. Chapman, G. S. Brodrick, J. Anderson, R. M. Robertson, W.J.M.Larnach, W. Sooular, J. Hogg, and Dr flulme. Messrs J. S. Webb and W. S. Douglas were appointed auditors.