THE TEA TRADE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 7402, 23 December 1887, Page 4

THE TEA TRADE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Few of thoso who may be classed under the head of the general public have any idea of the vast btrides made in connection with the tea trade in New Zealand of late years, as evidenced by the rise and progress of the firm of Nelson, Moatc, and Co. This firm, which claim to be the pioneer of the tea-blending trado in New Zealand, started business in 1879. At this period tea-blending was an unknown art in the Colony, and blended tea was not used—we were then content to take the cup which cheers but does not inebriate, in its crude state, unsoftencd by the art of the teablender, by which the various flavors aro combined into one harmonious whole. Now the scene is changed, a*;d the progress of the firm of Nelson, Moate, and Co. is an index whereby tho extent of the alteration which the tea trade in New Zealand has undergone may be gauged. By means of their enterprise, agencies for the sale of their blended teas have been established in every town, village, and hamlet in the Colony. From the Bluff in the South to the Three Kings in the North the name and famo of Nelson, Moate, and Co.'s blended teas has become a household word amongst the settlers. They have establishments in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, and there is about them an appropriateness in the matter of surroundings and fittings which at onco strikes the visitor. The head office is in Ohiistchurch, where there is, in addition to the retail establishment, a large warehouse and bond. Altogether, it may bo noted, some sixty hands arc employed in connection with the busin<ss of the firm. It lias been said that imitation is the sinccrost form of flattery; and no doubt, when the imitation does not go the length of putting forward an inferior article as a superior one, the flattery may be very enjoyable. The firm of .Nelson, Moatc, and Co., liko others who have succeeded in producing an article which, from its excellence, has commanded a large amount of public lavor, has, however, had to fight against imitation which is not flattery, inasmuch aa it has been of a character which is likely to detract from the well-carted reputation of tlioir teas. This imitation has been carried to such an oxtcnt that tho very color of the paper used, the shape of the tins, and every minutiiu have been copied with great fidelity. Though this is exceedingly flattering to the firm, a3 showing that their teas have secured so great a hold of the public favor as to be worth imitation, yet it is more than likely that the people may be deceived into using teas of an inferior description, under the belief that they have been blended by Messrs Nelson, Moate, and Co. Still, despite this, the sales of the teas b'ended by the firm are increasing every month, and it may confidently be predicted that at no distant date they will command even a larger share than they now do of the tea trade of the Colony. —Christchurch 'Press,' December 15, 1887.