A FLOURISHING BUSINESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9337, 30 January 1892, Page 5 (Supplement)

A FLOURISHING BUSINESS.

Inder the heading "Successful Taraaaki Settlers," there appeared in the columns of the Taranaki Jubilee Chronicle a racy sketch of the founding and rapid advance of one of the most flourishing trading concerns in New Zealand— that which now trades under the name of .Sharland and Co., Limited.

In these days one nmst either .advertise or full to the vein-, ai.d although in the ctse of wholesale firms, especially m a country like Now Zealand, where the population is comparatively sniiill mid the number of wholesalers i,, anything like a large way of business is very limited, one would notpeniiijuiit first glance perceive the need for such a class to expenil much in advertisin--, vet even ih-.-y tmd liy experience that fci keep well"in the van of progress, to hold their trade fr..iM fallinginto the hands of other colonial or of lviglish iiml foreign houses, something beyond lotting tradespeople and other.; know of the mere fact of their existence must lie done. A large .stalf of travellers is truly a great aid, but owing to sparse settlement m so many districts, and poor moans of communication, it is practically impossible to keep all present and possibly future customers up to date with the firm's capabilities, more particularly tno.se of one which yearly makes such rapid strides as Messrs Sharland and Co., Limited. 1 luu doctors and druggists, storekeepers, dyers photographers, and cordial makers, cheese manutueairers and sheep farmers—in short, all the professions, callings, and trades, the wr.nts of which our friends are in a position to meet, wholly or in part—may be acquainted with the modern machinery the company have in use, the extensive stocks that they hold, and their dl-sire to aaam to even a larger connection than i>v at present enjoyed has led to the publication ...}' this article It will, we think, shuw Hieir present connection how cap.ihle the firm are to continue to give satisfaction with still larger demand'; made upon them. It will, we feel sure, be gratifying to all who have the good and welfare of our glorious country at heart to read now how their steady support and determination has aided local ministry, lias given employment to over 100 fellow colonists, and h-is afforded other benefits directly and indirectly. In the year 1817, the late Mr James Cragg Sharland, the founder of the business, left his home in Lxeter, England, to try his fortune under the Southern Cross at a time when Kow Zealand could boasc of but few while inhabitants, the rest of the population being composed of Maoris-a noble race then, but now, under the influence of Jic white man's "civilisation," fast losing most of their best characteristics. New Plymouth was the port selected, and it was there that Mr .). C. Sharland started in business, jne pharm-ieist's calling was not then a ver.y^ remunerative one. A general store with a sin;i:i comer devoted to drugs and chemicals was quite sulneient to meet all ra;uirements. It was necessary to extend operations in every possible way before Mr Sharland found his foot fairly on tlie ladder of success. A check to prosperity'was experienced by the breaking out of the disastrous iHauri war. It was but a very short time prior to this outbreak that Mr Sharhmd took a living trip' to England. On his return he found affairs in a very bad state. Tlie Maoris hid invented New riymouthso closely that his d-,ve!ling house, but a short distance away, was wrecked, Fortunately forthe family they received early notice of the attack, and reached the entrenched portio.i of the town safely. P.ut :>. happier time was in store. Ike ulaomwere eventually subdued, and fortune again shed its gladdening beams when ho went to Auckland for the purpose, satisfactorily accomplished, of purchasing the retail dm; business in Shortlaud street, carried on by Mr J N Manning. Gradually a wholesale business—sin-ill at lirst but increasing by leap.; and bounds-w.v; carried on in conjunction with the retail. So well did both branches prosper that, eventually, arrangement* had to be made for carrying on the wholesale in a separate building. At first this branch, under the management of Mr John I'rederick Churton — a son-in-law of Mr J. ( '.. fj!ri:-l iad—was located in premises a little higher ny the street'but this was soon found to be too small to cope with demauus. A move was accordingly made thi; time t-i premises in Victoria street; only aft"r the lapse of two or three years to iind that another move was necessary, owing to the same pleasant cause—increase of t'-ade It was this that lead to the Auckland business being carried on at the present addre><—Lome street; but the warehouse at first onlv consisted of halt the size'of that now in use, and without the three storeys at the back fronting Coburg street. J hose additions were made afterwards as growing trade demanded.

Owing to advancing years preventing him giviii" the requisite time to both departments Mr J. C. Siiarlmul now withdrew from the -wholesale entirely, and devoted himself solely to the branch always nearest to him and his pride—the retail; and tiie wholesale firm, iu no way con:i:;rtod with tiie other, than consisted of Mr Frederick Caddy Sharland. Mr Charles Sharland, and M>- John E Churton, and was styled the firm of Shirland and Co. ; pnor lO this the business was carried on under the name of J. C. Sharland and Co. The firm had now acquired a first-class connection and hau succeeded in thoroughly breaking up the monopoly of the wholesale drug trade in the colony. A sad day was, however, in st-n-e for tiiem and a numerous circle of friends : on the 22nd July 1887 Jlr .1. <'. Thailand .lied. The remains were interred in the Church of England cemetery, Symonds street, in the presence" of a large concourse of mourners.

It was not many months before this bereavement that, impelled by the necessity of havin" one of the partners resident in the world's martLondon,—there to personally look after the buying ana selecting to suit the, in many instances, peculiar requirements of our country, led to Mr Charles Sharland taking his departure to England, whither he left, followed by the hearty good wishes of all who had the privilege of his acijuaiutance.

•portly after this event the Wellington and adjoining districts yielded so much trade that the occasional visits of travellers were found to be insiifhcient. True to their rule not to dally on the war, a sample room was opened in the Empire City umier the management of Mr J. Mier< a gentleman who entered the employ of the firm in the year I!>S3, undertaking the onerous duties of i.o«-n traveller in Auckland city. There he won gulden opinions from all with whom he came in contact, and although their less was his gain, the Auckland chemists were indeed sorry when he received orders to proceed southwards. Mr Mievs .secured by his uniform courtesy and good heartedness the same popularity amongst our southern brethren that li« enjoyed here. The news which reached us or his death on the 23rd July last caused a widespread feeling of regret amongst all. It will be lung before we forget such a valued friend and able and trusty servant. Mr Miers' decease led to Mr .1. V. Churton taking up Ins residence at AVellingtoii, and managing the business there. His efforts are oilicientiy aided by Mr J. H. Owen, who travels the Waugamu, Hawkc's Bay, and Taranaki provinces: and Mr A. Billows, in charge of the Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland provinces. Mr Owen was formerly travelling the districts north of Auckland and in the immediate southnow visited by Mr A. L. Meldrum. These districts are, in addition, worked a great deal by correspondence. The name " Sharland "is there, as elsewhere, looked upon as a guarantee of good faith and sterling preparations. The Thames mining district, and the historical Waikato are also visited by Mr Meldrum, who has been with the tirm for many years. Auckland City, Onehunga, Otahuhu, North Shore, itc, have the care of Mr A. E. Whittome. Two years ago the business was formed into a limited liability company, when Mr J. 0. Da vies, the able and energetic secretary, was appointed to his responsible position. This gentleman is well known and universally esteemed. Like the late Mr J. C. Sharland (to whom he was related), he is an early settler, and a firm believer in the future greatness of the laud of his adoption, regarding the " Health Kcsorts" of which, and other advantages, he has already contributed several very interesting articles to our columns. Mr Davies is the friend of the press in another essential direction, for, like all capable business men, he thoroughly believes in the great lever for trade—advertising.

THE LORNE STREET AVAREHOUSE.

Entering the lower doorway we pass the downstairs office, where there is a full stair of clerks, and where is situated the private office of the nianagmg director, who supervises the counting house work.

AYo pass tram there to the downstairs bottle department, ranged ceiling high with bins full of dispensing and other bottles used by the drii""ists Ac.; from thence to the packing department and bulk store of general goods witli its busy throng of puckers and storemen. It is here where the large boiler supplying steam to the laboratory, to the bottle washing department, and to the other departments requiring it, is built in. Retracing our steps to the office, a handsome Might of stairs leads to the second floor, which is subdivided. In one-half, on the one side, is a stock of surgical instruments arranged in handsome showcases (made by the cabinet makers employed by the linn for their trade in shop fittings &c.\ ornamental smelling salt and perfume bottles, brushu are (from the well-known lirm of Kent and Sons), combs, electric galvanic batteriemicroseopesmagnifying glares, sponges, Ac O:i the other side are open stocks of patent and proprietary medicines, soaps, feeding bottles and other nursery requisites, show carboys Ac A semi-circular counter in front'divides this hair of the Mat from the order department. Kvery convenience for rapid execution of orders is observable; the tinctures, spirits and'.such like being in specially constructed kegs, neatly lettered., as aveall the bins. In fact all isarranged m accord with the most recent ideas. Above this .storey is another large one, likewise subdivided, with, on the one side, open stocks of lime-fruit .juice, syrups and cordials, sauce vinegar, baking powder, glues, gelatines, brewers' and photographers' isinglass, Ax. On the other side are open stocks of fluid magnesia, culinary essences, cherry pectoral, rough liuctus, and over a hundred more of .Sharland's well-known preparations for the benelit of the weak and ailiii" for household purposes, Ac. From the roof hai?' bed pans, retorts, feeding cup. cordial-makers' Lottie I,rtisl.es, A,-., while nearly all the shelves on Me ngnt hand side are filled with apparatus usen by the analytical chemist and Ilu: assavor■evaporating dishes, furnaces, plumbago domes crucible, muliles, and a host of other appliances' In t!i... next department there i,™ bales of fra:trant_ cloves and bundles of spicy cinnamon, stocks oli roots, barks and herbs of almost every kind. We also notice cases of the celebrated sheep dip manufactured by Messrs Cooper and >,ephe\vs, for which the firm are sole wholesale agents 111 the north of the Xorth Island. Another line most worthy of mention is candied neel—

lemon, orange and citron-the company's ora manufacture, of a ouality second to none in the world- a most flattering verdict, looking at thu excellence to which the process of draining and. candying lias reached nowadays. Jn leaving tin's room we see a fine show of filters ami seltwigenes, the latter from lh>- weHknown makers Messrs Uilles and Co. and D. I'evre. Close by this is the bottle washing dirpaitinent, where regular oinployment is afforded to several hands in washing bottles, principally for syrups and cordials, sauce, ami vinegar. Further on aro stored cask upon cask, tier upoi. tier, thousands of gallons of vinegar, of which more anon. Another flight of stairs lakes us to the main floor of tlie factory, pre.ii.led over by Mr ./. O. Sellgren, athoroughly practical chemist, and well acquainted with this various demands of tho country He ably (ills a most in: ;,oi t.'mt position. Mr Se Igren is a native of Sweden, a country which has given to the world some of the most eminent chemists-Scheele, the discoverer of the most commonly used acids, fated to die from the I nines of one of his discoveries, ])iussic acid : Her. amlother'-- ian " iluUlority of tllc hi!='liest rank,

id,™ i ol' t. 111'.l"""' flo'T of the factory are four lOOOgal vat.-, in which are stored liquids of various descriptions, and m this flat the filtering of lime.l<nc« is carried on. Filter bass aud a patent filter do this work mo3t satisfactorily. I'he company, we may remark, do an enormous trade m limeiuico, taking several complete shipments every season of the pick of the South Sea Islands i nice. They have thoroughly mastered the problem, to many so difficult, of supplying the juice, to the public perfectly clear and with its pristine taste. Sharland's limejuiw is certainly the limejuice of New Zealand, and the large sale-the most trustworthy indication— amply demonstrates that the public thoroughly Tlie main floor of the factory is devoted to the putting ti], and finishing o7 the specialtieswhile close by is tlie baking powder room, and a hond room where perfumes, &e. are bottled off under the supervision of the Customs' authori-

leaking powuer deserves more than a passing notice, for, like limejuice, the "Moa" brand Miking powdor en.ioys a reputation second to none, l'rom one end of New Zealand to the other large order* are received for this popular brand. Even in t.ie most out-of-the-way districts the careful housewife, possessed with the laudible ambition to make her bread and her scones better than her neighbour buys Sharland's baking powder, and tivump.is over the few of her sensible sisters who, from a mistaken sense of economy, buy appartjfflly cneaper brands. The recipe of a good baking powder is anything but a secret; but how very few manufacturers use, as Messrs Sharland and Co. do, the best only of materials, carefully tested before mixture and exactly proportioned. ilie cry to encourage local industry," so often heard, would have more effect if local productions were up to the m-irk of the imported. Too frequently, we must acknowledge, they are not It is, then, a genuine treat to lind a linn which does produce goods comparing most favourably with those ot Knglish and foreign houses. We have already referred to several preparations, and will add another—that of perfumes generally, manufactured by Messrs Sharland and Co. from formulte furnished by Mr Theo. A. B. I'iesse, formerly a working partner of the London perfumers, Messrs I'iesse and Lubin. At one time, and with truth, ifc w;is said that perfumes could not lie made in the colonies or.ial to those of the foremost Kiiglish makers. It was reserved for Messrs Sharland and Co. t'i ;:r.;vo that they could be. Druggists now iind knit wJierever these perfumes have been introduced and given a fair trial, the prejudice against tho colonial productions very soon^ disappears, and Sharland's perfumes sell as reanily if not more so than the very best imported. \\ hen our inspection ot the factory was made, a large quantity was linished off to replenish stock, and to meet several large orders. Jwery month the sale is ftrowhrj, a most satisfactory sign to those who have gone to so much trouble and expense to produce them. While on this subject, a few remarks on the mode of manufacture of the perfumes l.ny not be amiss. The perfuuu.s me made" from flower pomades and. essential oils. Groat care in tlie buying of these is exercised, for it U not every make that will do for the manufacture of high-class perfumes. Iho sweet-smelling pomades (which come from tlie south of Franco, but should be locally made), are cut up into small pieces, which are put thiouaa a process of maceration in six-gallon tins (or which scores are to be seen in use), each contaming a perforated, cylinder, in which the poma.e; i,; placed, and spirit poured on it. The cylinder must be lifted every day, and the room must be kept at a certain temperature for a month at least. After tin's the perfumes are completed by nailing certain oils, fro.

There are now only two more departments to inspect, the steam laboratory and the vinegar factory. These arc reached by another flight of stairs. Entering the former we see on the right hand a fluid magnesia apparatus—if not the only machine or its kind in New Zealand, it is certainly the most improved one. Fluid magnesia provided proper apparatus is at ha-.id, is not dithcult to make, and druggists soon found that it paid much better to patronise the Aucklandmade article than to buy the imported, no better in ijmilit.y at an alvance of nearly 5.5 per dozen. In connection with this apparatus" there are two tanks, one of (JOOgal, the other of -JiWgal capacity, for the manufacture of the fresh carbonate of magnesia. There are also here three steamjacketted copper boilers, capacities ranging from lOOgal down to 30gal. These are used for various purposes. One of the boilers was manufactured to stand the very liiu'h pressure of Wl!) to the square inch. It is reserved for boiling the syrup for candying pool. There is also a MJgal stoam-jacketted enamelled boiler used for liquitls containing acids or substances effected by metals. In addition there him presses, niters, percolators, &c. of all kinds and descriptions ; in short there is everything liere necessary for the appointment of a first-class laboratory. In the A'inegai Factory adjoining are 36 vinegar appar.iti, each holding 75^iil of vinegar ; and four SOfeil fermenting vats for making "'tho wash." We will briefly describe the mode of manufacture by this—the Michaelis, or " ipiick" process. The apparatus is charged with wash after it has been carefully cleared, and the acidification is perfected in 14 days. For several times each day during that period the apparatus must be rolled completely over. The room is kept at a certain even temperature by means of the steam pipes connected with the large boiler on the ground floor. After the fourteenth day tho vinegar is drawn off through a most ingeniously-constructed filter (similar to the one used in clarrifying the limeiuics), and when it comes through it is perfectly clear. Through this filter some thousands of callous of vinegar pass almost every day. Tim patent rights for this process were pur•based some years ago by Messrs Sharland and Co. At the outset, however, prejudice against the locally-made article seriously hampered tho sale ; indeed such difficulty-was experienced on this account that it was found necessary to introduce the vinegar in some quarters withom the manufacturers' name on the label. We are glad to be able to add that by dint of selling that bearing the "Sharland" la bcl slightly cheaper and giving every opportunity to sample, the necessity for using the farmer label gradually passed away. The vinegar now shares in the general approval bestowed on Sharland's other specialties.

SHAHLAND'S ACID WORKS, TAURAXGA.

Some years ago an opposition company so arranged matters as to secure a temporary monopoly of the sulphuric acid trade, but tins monopoly was soon broken by the purchase of the acid works at Tauranga by MessrsJ-iharland and Co. By breaking the monopoly of the wholesale drug trade this firm greatly benefited the druggists, itc; and hereby, also bursting up this monopoly, they benefited the cordial junkers, leather manufacturers, <tc. '

The company own very extensive sulphur fields at Matata and elsewhere, sufficient to supply their works for a very long period. In time it is possible that the work of refining the sulphur will be undertaken.

'SHAKLAND'S TRADE JOURNAL.

The official organ of the Pharmacy Board (the only trade journal published in the colony of New Zealand) has now been in existence in its present form for three and a-half years. Prior to that time a small pamphlet bore the name, but thanks to the liberal aid given by advertisers, who found it greatly to their advantage to use the publication as a means cf V'jsliing their j,oods, it is now issued in a very attractive form, and has a large circulation. The amount of useful and interesting information given in regard to new drugs, current topics, quotations, Ac, has led to its occupying a good position in the medical and pharmaceutical and trading world. The excellent class of reading matter furnished reflects every credit on the genial and able editor, Mr T. 11. Ellis.