Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Taylor, E. T., and Co., Wine and Spirit Merchants, etc., Courtenary Place, Wellington. Telephone 582. Trade mark, “Beehive” Telegraphic address, “Wellingtons” Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1889. The partners of this firm are Mr. Edwin Thomas Taylor and Mr. Albert Arthur Bowley. Both gentlemen hail from the Old Country. Mr. Taylor was born in London, where he received a thorough, practical knowledge of the trade, and served five years with the well known firm of Messrs. Charrington, Head and Co., of London, whom he left under special engagement to W. and J. Staples and Co., of Wellington. He came out by the ship “Rakaia” in 1876, and immediately took the position of manager of the bottling department, acting in that capacity for three years, when he accepted an engagement with Tayton and Erskine, wine and spirit merchants, as manager for that firm. This position he filled most satisfactorily, for ten years, and in 1889 started for himself, as wine and spirit merchant and bottler of Speight's Dunedin ales and stouts. In March, 1893, he was joined by Mr. Bowley, his present partner, who is a native of Kent, England, which he left to proceed to Cape Colony. There he traded on the coast, and met with varying success till in 1876 he sailed by the Government boat “Stella,” arriving in Wellington in the same year. Here, previous to his present partnership, he carried on business for three years in the cigar and tobacco trade, in which he had had considerable experience. The business premises now occupied by these two gentlemen are situated in Courtenary Place. The building is of wood and iron, and is now being enlarged, and will contain 3,500 square feet of floor space. Messrs. Taylor and Co. make a special feature of their bottling of Speight's Dunedin ales and stouts, in which they do an extensive trade. They are also direct importers of Australian wines and Scotch whiskies, the latter being from McNab, whose name is a guarantee for good quality. Light machinery, such as water wheels and other necessaries to the trade, are driven by water power, and there are five hands employed. The trade includes both town and country orders, which always receive prompt attention. Both Mr. Taylor and Mr. Bowley are strong advocates of manly sport, Mr. Taylor, being formerly a member of the Wellington Naval Football Club, and at present both these gentlemen occupy the position of vice-presidents of the Melrose Football Club, and here it is worth special note that in Mr. Bowley we have discovered one of the gentlemen who were first to recognise in cycling the grand sport it has now become. He was the second man seen to ride a bicycle, (then called velocipede), in the streets of London shortly after their introduction from Paris.