The stone jar and bottle in the photo below once contained beverages manufactured by W. Lane & Company, manufacturers of aerated water and cordial. W. Lane & Co. was started by William Lane.
William’s partnership with Richard Kingston was dissolved in 1887 and the company continued as William Lane & Co.[10].
The Timaru plant closed in 1892[11].
In later years, as the Company became more and more successful it moved from Maclaggan street to larger premises, and then to larger premises again[12].
Following William Lane’s retirement, his eldest son, Josiah Pearce Lane took over the running of the company. He was succeeded by his son, William ‘Bill’ George Lane (1897-1970)[13][14].
The Centennial of the company was celebrated in 1961. This dated back to the original partnership of Baker & Kilners in 1861 as this was the beginning of the Company that, a few years later, became W. Lane & Co.[15].
The unsourced article, Lane & Co, Dunedin[16] indicates that in 1968 50% of the business was sold to R Powley & Co, a subsidiary of New Zealand Breweries Ltd, with the other 50% sold to them one year later.
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| Lane's stone jar and bottle. Photo: Jane Chapman 2023 |
William Lane (1836-1922) emigrated to New Zealand in 1863. He was accompanied by his wife, Fanny, née Greek (abt. 1839-1928); their two young sons Josiah (then 2 years 3 months old) and William (then 6 months); and Fanny’s sister, Lucy Ann Greek (abt. 1848-1927). The family travelled from London aboard the ship ‘Crimea’ and arrived at Port Chalmers, Dunedin in September 1863[1]. They came from Devon in England.
An unsourced article, Lane & Co, Dunedin[2] suggests that, in 1865, William took up employment with Reeves & Co.; an aerated water business in Maclaggan Street, Dunedin. The owner, Charles Reeves, had bought the business from Baker & Kilner in 1863. Baker & Kilner had established their partnership in the aerated water business in 1861.
In 1875, some 10 years after beginning work for Charles Reeves, William Lane, in partnership with William Campbell, purchased Reeves & Co. and, it was during that year. that the Company became established as W. Lane & Co.[3], although the Company is listed as Lane, Campbell & Co., in Wises’ Directory for 1878/79[4]:
1878/79 Maclaggan St. Dunedin
Lane, Campbell & Co. (Wm Lane & Jas A Campbell) cordial manufacturers
Over time, William Lane was joined in the Company by his 3 sons: Josiah Pearce Lane (1861-1941); William Edward Lane (1862-1935); and Frederick William Lane (1870-1929)[5].
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Chapman Family Photo Collection. William Lane and his family (Circa 1896?). Left to Right - Back Row: Lillian 'Lill' Fanny Lane (1868-1955); Josiah Pearce Lane (1861-1941); Rosella ;Rose' Amelia Lane (1866- ); William 'Willie' Edward Lane (1862-1934). Middle Row: Alfred "Alf' Lane (1873-1954); Fanny [Greek] Lane (abt. 1838-1928); Mabel Edna Lane (1886-1902); William Lane (1836-1922); Mary Ann Greek 'Polly' Lane (1864-1948); Frederick 'Fred' William Lane (1870-1929). Front Row: Daisy 'Maud' Lane (1880-1955); Walter 'Walt' Lane (1876-1928). |
Josiah Pearce Lane joined his father in 1879 when he was 18 years old and had an association with the Company for over 60 years[6].
When Joe, or JP as he became known in the trade, first started his job was to collect the whiting and hand it out the back door to the housewifes who used to come & collect it. It was a prized product, more especially so because it was free. The used whiting was a by-product of the CO2 generation and was in great demand for whitening coal ranges & stoves[7].
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| Instructions at the top of a Lane's stone Jar: 'This Jar is the Property of LANES Ltd. Must not be filled or used by Customers for any purpose whatsoever or proceedings will be taken MUST BE RETURNED WHEN EMPTY' Photo: Jane Chapman 2023 |
At some point, William went into partnership with Richard Kingston. The company is listed in Wises’ New Zealand Post Office Directory[8] with locations in Dunedin, Oamaru[9] and Timaru.
1885/86 Macglaggan street, Dunedin
1885/86 Macglaggan street, Dunedin
Lane & Co. W. (Wm. Lane & Rd. Kingston) aerated water manufs.
1887/88 Macglaggan Street, Dunedin
1887/88 Macglaggan Street, Dunedin
LANE W. & Co. (Wm. Lane & Richard Kingston), aerated water manufacturers;
&2 Severn st. Oamaru
& 3 Beach st. Timaru.
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| Extract from: 'Business Notices' Otago Daily Times, Issue 7853, 22 April 1887, Page 1 via PapersPast |
The Timaru plant closed in 1892[11].
In later years, as the Company became more and more successful it moved from Maclaggan street to larger premises, and then to larger premises again[12].
Following William Lane’s retirement, his eldest son, Josiah Pearce Lane took over the running of the company. He was succeeded by his son, William ‘Bill’ George Lane (1897-1970)[13][14].
The Centennial of the company was celebrated in 1961. This dated back to the original partnership of Baker & Kilners in 1861 as this was the beginning of the Company that, a few years later, became W. Lane & Co.[15].
The unsourced article, Lane & Co, Dunedin[16] indicates that in 1968 50% of the business was sold to R Powley & Co, a subsidiary of New Zealand Breweries Ltd, with the other 50% sold to them one year later.
Postscript
William Lane is my husband's 2nd great grandfather and Josiah Pearce Lane is his great grandfather.
N.B. I have now moved by blogging efforts from this platform to We Are.xyz so that I can integrate building my family history archive with blogging. This post, or a similar version of it, can be found at: W. Lane & Company
Notes
[1] Article 'Ship Crimea to Otago 1863' via NZ Bound [Website]: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nzbound/Crimea_1863.htm Accessed 15 March 2023
[4] Wises Post Office Directory New Zealand City & Area Directories, 1866–1955 via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, City & Area Directories, 1866-1954 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1845/
[5] New Zealand Electoral Rolls via Ancestry.com New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1836/
[6] Article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[7] This original source of this quote is unknown. It comes from the unsourced article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[8] Wises Post Office Directory New Zealand City & Area Directories, 1866–1955 via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, City & Area Directories, 1866-1954 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1845/
[9] Not to be confused with Lane’s Emulsion from Oamaru – different product, different family (although oral family history suggests the two families could have been distantly related. I have yet to find a connection).
[10] ‘Business Notices’ Otago Daily Times, Issue 7853, 22 April 1887, Page 1 via PapersPast [Website]: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18870422.2.2.5 Accessed 15 March 2023.
[11] Jeremy T.G.Sutherland 1996 Article ‘ TIMARU’ via History of Aerated Water Manufacturers in
South Canterbury New Zealand 1864-1985 Part 1 [Website]: http://www.timaru.com/aeratedwaters_history/aeratedhist.html
[12] Article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[2] Article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[3] Ibid.[4] Wises Post Office Directory New Zealand City & Area Directories, 1866–1955 via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, City & Area Directories, 1866-1954 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1845/
[5] New Zealand Electoral Rolls via Ancestry.com New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1836/
[6] Article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[7] This original source of this quote is unknown. It comes from the unsourced article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[8] Wises Post Office Directory New Zealand City & Area Directories, 1866–1955 via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, City & Area Directories, 1866-1954 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1845/
[9] Not to be confused with Lane’s Emulsion from Oamaru – different product, different family (although oral family history suggests the two families could have been distantly related. I have yet to find a connection).
[10] ‘Business Notices’ Otago Daily Times, Issue 7853, 22 April 1887, Page 1 via PapersPast [Website]: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18870422.2.2.5 Accessed 15 March 2023.
[11] Jeremy T.G.Sutherland 1996 Article ‘ TIMARU’ via History of Aerated Water Manufacturers in
South Canterbury New Zealand 1864-1985 Part 1 [Website]: http://www.timaru.com/aeratedwaters_history/aeratedhist.html
[12] Article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[13] Oral family history.
[14] New Zealand Electoral Rolls via Ancestry.com New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1836/
[15] Article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[16] Ibid.
[14] New Zealand Electoral Rolls via Ancestry.com New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1836/
[15] Article ‘Lane & Co., Dunedin’ via KIWI ICONZ [Website]]: https://kiwiiconz.tripod.com/lanedunedin.htm. Accessed 16 March 2023.
[16] Ibid.
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