The early years…

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In 1877 Mr Isaac Hopkins of Auckland promoted the use of the Langstroth frame hive.

In 1880 the first Italian bees were imported. In one or more of those early shipments American foulbrood was introduced.

In 1881 Mr TG Brickell, Senior, and uncle of Mr AB Callick who in 1930 was manager of Alliance Bee Supplies, commenced the manufacture of beekeepers’ supplies. Mr Brickell was a joiner by trade. He had been one of the first men to import bees into New Zealand. His son, Mr RW Brickell, was used to turn a grindstone to drive the saw bench, as he did not have enough capital to purchase an engine!

Honey had been sold into England in the 1880s but irregularity in supplies and speculation in the trade had prevented goodwill trade being built up. Honey in England was retailed at 1/6 to 2/- per pound in glass, and it was felt our best clover honeys were the equal in quality. New Zealand producers were only getting 3d or 4d per pound.