PEARL STRINGERS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1931, Page 3

PEARL STRINGERS

FORTUNES CONSTANTLY HANDLED. PRICELESS HEIRLOOMS R ET UREA DEI). Strewn aeros s a green velvet tame, like translucent dew oil a lawn, were pearls of many .sizes and shades. Through this glistening, wealth at a, London pearl., merchant’s place a pair of tweezers moved, picking up a. pearl, placing it, watheing. its opaque brilliance, moving this one and that—making a’ .necklace across the deep green. A pair of , shapely, capable hands handled tho tweezers, and a brown head bent low over the work under the light of a high window. This was Ah expert pearl stringer absorbed in the exacting task of making up a pearl necklace, £30,000 in value. She worked with the absorption, of an artist. Should oiie pearl of untrue tint find its way into a necklace the whole piece must be re-asscmblec], for nothing but perfection will do in the pearl trade. Frequently a young threader is sent out to some country mansion to spend a whole week re-threading necklaces that represent incalculable fortunes. Her infallible fingers restririg, such priceless pearls as those hroright over by tlie visiting Indian princes. They alter to fashionable lengths rind gradations necklaces that ar'e hi.stpric heirlooms in some 0f.... thq,. oldest English families.

On an upper floor-; in;(Regent, street, London, I watched a staff' of women stringing many thousands of pounds’ worth of pearls with, the nonchalance of small girls threading .strings of,glass beads. Tliei r chief studied her craft‘.in Hatton Garden and has- mastered the subtle difference between the synthetic beauty of cultured and copied pearls and' the true lustre of the natural gem. She threads from the collections of Indian maharajahs, Oriental princes and sheiks. Her name .is well known as a stringer and judge in. the trade, and some of the best people as. well as the best shops pay for the service of her sure, skill and unquestionable knowledge. To keep pearls fashionably strung is part of her work. No jewel is too sacrosanct in this progressive age that its owner will not have it improved l by re-setting. “It. is quite' a ceremony to restririg pearls lor an Oriental cHcnt,” sa ; d the expert. “T was called in to count and ‘thread a ‘hurcli’ of real pearls for ;i sheik visiting London. The owner his family, his servants, and his pets solemnly sat or stood round me as T worked. His exactness was exasperating.” 1

gave a brilliant exhibition, but the Te Ante boys w. re too heavy for the 'High. School. TIMARU, August 8. The annual match between Waitaki and Timaru Boys’,.High Schools, was played to-day in. the presence of a .large crowd,, Waitaki ..winning! by 14 points to 3. The. visitors writ* superior in all departments. The Schools’ second fifteen drew, eleven jail. SOUTH CANTERBURY BEAT CANTER BURY. .. ;t . CHiRTSTCHjURCH.. August 8. South Canterbury defeated ' Canterbury at., . Rugby ,ito-day, by:. 21 po-’nts (three trios and' two penalty goals arid a potted goal)., to nine points (two tries and a penalty goal). AUCKLAND, - August" 8. Rugby results: Grafton 10, drew with Training College 10; Grammar 8, beat Ponsonby 3; Mamikau 11, beat College Rifles 3; Varsity 6, heat Marist 3. Grammar wins- the Rugby championship. Varsity is the runner-up, with -Ron son by third. WELLINGTON, August 8. . Hutt_ 9,, Boat Marist: 3,; Prsneke 9, beat Wellington o;.Petonc .16,, hept 'Atliletic. 6; University T;9, bejat Miramar. 6. , - , ■ j A . . Hutt win the senioriphampioiisliip. NAPIER;:. August., 8. Senior Rugby: Pirates 16, beat H. 5.0.8. 13; T.Q.0.1L 33, beat Tama-, tea 0. INYERCA’IIGILTt, August 8. Rugby : Ihyerqa.rgiil 8, boat Old Boys 3; Pirates 30, beat Waitiwi 0. PALMERSTON N., August 8. Rugby: Kia Ton 9, beat United. 0; Old Bovs won by default from Massey. College., ~