MR. EDWIN ARNOLD, J.P.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 77, 21 December 1901, Page 40

MR. EDWIN ARNOLD, J.P.

Mr. Edwin Arnold, J P , basket and perambulate] maker and impoiter, of Wilhs-street, has had a varied career in the Wellington district. About twenty years ago he might have been seen in a small shop m Masterton, bending willows and supplejacks, and making them into baskets of various sizes and designs, or w orkmg straw into beehives Then, as now, he had to compete with the improved machinery and cheap labour and capital of other lands, but, by w orking late and early and preserving a good word and affable smile for his patrons— the settlers—he contrived to keep has family and himself in comfort The desire to extend his business directed Mr Arnold to Wellington city. Basket-making at this time wa& at a low ebb, and the manufacture ot perambulators in. the colony was almost unknown NeaHy every artisan that had started m Mr. Arnold's line in the larger centres had come to grief For a time after the first plunge in Manners-street, where rents were going up like a wellinflated balloon, Mr Arnold swam in troubled waters, and, not being too well ballasted with capital, he had a fairly lively experience, but managed to keep his head above the waves. He kept down expenditure by economising space. Thin wooden partitions, and a door or two, divided shop, workroom, and dwelling. In the latter, Mrs. Arnold, a thrifty helpmate, and family young, but fairly numerous — reigned supreme, while in the shop and workroom Mr Arnold was at once salesman book-keeper errand boy, and artisan, all rolled into one. His "lightning changes" were remarkable. At one moment he was noting down orders, the next discussing prices with a commercial traveller, then cheerfully showing his wares and tendering gratuitous advice, mingled Avith information and compliments, to a lady customer, and anon clad with a huge apron bending the willows across his knees and shaping them into huge crates or washing baskets The work required plenty of energy, but Mr Arnold had no time to grumble. It was after the shop was closed, and the eight-hours' movement was forgotten, that Mr Arnold did most of his manufacturing. Indeed, his profits were chiefly made when other people were asleep, or enioying themselves. When he put up Ins shutters, he opened up his tool chest, and then, chatting briskly with his cheerful partner, many a baby carriage and wonderful child's chair and rocking horse were rattled together Mr. Arnold declares that he thoroughly enjoyed it. There was no leisure, but plenty of profitable recreation "There is nothing in the world like climbing the rieging, especially when vou know that the voung ones are prattling on vour shoulders," he savs "If I had to tug in again I would do the same to-morroAV " Mr. Arnold from that time, has been steadily marchine: His business now requires his head to work rather than hi<? hands Of an active disposition, he keeps a constant supervision over a business that comprises more than one department Apart from the sales effected in his shop, his manufacturing, im-ii.it-iiqr, and consignment work is verv considerable He has quite a numb-r of hands employed in his factory which is situated some distance away from_ his showroom His manufactures, besides baskets and perambulators, comprise wire-woven mattras«es, bedsteads, and cane and wickerwork and inlaid fun '- ture of singularly varied and pretty designs The secret of his cheerfulness is that he never knows what \tp to have an idle moment, or to live without a motive To rear a family in comfort was h'* earlv ambition This he his achieved to M" full heart's content To hunt the wolf from the threshold of the was alwai s his ardent wi«h Whmi hp enea°:ed his fir^t apprentice it added a

uow- pleasure, beoau.se lie wanted to make the ben and Ins family as happy as himself And now, Mr Arnold's hands will leadih testify to the interest lie takes in their material well-being. If ever Mi Arnold has a little time to spare, he devotes it usually to re elamaton woik The Salvation Army know s him well He has been the agent and coadmtor of the organisation. As a msrioe'of the peace lie has taken a keen inteiost in mdicial work, and the highly beneficial « av in which he has tempered mstace with mercy is notorious With a kindly admonition, and a helping hand he has raised above the social sewer manv an erring one that a severe rebuke would only have driven deeper Among the prisoners, at the lerraco Gaol and the Forts, Mr Arnold as visiting mstice. has made a name that will not leadily be forgotten Sparing no trouble to "sift the chaff fiom the wheat he has discriminated between the different classes of criminals tio hr.rls that win] e a percentage are incomeible the great bulk can be improved, if not completely regenerated It is not the prisoners, but the prison system that ohiefh needs reforming. The caged onos" are docile eoough, but thev need special treatment Mr Arnold can produce a bundle of letters that are a strong commentary on his missionary w r ork . c i Some of these letters are fiotn relative? others from the prisoners themselves Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, bear grateful testimony to the reelamaitory work. Here is a specimen—a small fragment of a letter from a ladv, in a good position, whose boy he arrested as he was on the down grade —•'Never T think, in. mv life have 1 met with such unselfish kindness. • • • ■ Words written or spoken could not express to you what I think of it I will not, attempt thanks" The letters of contrition and thanks that he has received from young fellows that he has £ved from the full effects of. their scrapes are too numerous to give extracts from Some of these voung fell OTn he tent to sea others are now in good situations. Women, as well as men youns and old alike, have had the benefit of his helping hand till now the prison authorities regard him as a social regenerator. Nor has he spared his pocket when substantial _ help has been required Philanthropists of Mr. Arnold's stanm are a boon to anv commum+- and Wellington is surelv hon onred in such a citizen

Just at this tame, when the eye of the public is directed to the numerous tires, the said public may be expected to direct its thoughts to the extinguishment of the incipient fiend Bette Patent Fire Extinguisher is absolute!"' a good thing It will extinguish inflammable material, which w ater only spreads instantly safely, and without trouble Manv brigades in the colonies are already using this remarkable solution, and already it has been instrumental m saving valuable property A local test proved its efficiency, and eye witnesses pronounce its qualities to be marvellous. A person may dip a hand in the solution and hold burning material with it. Nothing hitherto invented has such remarkable fire-fighting pi operties Messrs ft W Mills and Co. the local agents, supply the solution in bottles or bulk, and its success is already creating a demand quite unprecedented Messrs. Archibald Clark and Sons have a new idea in shirts. It is called the "Wanderer," which, as its name implies, is suitable for travellers. It "5 a garment with patent detachable cults, which portion may be bought separately. The invention is, as may be easily seen, of much value to tourists. MessrB. Clark and Sons made a name for their "Zealandia" shirts, and that garment is worn, perhaps, more than any shirt in New Zealand. If the "Wanderer" is as great a success as the "Zealandia," it has certainly come to stay. One of the neatest calendars that have yet come to hand is that of the New Zealand Insurance Company. It takes the form of a handy little pocket-book, bearing the company's compliments in gilt lettering, and just inside the cov n r the calendar is conveniently placed. The Catholic Picnic to Father Lane's Gardens, Lower Hutt, on Boxing Day, pi onuses to be an exceptionally ]ollv outing Given fine weather the children's procession should be an interesting feature The Wellington Garrison Band has been retained for the occasion. Tickets are 2s, including admission to giounds, and the train leaves Te Aro at 9 4o am., and Wellington at 10. Mr Frank Grady, one of the sufferers b> the Oriental fire, has still a large quantity of salvaged goods, which he is offering at very greatly reduced prices. They form a very fine collection, and the prices are marked down very considerably. He has also recently stocked his Christmas goods, and intends to sell all of them at sale prices As these articles include all sorts of up-to-date novelties for Christmas presents, the public hnvo an unusual opportunity of obtaining seasonable gifts at an extremely low figure