THE NEW MUSIC WAREHOUSE AND ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4911, 18 December 1876, Page 3

THE NEW MUSIC WAREHOUSE AND ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

On Saturday night a large number of persons blocked up the footpath opposite the above building on Lambtou-quay, which was formally opened with quite a grand display of pianos, &c. Mr, Caddy, the gentleman in charge of the new premises, kindly invited us in, and we had the pleasure of going over the building. As a welcome addition to the many improvements now going forward in Wellington, the warehouse and the line of business to which it will be devoted deserve some notice at our hands.' The premises, which consist of two storeys, occupy a, frontage on Xiambton-qnay, nearly opposite the Government Buddings, of 30ft. by a depth of 60ft, and have been specially built for their present use by Messrs, Davis and Hopwood from a design and under the superintendence of Mr. Turnbull, architect, and in the hands of those gentlemen have been erected promptly within the contract time. The ground floor is occupied as a saleroom, and this wo found very handsomely fitted and stocked with a very large number of pianos and harmoniums by the best English, Erench, and German makers, from the more pretentious grand and larger reed instruments down to those designed for small country churches and school and'cottage use. Pominent amongst these we noticed instruments by Broadwood, Brinsmead, Kirkman, Challen, and Hodson, Anchor TTreres, Bord, Lipp, and others. The fittings were well supplied with’ an extensive assortment of the smaller instruments, and book and sheet music, which will be replenished by every mail. Large as the present stocky appears to be, we learn that Mr. Bennington being a direct importer from the English and foreign markets, large orders are now in course of and will be here in a few weeks. Upon arrival of these, wo are assured the stock will be the largest and most varied in this colony. A separate' side entrance from Lambtonquay leads to the second storey, which consists cf a large hall the full size of the ground floor (30ft. x 60ft.). This is well ventilated, and lit by two sunlights, and will be let by the hour (during the day) to teachers of music, as a central instruction-room for pupils. At night it will be available for rehearsals for concerts, Sec. ' It will, we learn, be comfortably seated with chairs to render it convenient for

the latter purpose ; and when this is done, we have no doubt it will be in demand accordingly. It has been a general and long standing complaint that the requirements of the musical public in this city have never yet been fnllv met, and we trust that Mr. Bennington’s enterprise will be as amply rewarded as it undoubtedly deserves. Wellington has also secured in Mr. Bonnington one of the best violinists in the colony, and ho will be a welcome addition to our instrumentalists. Mr. Caddy, too, is a musician of no mean order, his forte being the clarionette, Which he plays in a masterly style. While in Christchurch Mr. Caddy made a name- for himsejf as an obligato player, and on several occasions received high compliments from the musical critics in the local papers.