WELLINGTON PIANO COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8479, 5 July 1907, Page 6

WELLINGTON PIANO COMPANY.

A PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS. For the past twenty-one years Mr A. F. Robertshaw has been in charge of the Dresden Piano Company, Dunedin, and on resigning that service in order to take the position of General Manager of the Wellington Piano Company, he was the recipient of a number of farewell gifts and presentations. A very large complimentary conversazione tendered to Mr Robertshaw by the citizens of Dunedin, on June -25 th, was attended by over 150 people. The Chairman, in presenting Mr Robertshaw with a beautifully bound and illuminated address, said that it would be hard to find another to take the place which their guest had filled in the musical life of Dunedin. The address|read as follows:—"A. F. Robertshaw, Esq. Dear Sir,—On the eve of your departure from ; Dunedin, we, as representatives of your many friends, desire to express our appreciation of and gratitude for your many services in connection with the advancement of music in this city : during a period of over twenty years. In the cause of charity your services and great ab ; lity have" been freely given, in business your reputation has always been unsullied, and your conduct has invariably commanded the respect of all with whom you have been associated. We feel that you* advancement reflects credit not only upon yourself, but upon the city in which you have resided so long, and in congratulating you upon your appointment to such an important position we realise that Dunedin is losing a most enthusiastic musician, a courteous gentleman, and an enterprising and thoroughly valuable citizen. We wish you and your family every possible success in the future, and have the honour to subscribe ourselves." (Here follow a large number of signatures.) The citizens of Dunedin also presented Mrs Robertshaw with a case of silverware and wedgwood, and Miss Robertshaw with a lady's companion. Another large farewell gathering, attended by over 200 Masons, was tendered Mr Robertshaw by the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a very prominent member.

Few New Zealand concerns have attained such rapid success as the Wellington Piano Company, and the great extensions of its business have been due to the very high class of instruments stocked and to the energy and foresight of its large staff, its secretary (Mr E. H. Anderson), and the Directors—who include some of the Empire City's most prominent business men. The Company commenced operations in 1904 in Molesworth Street, Wellington. Recently, however, they purchased two large shops on Lambton Quay, thus laying the foundation for the future progress of the Company by having available in the main thoroughfare a large area of ground for all probable future requirements. A branch has been opened in Wanganui, and agencies have been established in irary of the principal towns. The Wellington Piano Company is to be congratulated in securing Mr Robertshaw's services, and great as its success has been in the past, still further extensions may be now expected.