A RAKE OLD DOCUMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3033, 2 November 1908, Page 6

A RAKE OLD DOCUMENT.

The firm of Walter Gee and Company has in its possession a rare old document, viz., the certificate of indenture of Mr Walter Gee, senr., to Messrs Henry Lawrence and Son, window-blind manufacturers, London. This interesting relic of the past is dated 1846, "in the tenth year of the reign" of the late Queen Victoria, and is therefore upwards of sixty years oj,d. It is probably the only document of its kind in Australasia, and has a peculiar interest at the present time, inasmuch as the question of apprenticeship' has lately been revived, and in some trades the indenturing of apprentices has been made compulsory by award of the Court of Arbitration. Whatever the merits cr demerits.of the system may be, it must be admitted that it at least ensured the apprentice being thoroughly instructed in the art and science of his trade. Mr Walter Gee, after serving his apprenticeship and working a few years at his trade, came to New Zealand, and in 1870 founded the firm which bears his name. After carrying on a successful business for a number of years, during which time the manufactures of the firm wherever exhibited were awarded firstclass honours, Mr Gee retired. The buisness is carried un in Wellington by Mr Walter Cosier Gee and his partners; and their achievements bid fair to equal, if not to surpass, those of the parent firm. Although it is only four years since the firm commenced business in Wellington, it has a record of which it may well be proud. Most cf the public buildings in Wellington are fited with Gee's blinds; amongst others may be mentioned :—-Nathan's Buildings, an immense block of over two hundred offices; the Bank of New South Wales; the Bank of Australasia; the National Bank of New Zealand; the New Zealand Insurance Building; the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Island Bay; the People's Palace; the Salvation Army Children's Homes (two); the Ministerial Resi- . dence, Molesworth Street; the Ballroom, Government House; besides numerous private residences. The firm specialises in window-blinds, and its ambition is to turn nut only first-class work. An advertisement in reference to this firm appears on page 1 of this issue.