CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 169, 8 December 1896, Page 6

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES.

W. LITTLEJOHN AND SON. We very much fear that the sterling character of the above local firm's exhibit has not been generally perceptible to visitors to the Exhibition. They see a display of very first-class jewellery work, some scientific-looking apparatus, and the works of a big clock, which last, as Mr. Littlejohn, jtinr., says, they probably mistake for a- coffee-mill, or something of that homely nature, and that is all. Well, it is not to be wondered at, for in large measure the exhibit is caviare to the general. Yet it is an exceedingly striking and important exhibit, of the highest order of merit as, an illustration of local industry, of local inventive talent, of local scientific attainments and resource; and we trust that many will note this admittedly imperfect description of it, and straightway go again and inspect it carefully. It will well repay them. We may add that we deal with the exhibit in this class, because the jewellery portion of it is, of course, an accessory to clothing, and, obviously, it is not convenient to divide our exhibit notices. Messrs. W. Littlejohn & Son, who take foremost rank among the jewellery and scientific instrument manufacturers of the colony, started business here in 1879, only the head of the firm and the son then being employed on the work. They prospered, and built new premises seven years ago. (to-day they employ 20 hands, and the present premises are too small for their requirements. Everything they exhibit in their Exhibition show-case has been made at their factory or workshop, and it does not need an expert to determine that their work is as good as that of the leading London or other Home or foreign houses. ' The jewellery portion of the exhibit, though not very extensive, is remarkable for its quality of workmanship and finish, and originality in design. Some diamond -Tings are samples of the above qualities, and so perfect is the setting of the stones and the make generally, that experts have with 'difficulty, certainly with great surprise, cAdited that the work was all done here. Notably is this the case in a Marquise ring, which is a gem in more senses than one. Then, equally first-class, there are bangles, brooches of different kinds, including some fine golf brooches, of original designs, by Mr. Littlejohn, junior; scarf pins, sleeve links, silver belt brooches, very chaste and solid throughout, silver tea caddids, greenstone-mounted match-boxes, serviette rings of silver, and many other pretty and valuable articles, which must be seen to be appreciated, and, we may add, coveted. But, good as is the above display, and of such credit to the firm, it is not to this portion that they attach the chief importance. Rather is it to the display if their scientific; and optical instruments. 3uch, for instance, as the two microscopes ihown in the case, every piece and part of .vhich, even to the lenses, has been made ay the firm, and which are equal to anything turned out by Ross at Home, the acknowledged expert in this line of manufactures. Xhe firm even made their own tools for grinding, polishing, and finishing generally the lenses, which are here also displayed in all stages from the rough, bottle-glass-looking substance to the highlypolished article fitted to perform the work required of it. These microscoyes are complete in every detail, even to the fittings, the condenser being either detached or fixed to the stage supporting the rest of the apparatus, the whole being after Reichart's pattern. ' Then we have a special line in the Messrs. Liltlejohn's trade, the sjtectacle lenses, and finished spectacle frames. Also samples of their solid metal parallel rulers, much in vogue among draughtsmen because of their absolute reliability. Standing away from the show case are four sets of theodolite tripods. To all appearances they are just weD-made three-legged supports such as one is wont to see in use by surveyors when taking levels, &c. But three of them, at any rate, are very much more than the ordinary article, and, indeed, are representative of a most clever invention, of Mr. Littlejohn, junior, which he bfa patented, and which is now attracting 1 attention from experts in this line in the principal civilised countries of the world. It is difficult, but let H3 endeavour to explain. As most people know, the ordinary tripod merely acts as a stand, to which is attached the theodolite, which the surveyor then adjusts by screws to a level. But first, the surveyor has to shift his tripod legs about, now one now another, according to the character of the ground it is on, until his plumb is true, and in rough country this often takes up a deal of time, and is a matter of great difficulty. Mr. Littlejohn's patent does away with all difficulty, no matter what the nature of the ground may be. By a sort of ball and socket arrangement on the apex of the tripod, no matter where, or how the legs are planted, first the plumb can be made to hang true over tho centre,, and then made immovable, and then the theodolite can be levelled by just as simple a process without the adjusting of one screw and then another, and go on as in the old way. The result is that survey work in rough country * can be done in less than half the time taken under the old system and with the old form of tripod and adjusting screws. To the surveyor time is money, m it is to everyone else, and the profession has been quick to perceive the signal benefits afforded by Mr. Littlejohn's which is going to turn out a valuable one to the firm. Another tripod has the traversing head action only, and another only the levelling action. Visitors will find it worth their while to examine these things for themselves. Then there is a sighting tripod of ordinary make, and the remainder of the exhibit consists of the works of a turret cbek of four faces, in going order. It has a Graham's dead beat escapement, the enormous pendulum vibrating in IJseconds and weighing 1501bs. The clock is fitted with iron and zinc compensation for changes of temperature. The striking of the clock, would be by a bell "weighing scwt, but the bell is not ihown. Enough has been said to indicate the interesting character of this exhibit, its completeness, thoroughness, and value as an illustration of local handicraft of various and skilled kinds. The Messrs. Littlejohn are to be heartily congratulated on such a display of talent and proftcien cy. We should add that they are the only makers of nautical instruments in the colony.

The programme for the Convent pupils' entertainment in the Concert Hall this evening will be found in another column. It is musically of a high class, and, with the well-known capabilities of the performers and their instructors, should prove most enjoyable. This afternoon the children in St. Mary's Orphanage were entertained by Mr. Seager's lantern pictures, being taken on a trip through Rome and the Vatican, aided by connected readings. An attractive programme of sports is announced to be given on the Exhibition Ground to-morrow afternoon. It will include sensational feats on the high wire and trapeze acts by the local Blondin (J. ''Driscoll), acrobatic performances by the American trio, and " Luella the Marvel " will repeat his startling feat " The Glide for Life." Selections by Minifies Band will enliven the proceedings. It is intended to entertain the inmates of the Old Men's Home and St. Joseph's Orphanage on Thursday afternoon next. The Kinematograph was well patronised last night, and the pictures were seen to good advantage.