Page 13 Advertisements Column 1

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 79, 4 January 1902, Page 13

MR LE GROVE AND THE "NEW CENTURY " TYPEWRITER. '' 1 FOX was fascinated by some grapes J\_ which hung high in a certain vineyard, and in order to obtain which he for some time fatigued himself in leaps, friskings, and contortions more or less giaceful, until his joints grew stiff and his bones fairly ached. But at last finding his agility decreased and the grape# further from his reach than e\ er ' let who will have them,' he said, ' as for me I would none of them at a gift, foi I am sure they ar# as sour as vinegar.' " Our attention has been drawn to a letter which appeared lecently from a Mr. Le Grove, in which he attempts to question tb# genuineness of an order of five hundred "JNew Century" Typewriters recently obtained by this company from the AustroHungarian railway authorities atßudaPesth, and then goes on to attack the " New Century " machine generally. Befoie dealing with this phase of the case we should like to mention that in March, 1899, this same Mr. Le Grove made overtures to oui organising representative for the agency of the "New Century" Typewriter, and by letter dated 17th February, 1900, made another effort, but on each occasion his application was refused. The cause therefore for his diatribes must be obvious to most people, and the application of the fable perfectly in order. With legaid to the WORLD'S RECORD ORDER obtained by this company at Buda Pesth we would stay Mr. Le Grove's doubts and allay his anxiety by assuring him once again that we have the order, and what is more, coupled with the understanding that it will eventually be increased to over one thousand machines. With regard to the order foi two hundred and fifty " Bailocks," recently placed by the British War Office, the following facts may interest not only your readers but also Mr. Le Grove, as we ha\e no doubt that they will be news to both Pnor to placing the oidei lequisitions had been received by the authorities from regiments and officers for nearly three hundred machines pretty evenly divided between two of the standard makes, not " Barlocks." It was confidently stated by people who are supposed to know at the War Office that the order would be divided probably between three of the companies, a proportion of about 90 per cent, to the two standard machines and the '• Barlock " about 10 per cent. The " Barlock " people, howe\ei, put in an absurd price, something between £11 and £12, and as the two standard companies quoted the usual discount to the Government, 15 per cent, off list price (which is £23), and the official who decided the order knowing nothing whatever about typewriters took the price as his guide, and decided to have " Barlocks." The difference in price in favour of the " Barlock " being about £9 per machine. As it is very evident that merit did not enter into the competition further comment is superfluous. With regai d to Mr. Le Grove's silly challenge we must decline his red herring bait, because we and our representative (Mr. Willis) are quite satisfied about the quality of oui machine, and that others are coming round to this way of thinking is proved by recent events in Wellington.

UNITED TYPE WHITER AND SUPPLIES COMPANY, Manufacturers of the " New Century " Typewriter, By its Attorney for Australasia, (Signed) H. G. CAMBRIDGE, Sydney, 20th December, 1901.

THE NATIONAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND (LIMITED). : 'V Incorporated under the Companies Acts and the New Zealand Act, 1873. AN INTERIM DIVIDEND for the half-year ended 30th September last, at the rate of Eight (8) per cent, per annum, has been declared by the Directors, and will be paid to Shareholders on application at any of the Branches in the colony on and after the 7th January, 1902. The Transfer Books will be closed from this date until the 7th prox. JAMES COATES, General Manager. Wellington, 24& December, 1901.