BRITISH AND CONTINENTAL PIANO COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10629, 18 December 1897, Page 3

BRITISH AND CONTINENTAL PIANO COMPANY.

A GROWING BUSINESS. iWnES it is considered that in Auckland, as in the other prominent cities of New Zealand and Australia, a musical taste of a high standard is being inculcated, this naturally leading to an appreciation of musical instruments of only the best quality, it is not surprising that since the British and Continental Piano Compauy commenced business in Auckland some seven y,earsago, steady and substantial progress has been made. Commercial experience has shown that if permanent progress is to be made quality is the essential feature; sacrifice this and the retrograde step is taken. The public recognise that the high standard is not being maintained; they become chary; business falls off, and eventually the confidence of the public is irretrievably lost. But Auckland residents possess sufficient discrimination to appreciate and support any business where the desire to maintain a high standard of quality is manifested, and it is undoubtedly due to this fact that the business of the British and Continental Piano Company has steadily grown until it ranks among the leading Auckland firms. Now the management, the capable head of which is Mr. A, Hegmaii, whose experience and business capacity has done much to extend the business ramifications of the firm, find that the available space is insufficient for their (purposes, and large and more commodious premises are necessary to enable their handsome instruments to be displayed to advantage and to provide sufficient and suitable space accommodation to enable the internal business to be conducted to advantage. No home may be said to bo complete without a piano, harmonium, or organ, or some instrument from which sweet strains of music can he obtained, affording pleasure to members of the family and to visitors. " Music," quoth the Bard of Avon," hath charms to sooth the savage breast," while it has been asserted with confidence by the great masters whose memories are ever green by reason of the valuable musical legacies which have been left to delight posterity that music was the principal factor of domestic happiness; with music all was serene, happy, and homelike; without, discontent and unrest are prone to reign. Be this as it may the advantages of a musical education to the young must be patent to most parents, and it is, therefore, but a parental duty that the supple hands of lads and lassies should have an opportunity of giving vent to their musical inclinations. Instruments in every way suitable for this purpose may be found in the British and Continental Company's show rooms, in Queen-street, next to J. Tonson Garlick Company. Here are the famed Haake, Kaps, and Kirkman pianos. A few touches on the keys of any of these instruments convince even the musical novice that the quality and purity of tone cannot be surpassed, while a olose inspection of the interior shows that the general construction testifies in an umnistakeable manner to the sterling worth of these instruments. Haake pianos, made in Hanover, Kaps, manufactured at Dresden, other well-known Continental makers, and the best English pianos can be supplied, while the cost, it is held, is such as to bring the piano within the reach of all.

The conditions imposed under the company's deterred payment system are most favourable to patrons; the purchase is effected in such a manner that the initial cost (the deposit) is trifling, and the monthly contributions of very small amounts, That satisfaction has been afforded in the past is proved by the hundreds of testimonials from all parts of the province from purchasers, who express their high appreciation of the instruments and their complete satisfaction at the easy conditions under which they were purchased. Organs, manufactured by the Chicago Orgau Company, for which (as well as for the Haake 'and Kaps pianos) the British and Continental are sole agents for the Auckland andTaranakidistricts, harmoniums and other instruments of splendid quality crowd the floor, and it only requires a visit of inspection to satisfy the most sceptical as to the quality of the instruments. No better proof of the wonderful strides made in musical instruments could be afforded than that of the wonderful piano-harmonium, which alone is sufficient to warrant a visit of inspection to the British and Continental Company's premises. There are two complete compartments for the instruments, and by merely changing a stop piano and harmonium are played 'together, or the instruments played separately on the one set of keys. The piano is of splendid tone—full and rich; the harmonium is just as pleasant to listen to; and the whole forms a striking example of what giant strides have been made in the musical world. The management are pleased to invite inspection, confident that the quality of the instruments and the extremely low figures at which the pianos, organs, etc., are Quoted are suliicient to satisfy patrons that splendid value can be obtained for their outlay.