NEW ZEALAND'S FINEST TREASURE HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13925, 5 December 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S FINEST TREASURE HOUSE.

" *» •■■■ —■ , , RICH STORE OF JEWELS. AFTERNOON IN STEWART DAWSON'S. " ' Tn* diamond from the blue clays anil tho riven of Africa, the shining pearl from tho deep oaves aud roofa,of tho coral seas, tho ruby from the secret mine in the fcropio earths of Burma, the opal from tho reefs under the glaring Queensland sun, the amethyst from Siberia, tho sapphire, the emerald, tho olivine, tho peridot, tho topaz, tho tourmaline, the turquoise, and many others are all there, in flashing, scintillating splendour, stored in Stewart Dawson and Company's magnificent new treasure-house at the corner of Queen and Durham Streets, and an afternoon spent in that building was like roaming through the storehouse of a Mogul emperor or the treasure-cave of some worldrenowned buccaneer.

It speaks well for the increasing population and growing importance of the city of Auckland as a business centre that there has been such a comprehensive construction of largo buildings and extension of premises during tho past years, and one of the latest additions is the handsome structure just completed at tho corner of Queen and Durham Streets, where the firm of Stewart Dawson and Co. has established the largest jeweller's shop in New Zealand, and has put. in an entirely new stock on so lavish a scale that one cannot but pause in wonder before tho vast and rich array of gold and silver and jewels. There is a frontage of 43ft to Queen street and 50ft to Durham-street, practically all plate-glass, and where there is no glass there is Aberdeen granite, tho effect being striking and handsome in tho extreme. The window display of plate, rings, brooches, watches, and hundreds of other beautiful articles is on so largo a scale that it has been attracting crowds of interested spectators, and at night, when tho valuable store is illuminated by eloctricty, to look into the windows is to peep into a fairy parlour. There aro thousands of pounds'' worth of diamonds alone constantly on exhibition, and nothing whatever is shown that the firm cannot provide duplicates of at. a moment's notice.

The entrance door is a real gem of the signwriter's art. the work of Messrs. Taylor and Sons, and upon entering the visitor finds himself in a big shop, 43ft by 50ft, and surrounded by dozens of glass counter oases and tall showcases, all containing bewildering assortments of jowels and plate. It is. in fact, an immense exhibition, a jeweller's treasure-house, and the visitor who misses it misses one of the most interesting sights of Auckland; and, by the war, anyone is at fullest liberty to walk through in business hours without being asked to purchase anything. The ceiling of this shop is a display of beautiful fibrous plaster work; it is ono of the most artistic ceilings in New Zealand, and was carried our. by Messrs. Wardrop and Scurry, of Melbourne, Mr. Scurry coming to Auckland specially to superintend the work. Beneath the shop is a groat basement floor, 110 ft long, with packing-rooms, staff accommodation, etc.. and above the shop again is a vast showroom, off which there is lavatory accommodation for lady customers or visitors. Those new premises are being opened with an entirely new stock, valued at well over £50,000, and. taken in conjunction with the old shop, further down the street, the firm carries a stock in Auckland valued at a good way over £60,000. It is the intention to transfer the business of the old shop to the new one at a later date. The architect for the new premises was Mr. R. do Montalk. whose work speaks for itself; the elaborate electric light installation was carried out by Messrs. A. and T. Burt, while Mr. J. Morris, the building contractor, made the, glasswork and interior wall cases in a satisfactory manner. The glass counters are by Messrs. Mead and Son. from London All designs and details of the windows and interior fittings were supplied from London by Mr. Stewart Dawson, whose expert designing of jewellery establishments practically reache* perfection. The firm of Stewart Dawson and Co.. which has branches all through the Australasian colonies, are their own shippers and buyers, and there is nothing new in the jewellery line that is not stocked. In this business a thousand and one manufacturers must be dealt with to secure all the latest and most beautiful designs, and tho shop in Auckland is at once a retail establishment and its own wholesale warehouse, carrying an enormous variety. . The stock of plate and solid silver, « branch of business which has grown very greatly of recent years, is the largest in New "Zealand, and its infinite variety, its beauty, and its value cannot but astonish all beholders. In fact, the whole display in this great treasure-house would astonish evon London visitors, because the business, being so far away from the world's centre, is obliged to carry a far greater stock and a far greater variety than even the most complete London' shops. ' - In tine-main- shop wood seems almost to have been dispensed with, except* for the dust and air-tight frames of the mirror doors giving acceas to tho windows, and these are of walnut. Everything else seems to be of glass, tho rounded and exquisitely-finished plate-glass shelves being supported by polished steel brackets. Every article in that bewildering collection is as perfect as artistic taste, and skill can make it, and, although there arc low-priced goods, there is nothing cheap. Every individual article is marked in plain figures, and the business is carried on on a strictly cash principle. Everywhere—in immeuso piles of boxes in the showroom, in the great strongroom, in the windows, the showcases—there is a brilliant hoard of valuable things. Necklaces, pendants, pins, brooches, rings, trinkets, bangles, bracelets, shining, sparkling, scintillating in their varied play of colours, revealing diamonds, rubies, sapphires, turquoises, opals, pearls, and others of the aristocracy of gems, in superb design, executed* 1 by master craftsmen, are, displayed there, and the wonder is how the firm keeps check of its possessions, and yet so complete is tho system that not one ring can get out of its place without its absence being noted. Watches are there in almost endless variety, from the schoolboy's "ticker" to the costly gold repeaters, and ladies will find their wishes catered for with practically every variety of watch known to the trade. The silver department is hardly less enchanting than the jewellery store. Lovers of good silverware will find almost a sea of solid silver, and silver* and crystal. There are silver tea services, cofTeo services, trays, waiters, and a hundred and one other things, from pencil-cases to handsome challenge cups, and all in tho most exquisite design, asparagus dishes, soup tureens, fruit, and fish sets, flower vases, flower-stands, dessert and sweets dishes, silver chafing-dishes, Christmas, birthday, and wedding presents, in endless variety, ' and almost every conceivable form, a perfect paradise of presents. There aro clocks of all designs, cutlery sets, watchguards, leather'goods, such as purses, in seal, morocco, or crocodile skin, with silver or gold mounts, cigar and cigarette cases, handbags, card-cases, pocket-books, tobnecopounches, all iu the very latest designs. There is every kind of jewel there,; from the most expensive emerald and diamond to the comparatively inexpensive but still beautiful tourmaline, or peridot, and every piece of jewellery is stamped with the individuality of the craftsman. Manicure sets, pretty cut-glass bottles, jewel-cases, photo, frames, hand or table mirrors, elaborate silver toilet sets, brushes, with ivory, ebony, or silver backs, singly or in sets, and thousands of other articles to gladden the female heart. The firm makes a specialty of its precious .stones, and diamonds aro on exhibition of great value. Prices of these precious stones' l have increased enormously of late, hut the firm had a largo stock before the* rise, and aro selling at the old values. Thus one diamond valued at £30 was shown to a Hkkai.D representative which to replace from Home now would cost, £120. Rubies of great value are displayed in the windows, but in tho same shop one may also purchase the less expensive but beautiful olivine stone, and that most fascinating of gems, the opal, of different sizes, shapes, and colours.

At night time the electric light is thrown back by the facets of the jewels, and by the astonishing collection of brilliant objects in the glass cases .which appear on every hand, and the windows of Stewart Dawson and Co. arc one of the sights of Queen-street at night as by day. The establishment of such an immense trea-sure-house in Auckland is a proof of the distinguished ability Which characterises the general management and its wise choosing of the many branch managers. The business, founded in Liverpool, has bounded into fame and now is probably the greatest jewellery firm in the English-speaking world. A few months ago the New Zealand branches of the firm were formed into a limited liability company, registered in the Dominion, Auckland being chosen for the headquarters of the company, with Mr. A. Dawson as managing director.