THE JUBILEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 11

THE JUBILEE.

Suggestions have been offered for a suitable method of celebrating the Jubilee, some of which have been reasonable, others the reverse, but all so far short of the mark. Purchasers of art and statuary certainly have much to recommend them, whilst exhibitions of fire* works are simply puerile and absurd. Fire in any capacity destroys whatever it touches, and in such connections leaves only a pleasant recol* lection of something that has been consumed and has vanished — wealth deliberately annihilated. Our suggestion is that any funds in hand be promptly applied to the purchase of " WaterburYS " for presentation to every .-.cbool boy ,in the colony, in order that habits of punctuality be eai'ly instilled in their minds, and the next generation grow up to value their minutes and their " Waterbukys," and to keep their professional and social appointments.

The " Waterbuhy," too, in addition to its valuo in this dimtiun, i& an s»pt illustration of scientific and mechanical experim< nt and r< - search. Twenty-five years ago, with wages at about a third of their pn-si-nt. value, and the. hours of labour considerably proioujjed, only a wealthy man could afford to own a watch, and this frequently passed from generation to generation as an heirloom — occasion.il! vexcepted from the just debts of the testator.

The first step toward reducing their cost was made in Switzerland, aud a gi-.'t number of Geneva movements were Mint lv Birmingham to be cased aud sold as English productions. Although a few of these certainly proved fairly reliable timekeeper.*, they were tne exceptions, and permanent injury to the trade resulted therefrom. Early in the seventies an attempt was made to market a similar movement in a cheap metal case ; but this, too, proved unsuccessful, the roughness of finish and excessive duplication of parts, at once ensuring its failure. Some of these goods are still in the possession of dealers who found no sale for them, while the •• Waterbuby "" — a new and patened movement invented by a patient and painstaking mechanic in Connecticut— demonstrated the practicability of a cheap and reliable watch at a price previously undreamt, of, and these have now been searched up, and are regularly offered at various prices from a few shillings to a couple of pounds. Somewhat similar in appearance, they are calculated to deceive the public in their search- for correct time, and as they are sometimes sold for less money a great many have been disposed of, especially as their owners gladly guaranteed them genuine " Wateebukys " or equal to the " Waterbuey."

Care is necessary to prevent deception, and purchasers should examine closely any watch, offered at any other price than thirteen and sixpence. The " Waterbuky Watch Co." brand every dial with their name and monogram and as .the principle of their movement is protected by letters patent no other production can offer the

Bafirt absolute accuracy or the same facility for repair 1 . Possessing less than half the number of $arts— all of which, like the Sewing Machine, are interchangeable— it rarely geta out of order, and can always be repaired at cost never exceeding fcalf-a-crown. This, too, accounts for its durability, and the question frequently asked, "Can a watch produced for so little money last ? " finds its readiest answer jn the fact that over

2,000,000 " WATERBURY'S " have slfstdf been sold, and the Factory, witfo the unequalled ont-pot of one thousand per day, ear* barely keep pace with the demand. A. watch that did nofi combine durability with absolute accuracy would neither Jbe cheap nor secure a pe**narient sale, and .none of our readers need hesitate on this account.

We have never heard of a man losing bis train, tram, or ferry through trusting one of these watches, although we have frequently seen citizens, who ought to ha?e known better, left behind through the shortcoming of more: expensive rivals. The "Watebbur?" has acmiif fid a universal reputation for accuzacy, simpKciby, and durability, ana any of our leaders having watches in which the utmost reliance cannot be placed will do well to consider whether it would not be better and cheaper to discard tfeetti at once, and purchase a " Watek BURY."

These watches are admirably suited fox presentations,- and thousands of lads and working men, whose means will not admit of heavy outlays, can thus afford to have the time. The Manchester Examiner sums up an article pttMished on the 22nd December as follows :—" The Watebbuby is a splendid timekeeper. We have subjected it to tests few watches can endure," and similar stateifcents have emanated from the leading English-speaking journals all over the world. It matters not whetbe* the • Waterbuky" falls into the hands of the merchant or gumdigger, the banker or the miner, the shipowner or the stoker, the employer or the employee, the report is the same— it is dust-proof and water-proof, accarate because simple and constructed on correct principles ; too strong to derange and too c&eap to be without. It is welcome alike in palace and cottage, and no invention of modern time has done so much to inculcate habitual punctuality, as the •' Watebbury "— the Prince of Watches. Price, 13s 6d ; by registered post, 14s 3d. IV.ZL HARDWARE CO., CUMBERLAND SI'KEET, DtWEDIN.