A VALUABLE VIOLA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16653, 24 May 1928, Page 2

A VALUABLE VIOLA

MADE BY HILL IN 1777 An interesting instrument, the value of which may be considerably more than what its appearance would indicate, is a viola in the possession of Mr. Charles Wood, of the Strand Orchestra, Auckland and formerly of Gisborne. It bears the label. "Joseph Hill, at the Harp and Flute in the Havmarket, London, 1777. Mr. Wood has shown the instrument to* several visiting players, who ex- j pressed the opinion that, it was genuine. Ho had photographs of the- viola taken and sent to Messrs. W. E. Hill an/d Sons 180 New \ Bond street, London, who'advised that they were oi the opinion that it was made by Joseph Hill, of London, who was bora in I<lj, and'who died in 1784. TJtey stated that they wert> interested in the instrument, and later followed this communication up with a, substantial offer for it. . The viola came into tl> possession ot Mr Wood tlfrough his 'father, who purchased it from a vio)' ;t . player at Nelson, whom he heard playing it. : .the performer was a daughter of a Nelson newspaper man, who bad in turn secured it from Hen? Ballir,, one lime professor ■of music at Noises College. . After Jus father's death Mv. Wood had the viola repaired by I'asf/.eek, at Sydney, who offered £SO for, it as it stood. At this time' the neck of the instrument was practically ww/ri out and had, to be reI Asan indication of the value of some instruments and how cheaply they may be disposed of, it is interesting to recall that some years ago a violin bought by a dealer for £351 was sent to London and sold for £250. It was later sold for £4OO and is back, in Auckland at the present time.—Auckland Sun.