J. H. Parker.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11828, 27 November 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

J. H. Parker.

WATCHMAKER, JEWELLER, AND . OPI'ICIAN.

It is one of the saving clauses in a ' utilitarian civilisation that the love of the beautiful has not been lo^t, and as tha , watchmaker aud jeweller serves th« double . purpos.a of contributing both to the useful and the ornamental he is a valuable unit in the community. Much that adorns the home and person would bo lost were ii not £»r the jeweller, skilled in setting, polishing, and mounting the gems that are reclaimed from the earth. And the watchmaker is so indispensible that one could hardly imagine what would happen to industry if time pieces were to be removed altogether from u<. It would be a horrible thing to the eight hours' worker to think' that perhips he was .working overtime and could not prove it, or to the railway traffic manager, wUo might be starting a train just five minutes out of time a causing a collision. We get so used to many of our important agencies as to almost forget. their ux^sience, and" -to fail to appreciate their supremo utility' In such a domain the jeweller and watchmaker, ig an important factor, and in supplying us ' with jewellery and timepieces, or in repairing old, Mr J. H. Parker is largelyengaged in New Plymouth, flejbolds a foremost place in his trade in the district, j and has several qualifications which recommend kirn to the public. He founded the business in 1880. It is thus the oldest of the kind in the district In that year Mr Parker arrived from Halifax ia the west riding of Yorkshire, where he served his apprenticeship, and where he was for a time in business on his own account. He came to the colony upon the advice of « a friend, who suggested that he Bhould start in business in New Plymouth. Mr Parker's firat premises were situated in Devoo-street near'tbe present theatre, and three yearß ago he removed to the site now occupied near the railway crossing. His two-storied shop is tastefully fitted up, whether in the plate glass of tbe windows, the black and gold f ornishinrt and show casc-8 in the shop, or in the handsome show room nearing completion iv the upper flat. The last is to be an innovation, and is sure to attract attention Mr Parker has the largest business of the tt ° n J^ 0 coaal » and - being, a practical watchmaker has made a reputation in the colony which is not bounded by a few square mileß. So far as his stock is con cerned, he has always been known to itn- v P°rfc the best selection in jewellery, watches, electroplatowarp, optical goods. If he has » speciality. in this respect it is in rings. whi;;h ho' stocks heavily, and for which he has a big de-r maud* They vary in app4u«ao« and.

price, And are suitable to all conditions of life. Thea he also keeps first-class English, Swiss, and Waltham. watches. In "the windows, and in show cases in the shop a handsome stock of jewellery, watches, clocks, etc., is shown. His jew- j •Uery throughout has been shrewdly a chosen, the display of brooches and gold chains being particularly good. The «lectroylate is on important item, and a •bipmont of plate shortly to arrive from London is likely to attract a deal of interest. The optical goods are worthy <*f special mention, being both extensive *nd cheap. So much advance ha 3 been made in themanufacture of optical goods that anyone can now procure these aids to impaired sight. Mr Parker is able to test sight and supply glasses to the test, mnd also to make up from oculists' pre^ ■cripuons. To come to the' practical branch, he is above all things a practical Watchmaker. He thus has a considerable ' amount of repairing to do, his workshop upstairs being served with a, first-class staff of workmen/ His reputation in this branch is such that a silver English lever watch hae been sent him for repair from Newcastle, New South Wales, while work reaches him from Christchurch in this colony and from different parts of the North Island; The trade ramifies to all parts of the coast, and whether in repairing or in general stock as a direct importer Mr Parker is highly spoken of by everyone.