Begg, Charles, and Co., Limited , Wholesale and Retail Importers of Pianos, Organs, Music, and every description of musical instruments and requisites, Music Publishers, Tuners and Repairers, 21 and 23 Princes Street, Dunedin; 86 and 89 Stafford Street, Timaru; 77 Willis Street, Wellington; Esk Street, Invercargill; and at 23 Moorfields, London, E.C. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This extensive and prosperous business, which occupies the foremost place of its kind in New Zealand, was established by the late Mr. Charles Begg immediately after his arrival in the Colony by the ship “Robert Henderson” on the 8th of October, 1861. The founder of the firm had served a thorough apprenticeship to every branch of the piano manufacturing industry in Aberdeen, Scotland. He started business for himself at 152 Union Street in that town in March, 1849, and soon earned a first-class reputation for his make of pianos. His business steadily increased until it reached an average output of thirty-five pianos per month. Not a few of these instruments were brought to the Colony by the purchasers page 224 who, like himself, emigrated, and some of them are in use at the present time, thus shewing the care that was exercised in the choice of material, and the skill and thoroughness of the workmanship. As an instance of Mr. Begg's energy and persevering character, it may be stated that he commenced work tuning pianos the day after his arrival in Dunedin, and within a very short time opened a shop in Princes Street, next to the present warehouse, with a stock of but four pianos. One of his first acts was to have specially cut and dried specimens of all the New Zealand timbers with a view to manufacturing, but as he could not get these cut into veneer, and found they were unsuitable for making solid ends and sides of pianos, he decided to leave manufacturing alone, and go into the importing and retail business generally. For the exhibition in 1865, he built the first four pianos made in New Zealand, one of which was on view at the Otago Jubilee Exhibition of 1898. Mr. Begg, who was well known throughout Otago with his tuning kit in the early sixties, was possessed of such a practised ear that he could distinguish between the different pitches (continental, philharmonic, and medium), and tune a piano to any of these without the aid of a tuning fork. The first brass band and orchestra in Dunedin, both of which practised in his premises for a considerable time after starting, were formed through Mr. Begg's personal influence. In the year 1867, at the time of the great fire in Dunedin, the premises occupied by Mr. Bogg were totally destroyed, together with the whole of the stock, resulting in very considerable loss. Shortly after his arrival in New Zealand, Mr. Begg was unfortunate in severely straining his back while lifting the end of a heavy piano. For various periods he was confined to his bed, and his death in 1874 resulted from the injuries sustained. The business was then carried on by his trustees, who found it necessary in 1877, to build the present commodious and extensive premises, which contain the largest piano show-rooms in the Colony. The business, which has since assumed much larger proportions, is now under the management of the two sons, Messrs. Alexander and Charles Begg, who have been actively engaged in the development of this great concern since the year 1887. Messrs. C. Begg and Co. have agencies in all the leading towns of New Zealand, and their Canterbury branch which was established in Stafford Street, Timaru, in 1885, is under the management of Mr. W. J. Muggins. The Wellington branch at 77 Willis Street, which is controlled by Mr. Salvatore Cimino, was opened in 1897; and the Invercargill branch, under the management of Mr. G. A. Carr, was opened in August, 1900. Customers in Timaru, Wellington, and Invercargill, can rely on being charged Dunedin rates, as Messrs. Begg and Co. have determined to maintain uniformity in their prices. The commodious and central premises occupies by this enterprising firm in Princes Street, Dunedin, are unique of their kind and consist of a handsome two storied brick building, with verandahs extending across the footpath, and the large cellars under the entire ground floor of the building are devoted to the repairing, tuning, and polishing branches of the trade. The music salon occupies the ground floor. It is fitted out with two extensive counters, one for the sale of music, and the other for small goods and instruments; and a handsome gallery, which extends all round the salon, entirely does away with the need for step ladders. The piano and organ show-rooms, which are situated on the first floor, are very extensive and contain makes and styles of musical instruments of all kinds, which ought to suit the most fastidious. Messrs. C. Begg and Co. are sole agents for celebrated English piano firms, such as Messrs. John Brinsmead and Sons, Collard and Collard, Moniugton and Weston, and Munt Brothers; and in German makes, for Messrs C. Bechstein, Schiedmayer and page 225 Soelme, and Ferd Thurmer. They are sole agents also for Ugenio Degani, of Venice, the famous violin maker; Mr. J. R. Toms, of Somerset, England, whose violin strings have won favour all over the world; V. Kolherts Söhne, of Bohemia, the celebrated wood-wind instrument manufacturer; Mr. Henry Starck, of London, renowned for wood-wind instruments, and especially for bagpipes, his make of these instruments being used by the pipe bands of his Majesty's Scottish Guards; Mr. P. D'Isanto, pupil of Vinaccia, for Italian mandolines; and de Meglio, for high-class instruments of various kinds. They make a specialty of British pianos, and have specially constructed instruments built in England to their own specifications. An iron-framed full trichord piano, a handsome looking instrument known as the “C. Begg and Co.” or “Exhibition Model,” has already become very popular, over 500 of these having been sold in Otago alone since the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition of 1889–90. The organ trade is given the prominence it deserves, and the world renowned reed organs of the Esley Organ Company, of Brattleboro, Vermont, and of the W. W. Kimball Company of Chicago, can be inspected in great variety. Messrs Begg and Co.'s stock of sheet and book music is claimed to be the largest in the Colony, standard, up-to-date music and songs being kept in great variety. As they are in touch with all the leading composers and music publishers in the world, every mall brings some fresh novelty. Their stock of cantatas, operas, oratorios, church and orchestral music is very extensive. Messrs. C. Begg and Co. cater for every section of the music loving public, their stock of flutes, accordeons, clarionets, and similar instruments, being very extensive, while for violins and all needful fittings they are second to none in the trade. The “Student's” specialty violin, with bow and case complete for £1, is a marvel in value and price, and deserves special commendation. This well known music-house holds the sole agency for the famous “Prototype” brass instruments of Besson and Co., Ltd., of London. These instruments are recognised as the best and leading make in the world, a fact which is evidenced, year after year, by the principal prizes at the band contests, both in England and the Colonies, going to bands which are equipped with this make of Instrument. The staff of assistants both in the sale and workrooms of Messrs Begg and Co.'s establishment are not to be excelled for general practical experience, courtesy, and attention. Country music orders are posted by return mail, and in both the wholesale and retail departments, the utmost attention and despatch are used. It will well repay all intending purchasers before buying elsewhere to give Messrs. Begg and Co. an opportunity to quote prices and submit illustrations and catalogues, and those who are wise will avail themselves of the benefit of an experience extending over forty-two years, in respect to the choice of musical instruments of any kind.

The Dresden Pianoforte Manufacturing And Agency Company . Dinedin. That New Zealanders are lovers of music may be gathered from the extensive page 226 operations of the Dresden Pianoforte Manufacturing and Agency Company, the returns of which testify to the number of pianos and the quantity of music bought in the colony. In addition to the large establishment in Dunedin, the company has branches at Invercargil, Timaru and Nelson, and agencies throughout the South Island; and at Wellington, also, there is an establishment, the importance of which is nearly equal to that of the head-quarters at Dunedin, and it, too, has agencies and subagencies throughout the North Island. Representatives of the company are constantly traveling through the colony, and the business done by the firm is the largest in the Australasian colonies. The business was established in 1884, and from the first it has had continued progress and extension. The Dunedin warehouse is a large and substantial building situated in Princes Street, and most conveniently designed in respect to the requirements of the business. The premises consist of four flats, supplied with a hydraulic lift. Great enterprise has been shown in equipping the establishment. On the basement storey there are workshops, with up-to-date machinery driven by a gas engine. In these shops work in connection with the manufacture of pianos and organs is carried on by experts specially imported from England and Germany. The ground floor of the building contains the music warehouse, with one of the largest assortments of music in the colony; also the show-rooms for pianos and organs, with a magnificent variety of instruments from world-renowned makers; and a complete system of offices. The upper floor is reached by a broad handsomely carpeted stair, which leads to the show room for organs, brass and string instruments, and a large concert room, which, being scientifically designed and possessed of exceptional acoustic properties, is much frequented by lovers of music. This floor' also has teaching rooms which are used by professional teachers and fitted with sound-proof walls, so that it is impossible for the sound to penetrate beyond the room. The Dresden Company has a stock representative of every musical instrument in use in the colony, and the music department is supplied with the latest novelties. The company's agencies include instruments from some of the leading piano and organ factories of the world, including Lipp and Sohn, Stuttgart; Broad-wood and Son, London; Meissner, Leipsig; Bohn, of Hanover; Rosencranz, of Dresden; Erard, of London and Paris; the renowned Steinway of New York and Hamburg; Kirchner, of Berlin; Koch and Sohn, of Berlin; Bell, of Canada; Nelson and Nelson, London; and Boosey, etc., London. Organs by Bell and Company, the Imperial Organ Company of Canada, and Clough and Warren; and brass band instruments by Hawkes and Son—the premier makers of the world—together with pianolas, aeolians, Virgil claviers, Rex piano players, etc., etc. This list shows the thorough representativeness of the company, from whom the public can depend on getting any instrument required, of accepted makers, and the best and latest musical compositions. The company has agencies in fifty New Zealand towns, from Auckland to Invercargill, and is the largest importer of musical instruments in Australasia. Over seventy persons are employed in the Dunedin, Timaru and Wellington centres.