Yesterday afternoon a reporter paid a visit to their workshop, and was shown a number of violins in various stages of construction. The maker of these is Mr James Flint, the well-known musician, who has been engaged upon this class of work since 1905, and who has turned out two instruments in particular among a large number of others, that are giving their owners much satisfaction - a violin that is being used by Miss Hawcridge and a viola used by Mr J. Wallace. The work of making a violin is a very intricate task, involving a great deal of care and skill, and it is highly creditable to Dunedin that a local manufacturer should be able to carry it through all its various stages.
The wood used is imported from Italy, the kinds with which Mr Flint works being tiger maple and Swiss pine, and we are informed that it has been subjected to a process of natural seasoning from as far back as 1760. It comes to hand in small blocks, one of which is destined for the back of the instrument and the other for the breast, and out of these blocks the finished violin is fashioned complete in every detail, even to the inlaying of the ornamental purfling - a difficult feat of craftmanship. In the past it has been the custom to import the scrolls for violins made in New Zealand, but Mr Flint also makes these himself.
At the present time he is engaged upon the manufacture of six instruments for the Wellington branch of Messrs Begg and Co., and those which are nearing completion show very fine finish and great smoothness of surface. We understand that it is the intention of the firm to sell this local product at its various branches throughout New Zealand, and that the price will range from 15 to 20. During the next few days the window of Messrs Begg and Co.'s premises will contain an exhibit illustrative of this new industry which they have just added to their other activities.
On Friday next the Hospitals Helpers Association's annual collection in aid of the St. John Ambulance Association, Karitane Harris Hospital, Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society, Queen Victoria Jubilee Convalescent Fund, and the Dental School (dental treatment for the necessitous poor) will be taken up. It has been decided this year not to have any stalls, and the only articles that will be sold will be ``lamp'' badges, at 1s each, and souvenir exemption badges, at 5s each, and it is hoped that everyone will be seen wearing at least one of these badges on Friday. The public have shown that they recognise the good work being carried on by each one of the beneficiary organisations, and as these institutions depend almost entirely on voluntary contributions for their funds, it is hoped that there will be a liberal response to this appeal. To commemorate the name of that noble woman, Florence Nightingale, the collection will take the form of a Florence Nightingale day, and the badges and boxes will all be in keeping with the name. Despite the numerous claims that are being made by the war, the public will doubtless recognise the claims of these societies, as the war has been the means of making the claims upon them much heavier than usual. - ODT, 29.11.1916
