Crown Studio

Crown Studio

 John Wyllie Candlish
  209 High Street, Christchurch

about January 1913 to about November 1915

John Wyllie Candlish was formerly a partner in the Alva Studio with Arthur Edward Lewis Wartman.

photo taken 10 July 1912

 

[purchased December 2020]
 

Fire in High Street.
Crown Studios Gutted. 

The Sunday night street paraders were provided with some unusual excitement at 8:30 last night, when a black column of smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the Excelsior Hotel. The crowd sprang from nowhere on the instant, but despite the prompt appearance of the spectators the Fire Brigade was on the spot first.

The fire proved not to be in the hotel, but in the building adjoining and fronting Lower High Street, the ground floor of which was occupied by Messrs D. Shier and Co., jewellers, and owners of the premises, and the top floor by Mr Candlish, proprietor of the Crown Studios. It was evidently in the photographic studios that the fire orginated, for the whole of the upper storey was ablaze before the brigade had all its leads of hose out, and the inflammable nature of the contents made a fierce flare for a while. The brigade, however, were as prompt as usual, and attacked the fire from the back, leading the hose through the Excelsior Hotel, as well as from the front, and in about 10 minutes all danger was over.

Since the locality is congested with buildings, and is one where a fire would do immense damage if it once got a strong hold, the brigade thought it advisable to bring out all its engines, but the precaution was not necessary. The rear of the Crown Studios is separated from the back of the Excelsior Hotel by a space of not much more than six feet, and in the area down below are situated the stores of the hotel, so it is easy to imagine that had the flames got a stronger hold the danger to the hotel would be great. Several of the guests took no chances, and on the stairs women were gathered uncertainly with their grips in their hands, and one old gentleman trotted downstairs with his suit-case and carefully deposited it in the hall, determined to save a change of clothes any way.

As the watchers in High Street saw the glare blaze up in the studio they heard simultaneously the crash of broken glass as the windows were blown out by two powerful jets from the hose, and a few seconds afterwards the flare was changed into a cloud of steam. By this time the occupants of the hotel had regained their confidence, and were going about the ordinary Sunday evening business in complete indifference to the wreck behind them, where drenched firemen clambered over the roof and along the streaming floods searching for further evidence of flame With naphtha lights.

The building is insured by the owners, D. C. Shier and Co., for £1000 in the National Insurance office, and the stock of the firm is insured for £900 in the Victoria Insurance office. Mr Candlish's stock and fittings, which were totally destroyed, were insured for £300 in the Atlas Insurance Company and for £100 in the United Insurance Company.

The Julius Knight Dramatic Club is another heavy loser through the fire, since the club used the studios for their rehearsals and had several expensive costumes stored there which were to be used in their forthcoming production of "The Awakening," to be produced at the Theatre Royal on July 2 and 3. Several photographs of the members of the company were also destroyed.

Sun, Volume I, Issue 116, 22 June 1914, Page 10

Edwin Thomas Millard

over 13 years at Clifford's Studio

from about November 1915

Edwin Thomas Millard born circa 1867, son of Emma and Thomas Millard, died 28 September 1941 Christchurch aged 74 years, reg. 1941/24642, married 2 May 1895 St Mary's Church, Merivale, Christchurch by the Rev. C. J. Merton, reg. 1895/2348 Christine Mary Smith, died 15 May 1951 at Burwood Hospital, buried Ruru Lawn Cemetery, Christchurch

he was the eldest son of the late Thomas Millard of Geraldine and Gloucester, England

Christine the eldest daughter of George Smith, Lyttelton

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 547, 10 November 1915, Page 3

Artistic Portraiture

Millard's Crown Studios

Wonderful progress has been made in photography during the past few years, and the beautiful display of Millard’s Crown Studios, at the Show, is worthy of particular attention from all lovers of the artistic. Mr Millard has had considerable experience as a photographer and all his work bears the hallmark of excellence, both as regards likeness and artistic finish.

The studio is one of the most up-to-date in the Dominion, as regards lighting arrangements and fittings and in dull weather equally good photographs, are obtained by means of electric light, which can be switched on up to 10,000 candle power. Mr Millard’s speciality is sketch portraits, and for this class of work he is unequalled in Christchurch. In the de luxe style tho portraits are simply delightful, the mount and folder being most artistic, while the sketching is all that can be desired, being daintily executed by hand, a special staff of experts being employed for this purpose. 

Among the many recent improvements introduced by Mr Millard into his's studios, may be mentioned a mammoth camera, the only one of the kind in Australasia, which is specially adapted for reproducing old faded photographs, and for photographing Jewellery, scientific articles, etc. Another innovation is a camera, worked by a small motor, which is capable of taking panoramic pictures up to 12 feet in one continuous length. With this wonderful camera it is possible to take a photograph of a sheep station, showing the homestead, paddocks, hills, rivers, etc., all in the one picture.

Every class of photography is undertaken by Mr. Millard at the Crown Studios, and for best results, he cannot be beaten anywhere. Appointments may be made by ringing ’phone A4111, or by calling personally at the studio, at 209, High Street.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18253, 14 November 1919, Page 11.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 785, 10 June 1933, Page 5

Short Notice. 

Extraordinary Auction Sale. 

Friday Next, July 7. 

Friday Next, July 7. 

at 1 P.M. 

On the Premises, 

Crown Studios, 209, High Street. 

(Adjoining Kennett and Co., Jewellers.)

On Account of the owner, who is transferring to Dunedin. 

Photographic Goods and Furniture and Effects. 

Main Items: Studio Cameras and accessories, all up to date, Stand Cameras, Graflex Camera, Lenses, Ross, Dallmeyer, Ziess, Bausch And Lomb, Cooke, Back Grounds and Studio Accessories, ½ watt Lamps, Workroom Apparatus, Tanks, Dishes, Printers and Enlarger, Proofing Frames, Ferrotype Plates, Dry Mounting Presses, Air Brush, Trimmers, Lead Lined Sink, Straight Edges, Tee Squares, Drying Racks, Tools And Sundries, Typewriter, Lot of Electric Gear including Time Switch, Electric Sign and Lamp, Switch Board, Photographic Goods of every description, Glass Show Cases, Linoleum, Carpets, Stair Runner, Counter and Drawers, Rimu Settee, Mahogany Nest of Drawers, Jardinieres, Vases, Plants, Combination Desk and Bookcase, Settees, Occasional Chairs and Tables, Stools, Rugs, 3 Duchesse Chests, Leather Upholstered Occasional Chairs, Morris Chairs, Framed Mirrors, Curtains, Tables, Pedestals, Carved Chest, Folding Screens, Extension Ladder and Steps, Reversible Rugs, Antique Electric Table Lamp, Bevelled Mirror, Cushions, Gas Stoves and Heaters, Gas Rings, Radiators, Picture Frames, Glazed in oak and gilt, Antique Frames

Sundries of every description.

Sale Friday next, July 7 at 1 p.m.

C. E. Jones Ltd.

Auctioneers and Estate Agents

174 Manchester Street

'phone 35-355

Star (Christchurch), Volume Lxiv, Issue 803, 1 July 1933, Page 16