Searching the digitised newspapers on the National Library of New
Zealand's Papers past website under "Ampico" brings up more references
which suggest that the 1919 demonstration piano was a Franklin.

Begg's was a leading music chain, based in Dunedin, with piano "saloons"
in several other cities.  (Incidentally this is a variant spelling of
"salon"; saloons in the U.S. sense were known to New Zealanders only
in films!).  Begg's didn't persevere with the Ampico but were Aeolian
agents and sold lots of Duo-Arts -- mostly upright one-lung Strouds and
full Stecks -- in New Zealand.

Ampico never really gained a foothold in New Zealand apart from a few
sold in the 1920's by the National Piano Co. in Auckland.  My piano,
a 1920 upright Marshall & Wendell, is one of these and is giving me
enormous enjoyment after its superb professional restoration by Stephen
Powell in Wellington.  I wouldn't claim to know of every Ampico in New
Zealand but the ones I do know can be counted on the fingers of two
hands, and that includes a few Ampico B pianos imported by collectors.

Cheers from Lincoln, New Zealand,

Gavin East