THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2021, 24 December 1888, Page 3

THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

With the approach of Christmas the shops m town have assumed an appearance m acoord with the festive nature of the season, and though, appsrently, less use of flowers and evergreens has been made than In past years, tbe shopkeepers relying more upon the merit of their wares for purposes of display, the windows In tbe main street presented a more than ordinarily attractive appearanoe. It was very satisfactory to notice that many of the shopkeepers have been kept very busy f and that they expreis their surprise as well as pleasure at the great Inorease this year m tho purchases made, as against many former Obrlstmaa-times, This appear, fairly oonoln-lve evlderae that tba tide has turned and that the depression Is now leaving us, let us hope not soon to return. As to the Christmas displays : beginning at the lower end of the town the shop whloh first attracts attention ia that of Mr Segers who has a fine display of summer drapery In his windows. Next is that of Messrs H. J. Wood and Co., booksellers, who have a large assortment of fancy goods, and of publications suitable to the season. A tpeetal feature la their very great variety of Christmas and New Year cards of all klnds-r-OQlored, monotint, m plueb, con porcelain, and: handpaiuted. Mr H. . Zander, next door, has, as is his wont, gone to speolal care and trouble In suitably arranging the windows of both his grocery and ironmongery departments. The former la a very fine display indeed. The fruits and other Ingredients whloh are finch essential comparents of the Christmas plum pudding are shown In profusion, tbe background being filled up with bottles of wines and spirits of all kinds. The care whloh has been taken m the •oitable arrangements of the window has resulted In a very fine display indeed. Higher up the street the Ashburton Bread -Oompany show an assortment of oakea md oonfeotionary made speolally for tbe occasion. Messrs McOallum and 00. have a fine show of ironmongery entlery} and home furniehingla their windows. Mr W. 0. Davia' fruit hop Is embowered m a mass of evergreens, toltoi eto., and he has a very fine display of fralt and confectionery. His shop m Tanored street is crammed with toys and fancy goods of all descriptions. He has dolls and other toys m great profusion, a sight of whioh would gladden the heart of any juvenile. Mr Collier is showing a large assortment of fancy articles with his summer drapery, as are also Messrs Mitchell and Turner, In Tanored street. Mr McO.llam and Mr McGregor, have not gone largely m for decorations contenting themselves with their usual display of goods. Messrs Pickford and Undrll have a fine show of furniture and fancy goods. Coming back to East street, the next shop is the drapery establishment of Mr Andrew Orr, the windows of whloh have been arranged with more than ordinary care. Tbt artloles of drapery show to fine advantage and there isalarge display of fanoy goods of many kinds. Messrs J. OrrandOo make very fine displays m their grocery, Ironmongery, and drapery departments. In tba former Christmas fruits and suoh like goods are arranged very tastefully Indeed, and the windows of the drapery ■hop ate artlstioally decked out. In the same atreet Mr S. Aloorn and Messrs Spec ear and 00. bave eaoh nice displays of drapery and draper's goods. Mr Ranger, who has made a liberal use of evergreens, has a nice show of fruit and eonfeotlonety. Mr W. Zander has a large assortment of fancy goods, Chrißtmas cards, and tobacconist's goods In his old •hop, and In the new one he has lately opened next door toys and useful and fanoy article, are to be found, Mr D. MoFarlaue has very tastefully and prettily arranged tbe windows of his shops In Barnett street, and In the grocery department there is a grand display of good things of every sort. Rule and Co., have decorated their shop profusely with evergreens: They have a fine display of meat, and one of the principal objeots of attraction this morning was the crease of a fine bollock from Mr Rule's farm at Pendarvet. Mr H. M. Jones has his ■bop crammed with fancy goods and toys of all sorts, which are tastefully arranged. In addition he has Christmas and New Year oards In great variety, and brlza books and publications suitable for presentation at tbls season. Mr Flower has a splendid display of fruits, and confectionery, as has also Mr Randall next door. Mr R, Alcorn, In Saunders buildings, does not seem to have made any speolal effort In the direction of decorating his shops, further than showing a large assortment of goods. Mrs Adams makes a very fine dloplay of fruit and confectionery, a Christmas Tree oooopylng the place of honor In the window, Mr J; Tasker has a fine show of prime beef and mutton, and hia shop is nloely deoorated with evergreens and toltoi.