A FLOURISHING EMPORIUM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 930, 24 September 1910, Page 17

A FLOURISHING EMPORIUM.

-Hawko's Bay is - a ..dand'-j.wherek the .: -. --... «nn v- ; smdes,- ••ijvhere ■; wool.-v grows,:;-, and whore prosperity abounds Life there :: 1 • ■ runs on : pleasaufc ■ lines, ■-and. the: good things of this world are in pretty constant demand These reflections aro forced upon the visitor as he strolls '..-i!--: tho st-rcete and casts his eye; over .the, v; • -.:■ contents of- tho shop windows..: •. -Tho ■ writer tlio' otlier day was particularly ; struck by.-.a. :display, of . .carpets . and ' linoleums -whuh ho happened to note in the show window of more than usuilly large ' and prosperous-looking establishment Tho colour and tasteful arrangement of-.-.; the ;materials, -it is ! - -true, -first , caught . Tiis .- attention, : but on closer inspection, it became evident that tho; contents -of -.that -window wero al o distinguished by another 'v:'featuiia-rtheir, -;excellent. -:quality. |;>,- On the other si,de of tho doorway was a , oompamon show .window, which literally bloomed like a rose garden It was j t?•::''- filled" with,coloured:. hangings ■ and,- such-,- : - like articles, beautiful to look, upon and desirable to possess.' * 1 . ~:: •::; Those : two '.windows v- certamly t matle an impression on the writer , He . admits; frankly..that ::'h6 i\had.. .iiol;; ex- 1

pectied to see them triien tbkmg a morning stroll along Hastings Street, •■i ■; fNapier -The., I windows j.-iyereslarge 1 :and commodiou^,':-and,>- i .even i 'as.:-plain;;':,nn-.-: adoined shop -windows, they wore finer thaij a good many one sees in, say, , Collins Street, --Melbourne, or m' tho -. best -.shoppingvparts/ But -; the .pomt was-tbatj laTge'as- they were, , they -.Were. filled;'.with:'.goodsfcof.;,a' qual-: ■ '-'.lty--: that ■;'.'would ; ;failed . to catch the eye amid the gorgeous displays to be seen in a big oity ' 1 - Making a mental note of the name on ■the building,:.'thev"wnter contmued on.. Turning a corner he soon came upon a .row-;of.>attractiyely-dressed--windows of what was evidently an. extensive ;"; drapery-; and clothing concern,'. doing ■ a "i-very good type of -business, aiMb-above- ;; ■; the- windows- was the same "name, a; few. .. V: .minutes,.- before noted on the -. carpet ■- v.-areliouse round tho corner. - . It getting interesting, and one deter-mined-:to.t-investigato.-;i The- name -borne -. on ' . both . buildings was -" Blyt-hes, .. .. ..'Ltd.;" .and; - " Blythes,''-'; ,it soon soon appeared, was a shrine to which : :-.:-: ',a ;good ;half,rof, the- adult; population 1 of ■ Napier, or rather, one; should ' say, Hawko's",J2ay desires . nothing : "better than to make pilgrimage i The Road to Success. Blythcs is ,a Hawke's Bay 1 uistifcution,. and within its, walls: are <t«": be found - as abounding-; evidence -• of s--the piosperity of the province as one could . , desire.,/ In-its.own particular ;lmes it. is,as it were,-an epitome-of-the,homes,of Hawke's Bay and pleasant and com- . , - fortable 'homes; ,iiey: are/too.' ;In any- account of the progress of Hawko's Bay ' 1 ,. the - story .of 'tliis .■- busmess, ;':founded thirty-eight years ago by W-lham Robert Bljthe, deserves its place To .;, ; , many .- .people -business ,'-is- 'a . mere hum- ; drum, routine grind They do not see its possibilities, and thoy have no pic- .: :, tuTe m theu" minds of the innumerable ~ wrong lt is so easy, to, take; . . in managing: a concern of any'size, and; which.a majority-of- the people;;who :s'eti up in business foi themselves do take An elderly man with a \vide experience of affairs once remaiked to the writer - that the majority of. business men are: failures And that being so, it be- , - : ; comes; worthwhile, to study, the manner •: in which tfie minority succeed. - Take ■.. . . •,- the. control... of a - big. drapery .and cloth- ; mg businessj for example, and think of . - tho. nice.-judgment . that is needed 111 following the fickle changes of fashion,: and knowing how to order, and when

... .-.and.to what"extent to sacrifice: .This i-s I: .not- the ulyllicly simple business' that it is, for-mstance,: at the Chatham' .. ■ lands, where .• tho lone.' storekeeper 'can ..■■■" consult, with -. the 1 whole female - popula- '■■■ tion before dispatching his fateful order ... -for. r.the , season;. ,- "-Let's ; seej " Miss- , r-Brown,one veracious chronicler - reports-, him vas - saying, "what .do you think I should dress the Island ,in this year?- Last year I guv 'em some sheeny ■ t blue sort er-stuff with .white spots-on-it. How , d'ye think' something • with' .stripes: ud- go for a change?.- I've got ■ a kind of greeny-yallery pattern that. : wouldn't go so bad, I reckon. Them as didn't like it up and down could wear it ■ \ -criss-cross,,,-, and . there'd ■ < bo; a sort o' ' variety, as.it were." • • Personal. It is a far. cry from the Chathams ki Napier, though from the pictures one - sees, Waitangi to-day..is not .without.a certain resemblance to the r Napier that . ■ once was. r; That Napier,■: howover,- had. gone many years before the founder ot "Blythes". first.came/to-,-,try. his for- . tiine in-it. That was m, 1870,. and. Mr.' Blythe was then a -young man of twentynine. Liko many-of the men-who have ■ made, their in Now. be hailed from north of the Tweed.-, and was, in fact, Galloway-bred, his: father having been a tannor at Gatehouse-of-Fleet; Mr. Blytho was educated at -tho principal ■ school.- of tlio . place,: and ■ remained there till he was fifteen years old. Ho showed an alert and enterprising spirit: from ,an ; early age, and his school days over -he was soon off to Wigan, Lancashire,, whero - he : learnt tlio drapery business. A few years later ho moved to St. Helens, well-known to New Zenlanders as the birthplace of the late Mr s : Seddon, and while, there purchased an. interest mn'chemical mahnfactunng firm. The gold.discoveries had by this time made ; Now Zealand widely known, and before many years had gone by the name of W. R. Blythe was to bo ' found on • the, passenger-list of a cortain

p-;:- ; J,r:v v V';.' HOW TO WIN SUCCESS. LIVE METHODS BRING BIG RESULTS. %/'■ ■»)>;:.:i v —rr^r——~r, " v-/'" V '.0: •:..-'.v.-'•: : rv ! '• ! v '' • THE STOW OF 3LYTHE, LTD. (•- ■■■ ; ' V-- . ■ v.O'&V. . NAPIER'S ATTRACTIVE DRAPERY ' ESTABLISHMENT. ' WHAT IS TC BE SEEN TRERE

■New:: Zealand-bound vessel.;•,-Mr." Blythe was not .long in Now Zealand before:-ho-saw- possibilities -in-Napier,: and'rafter a-year there in. the. service of 'the- old firm of Newton and Company, i he -decided to make a venture-on Ins own, account Astonishing Progress. .■The., first:- shop .was ■ a--very- modestaffair,- : employing something - under half-a-dozen hands -all: told, t and', though described as'being, m Clive. Square,- was- in reality on exactly the site of the-present Emerson Street premises. :Chve Square in those days -was a-hazy locality—the-' : whole. of- the. ground . between Emerson and -Tennyson.Streets, -then a howling waste, being vaguely recognised by tnat name.- Napier had' then a population of ..about, .2000-;, souls, and-, -when;;, m 1897j the.'flrm celebrated, the twenty-fifth anniversary . establishment, it was able,to announce.that- wlnlo the popula-tion;-of .-Napier,: had increased by:.-four and:, a-half., times, the "area; of .its ■ premises was nearly six times greater than' wheii ; first.;:opened. In the:years-, that have elapsed since then, Blythe's has ■maintained ; its growth:-,m ■ advance of the population,- i and .has considerably more .than, doubled, m. size:since -1897 ; In December; 1903; Mr. Blythe, who' ;had heen - m indifferent, health 1 fori somo time, died at Ashfinld, Sydney, while .visiting • Australia--m-a., vain: endeavour • to: recuperate.;ln:a ■ quiet ; . unobtrusive way he - had. done much, for the town m .which 1 -he lived, and lie took an. active-part-,m a number, of- movements - for im'proving - and; beautifying the' city.:vi.' He' was intimately :with volunteering for some lioldmg-the : rank: of.: honorary, major,-,"and,:-at:-one -.-time commanduig tho .-district.- -' His public ; :seryioes.:W'ero ■: OonimeWrated, by i the erection of a .fountain m Chvo Square, bearing a'suitable inscription. ;'The pre--sent manager of: the business, Mr:- AV.' Simm; - courteously ,-handedi over to; the' writer,.a ? scrap-bopki- kept^by; ; then late Mr; :-Blythe .for :.many ■ years j-from-which: | to;obtain details of tho history ofithbfirm, and in glancing over -ltsi-paggs ono cannot help-being: struck:by tho cordial ■relations, which existcdrbetween';the deceased gentleman and the members of his staff, and by the kindly ..'fooling-, which .prompted him to,-preserve/ newspaper paragraphs of innumerable.weddings anapresentations -.to,those j about him. :: : New Blood Introduced. } For:.about .five years after 'Ittr, Blytho's. death:,the business was carried .on» for .the 'benefit of -his family, but ,in 1908' an -alteration ;was made in the management, the concern being converted mtoia private limited',,liability, company,-; the members of-the iamily,:,however, :-sti]l--holding ;a large controlling interest. The ; present.: directors of ' the: company are Messrs R A Wilson,' John M'Vay,- and C; H; Edwards; all -.well-known-;v:- Napier ,-..-business:.--:.men: Blytlies, Ltd still is, as it has lopg prided ■ itselfon'.'being/a :.',:pnrely.:'-local firm. 'It is '-managed'.by local people, and. ,ifc.hiisiiotlnng< hut-, local:- moncyin it,,- .-and, :no ,-interests -; away;. 'from.' the' city '' Mr. W Simm was appointed manager ■••fiver ;and- a half years ago, - and from -the 'apple-pio ordeiv ofceverything, .and.: tlieJ'prosperous ■ air'iwoni'V:: by." the establishment . on' inspection; ; -together with a number of accidentally overheard- conversat-ions, one- would: say 1 that Mr.:-Simm is 1 not only a thoroughly cap-able:aud/;wide-awake -business 'man,' but: also a manager who is on tho best of terms with.'his staff;:- Thought born'- - in; : : rMr.- : Simm -. - speiit-.'-: -the: greater,:part. of. his-life in--Wellington,: and.'.was: for.'many /.-years on': ihe': staff, of : ,Te • Aro ; House, where he rose to be assistant '.manager before ' leaving • to take -up -his present position m Napier Live Methods Bring Big Results. • , Blythes ,-now .employ nearly a hundred ■ -hai)ds,-, and in. the busy, 'seasons: of' the iyear : ,-from.;so,' to 60 .workers are tobe . foundjvin the, various .manufacturing

departments, where dressmaking, millinering, and upholstering are carried on. Tiie' iirm had for - some- ' years :■ a branch at- Hastings) hut Jatterly it decided to concentrato its attention oni Napier] and. except, of course; in . its buying,. spends .no. money outside ' the city.. Blythe's has its own firm of' buyers 'in -London, and by them is kept in constant touch with the markets of 'tho world, shipments. coming 'to hand by : tho; direct steamers regularly every month. Tiie firm has made it its aim •to demonstrate 'to . ■ tho ; residents'; '. of Hawlse's. Bay. that if they desire tiie. best in drapery, clothing.'and furnishing tliero is no. need to send further'away, than Blythe's; and that ; ,its prices, will comparo favourably, with those of -any establishment in the colony. When the business was opened in 1872 with a stock valued at £3000. it was looked upon by many as being a. very risky venture,, and: far in. advance of ,tlie rcquirements of: the town as it: then was. ,But Mri. Blytlie's 'boldness -and belief iii the, "of the,district., were 1 more ' than . justified as' 'time 'went-, on. and throughout: It's career the firm has forged ahead with an: eye 'on to-morrow as well as on tc-day. .' - - ; Keops Paca with the Timss. In .1902.. a , fiuo new building v. • was erected in Emerson. Street, but almost immediately numerous> • alterations- hadto.,be. made to accommodate an evergrowing trade. - Then'm 1904' the building was extended back' a > considerable distance, .tho whole of the office- accommodation rearranged, artd . a magnificent show room added. Tho pressure on -the. space: continued . to- increaso: again,;however,, and finally about- couple -of ; years < ago, it was decided to erect the ; large.:-warehouse .in v which• t-h'o -furnishlllg -part of -.jtho-business ms - now- carried ■on. The , freehold: of. the land for. ■ thb new. building jvas purchased,-and plans for /a- handsome and substantial; sfanc- ■ ture ; m.:. ferroconcrete, prepared-- Tho buildmghas the distinction of being the first business premises/, m ■■ Napier'- for which ferro-coucrete- was adopted- It has- a.-frontage-of - 00--feet ; to; Hastings Street, and it-is noticeable-that no columns of pillars obstruct the view of the show ...windows. .- The span across ■ tho windows, as a matter of fact,:is said to be the largest to "be. found m New Zealand' .without 1 . supporting pillars. *. - The

buildiiig-;is one, with a> iargeVbasement jbeheath...... It is 'finished; off with a. ■•flat.'. ma}thpid ...roof, and has' been,-designed;' •,with-. : :a '.view/to: adding! Another/story; as I, soon ;.as a fresh move forward-'; becomes'/necessary. - The : in-' novations/ 'in-, jits': construction "and ; the liberal;.scale Of ..the- design' are; typical', of- the enterprising; spirit that charac-'-tenses.*.-the.; firm. ..< The . Emerson, .-and' Hastings: Streets,\premises 'now. give a' total; floor space of . two and a -half acres,'and a street, frontage of 120 feet.' 70 .feet being, m.v Emerson Street, and 50 -.feet,., as . staged above, in.- Hastings Street. : Tho premises -are divided, into the various ■. departments as •: followln the older - building are three fine' shops;:

that on tlio left is devoted to tho Manchester mid dress departments. Ihe I centro- shopis occupied •by the ■ fanc.v , and glpvo. and hosiery; departments, whilo be'iind tho showrooms aro reached by a picturesqpo trellised archway. In i 'the■'■third shop is found thomen's cloth- ' ing' department. . A" wide .and easy' flight of : steps leads,'into the new .building from tholipper end of ■the Manchester department. . On the-ground floor o> • this are found; tho 'linoleums, while up-, stairs'is flic carpet and bedstead de.partmeht, 'Behind tho. two buddings, and extending through •• to Dickens. Street,: arc- various ■ workrooms -ana stores.', ... • ■ . .. • Mail-Ordsr Bijcinass. I The; office, accommodation as contrally situated, at the junbtlon '"of tho two buildings. Oil one side . aro. the central, oasli. desk; to. which liamstm. ball cash-. carriers' ' run , from all. the counters throughout, tho buildilms, and also the accountant's, and general qflices. On tho ; other side of the arbhway is M/. feimm's own office, a telephoiio.' office, : and an. office for tho. typist.'-'.; Her- i®. is that, the correspondence in'f connection with tho firm's mail-order business 'is. put into .form! -iind'-.dispatched: - ;-. This' -lias. grown to a big thing, and orders-are received ifrom points as .far. apart as- the'settlements away up ou-.tho : . coast by.! the East Cape, ami: Taihape,; oil-the Main Trunk line. The-firm'- has- made'' a speciality- of.- this section -of its bum.ness, and. has,ia..spccjally-tramcll. staff engaged-on. it.-.-, mail order, itboasts,:- receives that :-samo '.-close and careful-attention as :-:if„-,it-be . customer ■ ; were personally: in ..the - shop'-ranking;a purchase.'direct. -Asked -what--the correspondence 111 .'connection with the' department now ,amounted: to,;-Mr. .Simnisaid: ho did not: recollect how the weekly statistics lan,'but,■, to take aii|.instance, he, had that .morhmg -put through something over .forty orders from country customers, and . that , was by .110 means ; in tho-way of' bemg'a heavy mail- -.- As will have :been. inferred from what ha.sbeen ..said above, -the-.window- dis- , plays -. area r of. .Messrs.-: Blytho and; Company.'s'.busmess; -and*the showing of spring. gogds;iiow :to -be-' seen - 111. windows 0.11. the -Emerson .Street frontage Teflecs. considerable ■'credit'. - oil tlie taste -of ; -the-.special window-dressing 'expert, employed, by tho firm.. -Tho colour scheme is .of the happiest, and the comf

posi.tioh 'Vo?ti) ''speak ;• has lieeri^'carri^'out'/with' a nice;judgment.,,;! All Tastes Gatered For. '...:Enteririg";v. by. Dthe first. door down Emersoii:'Street';, finds, oneself in whrae;"'^is'': , ■^stopke3;;a v ' bed.. - furnishings, anditable lineiis. .' ,In;passiiig,: "if-18 1L iiiterest.iiig•ltcifnoto that iii;tho-pur-V cha'sp off .blankets''the firm-lias been _u' consistentisuppo'rterN of. local-^industry,; and'-hasi'aJvaysVs^te4:r^®t^?F';?P®". :land ; -well' as : whatr iW; madetby?.the];jSpw->;Zealand/ \vbolleff.companiesyri,:ffi^ ing apparel. • ';,-\.V .• '' : .' .••'•.. :;i- ---/: Extending;;-up^tlie;^shopV.btydnd: tii«; Manchester ;departraenti;is^tM;spff:'fur-;

pushing department, "where are to be found ample supplies of curtains, hangings, and.-. furniture coverings.-.- The firm has -reason to rbe .specially, proud of its-stack in this .department, foe a better-selected lot of art designs it ■would surely.- be ■ difficult (o find: A special feature is -the making '.up of loose • furniture -covers, now 'so popu- • lar, and- so excellent a means of keeping a home always fresh and neat;.without a too; frequent reeourso to. the services of tho :upholsterer.. - This •work' is,carried;.out: by'a.-staff specially'tram-;

.'ed-in cutting and :finishing off 'give' ajpiiart",ap^arancp.to,'any.stylebf;:fUrni'ture..!v:, .• /1| : -' Grossing;to',tiie otljer side of. the slipp oiie- sees the "dress ihateriais^piied ;'shelf; upon shelf;' and "stretelling tiway.iris a 'vista right; to ,'thb ;.back•■.of •■.the.>b l uild-( :jng.':. With ,; th'e Arrival ' -'has; pome ;a; particularly- big. display-;, of ' cot-; 'torifffab"rics,' : ; and : : L6ndon's:;lrfest': : 'de-; ' signs . are ..here to bo ;. ; ,fouii,d; : as - fast;, as the liners can. bring':tliem. round :the: globe. 'The fabrics most in'-domand at! •present are .s^ntungs, ,: :clotlisi ! • lineris, arid .linens, ...zepyhrs,' : and i cotton voiles, : tp; mention'only-a! •few'on which there 'is .the greatest run.' •Among the. dress;stuffs,there..is .a wide, iratfge .both-irimaterial ,\jmd-colour. AH' .the latest shades are to , ; be found, and , there are some beautiful materials - iri amethyst,. vieux- rose, electric, ; and... a' •new shade to which the name 'aeroplane has been given,, .doubtless because of its agreeable atmospheric effect. Another -.somewhat;''' similar, shadajs • known; as Bleriot,'bestowed.in honour of the daring aviator s who: made the ;first flight fr'oni: Fiance to, England but a. few' months' .ago... ■' ■ '■'■■■■XM Ladles Will Be' Interested. - . Silks and velvets,;in. yaried ; assort-: meritare in .this , an'd ; "while on the subject of 'dress iriaterial,': : it- is ; a. go'od opportunity'-. to note that ■ but ' thrco.; weeks-, ago Blythe's new' dressmaker,; Miss . Atkiii',■: arrived fromEngland,. where.; she; had a,,largri.. and at: Southport,- a'; watering .place in the,' Middle 'North; much frequented during,the summer by; the folk oil tho social ladder in Liver-, pool and Manchester and the other big cities of.; ibis 1 prosperous and well-to-clo part. of England. VThough Miss. ;AtItin only ; tookj up her duties a fortnight ago she lijis already taken over, seventy., orders.; .

, Olio of tlio:difficulties mmcetirig ,the demands' of hu wxpaii.diiig-" dressmaking .business'is to sceuro a ..sufficient supply of competent;baiicls,'. aiuKperliaps it may bo -doing someone, a; good -.turn: to. Isay 'that - if ,an'y really, chpable "dressmakers wish to secure comfortable positions;in one' of ■ Uio pleasant-esfc 'centres, iii New Zealand;; they cannot do ' hotter thai', . writo sli\ Sinmi, of : Bl'ytlio'.«,. Napier. ' 'V -K

... '.Continuing- our exploration, of., the buildings we next pass through 'into tlio middlo shop of, the Emerson, Street frontage. Here, on one side, ;is .the •fancy department, whoro iuj attractive display . 61; laces, neckwear, ribbons, haberdashery, and . fancy goods, of, - all kinds makes its appeal to. tlio.fair sex of Napier. Dainty trifles and novelties

,6f all. sorts-are enticingly, arrayed, -and tho;supply,is-constantly: augmented consignments ;from the Home market. On the opposite .side: of the. shop aro discovered the-ladies'; gloves and hosiery,,and, as m tho other sections of the business,, the" principle ■ observed is topurchase: from the.deadmg, makers, tlio goods of Morley's,;Dent's, Fownes, and other, weti-known-- manufacturers .being always earned, 111 full lines'. ... . The f/iiNin2ry Art. ; From these departments one: wanders

oil through the quaint. trellised arch, ' bsfore-mpntioned; 1 into :the' showrooms, 1 wh'ero mere man is somewhat dazzled !)>•■.the .gorgeous blazevof. colour; with; , wh'ict'he is rooms'iare' very well. appointed ''iudeedjvtTiere'-are' 'great, dust-proof' showcases; '.which oven' to;,the , ! thV-,veriest;;,tyro;'are ob-' . viously' fine pieces', of cabmet-makmgj ;work,': arid' olv'tlie' .sbft'green.: •carpet, which looked so. ,well and felt' so ;pleasant,to',:tread upon',that'; yoked remark; and' elicited;; the. fact 'from:; Mr. -'Simm. ;bf. the room . had cost tho firm a ' solid hundred pounds. . • • . Tho.-' contents.,of j - dofv, intelligible" ito':-.be' ;content ;tp stand; by ■ and-admire, ''while .ivomari jdissccts '.tltfj. pros and cons oi each 'creation; and •. demands • outside, only. of. the general, effect ;of : it: all, ".arid then, risuSUyMsn't;' satisfied witli tbat .opinion by any' means.'-': Suffice ,it ta. say that iri ' t-lie ! . showroomsat,' ..Blythe's one. finds a really Fine array of the latest creations. -Each year-the. firm'- ' imports ■a - small,•>) but;,, carefully-closen . shipment, of Paris models ifor'.jthc'r pose its."'millinery,;.! staff, 1 ' ; arid,;giving" them' practical '-illustrations', of. hiliiij; modes in .the groat city -wh'ercj tliev-'fashion is;. ;nade .and ;ript'-followed.;; Needless.-, to ■ say' it-hcse. riipdels "a-rei jriot. 'lonj; - allowed • to;- : remain": in the 'Sioiv of Blvthes, and there are-demands for Ihem- almost before: ;thd:' milliners liave had vtime'-to : discover., tli'e':; secrets of 'their creation. V Beyond the millinery• ;is; the, mantle, blouse, and costume, showroom iii Here . is' displayed a wido- selection of imported goodsf . and a noticeable fcaturo is ' ilie capacious showcase arcomriiodatioh,: in' whiih large stores-of goods cari.'be 'kept imniediately. ,at hand,,aiul .yot 'safely cured:against duit arift ;injury,. ! . Adjoining are: fitting : ladies can. try. on. the,costumes in .'privacy/'and comfort, and . continuing' l .,to: •■ the.; right ;one : finds:.the . corset,, and ,; ladies' ', and cbiklr'en's .uiiderclothing.'department, in which" .the firm's customers are . Offered thfc'samo.: choice; and quality wliich : disj. tingiiishes thq other}departments.. ;

Mere Men and: House Furnishing, . The ; middlo 'shop'.lias now: been, exr plored to!.'its inmost'recesses,'and to gain tlio third,, or' right'-h:nui, ; ..siibp, ii is'necessary " to: retraco,v -steps through tlio showroom■■ toV'tlie ; 'eeiitre shop. Thence- by archway-one enters the men's ready-mado 'elothihg and moreeix department. Tlio'stocks , hero are . drawn from tlio best-knowi'i ,'aii'd niost fashionable houses of - the ; Old

Country, and a speciality is made of smart appafel,. ties,-shirts, etc., for well-dressed; men.'-:; The; firmr also makesa prominent -feature, of .'its .boys- outfit-' :tmg, for. which it is well-and favourably known- throughout: the province.' , From :the men's: department the: next stop is to examine. the new building. As already indicated, this is reached by- an easy flight of steps from a point behind the Manchester department, -and -adjoining the showroom.. : The offices, which... are. passed on;. either side, have been described . above. ; Ascending -the steps, the -wide and lofty ground-floor of, tho now building is entered- ' It mi«asures .70 feet :m length by 47 -feet in :Width. . The-whole of, this great" space 1 is devoted to .the . display -of linoleums;, : of which the firm claims-to hold as large .and well-selected a stock ; as'- nny U; the Dominion The prices marked on the goods.: seem /certainly - to - be no'-'higher tEan those ..ruling elsewhere,' and -.the' good folk of, Napier when-; ■ ■■furnishing should find- little to. cavil at liere There aro many;, striking - and beautiful designs - to ■ be .noted:*in!',the* vast' array: .of rolls standing -.about i-the floor: > It was the windows'm this', section of the ..premises.:that first - caught -the writer!s oye, and after - strolling- along the floor he.passed out of- the fine; wide rubber-tiled entrance from v Hastings-.; Sweet,. and took another look at them; -Admirable: as -..they , are,;; theyr;; arev no - more than representatiro of ivliat one finds within tho walls of ■ tins' business : liouße ' .Turning backanto the new ; building,the first floor, a\ replica of that- below, was; visited.. ■ . It •, was, reached.,,: by:, one•; ; of v these leisurely- staircases ■ thai-take:-one up :above high walls- andwithout, any ; sensation -of climbing. , Oil ■ this.Mipper. :floor is .a stcck-of carpctfe' .just ~about . as . extensive''as . t-he'fstock of- linoleums below. ■:.AH tlie best: mak&sare, to be seen : respondent in; their glory..' -Here -:i£ ■ the Inest- of' Brussels;there:, an- Axmmster, and Wft: ton. v; In: carpet/ squares one: finds velvet pile, real Indian, Japanese, and, besides, a most ■ attractive .-supply, of '.the' :now.v-art. ,wool carpets; ■ > Good" quality prevailed so, extensively -.^as'to, :dnvehpme l.more ;. firmly ; than that Hawke's Bay, is a land of prosperity. ■ r Mr.- ;Simm ' mentioned • thati.-only that .week tho firm had : supplied-Na-pier's leading hostelry with a-matterioF eleven. carpets anyone ordex. ,0n this floor -ar(* .also a - largg steclc of-bedsteads. - Passing-. .the . goods - lift; one comes ;ttf 4110 cloakrooms, etc., 'provided for. tho- firm's .-female employees'-,: These are; onva liberal scale,? and 'itdiasj always ■ been the : pride' of - the management to '. make: good provision:: for.vits employees.- From this; floor flightiof' stairs leads on to a flat roof, jvlience 'a , splendid . view, of - Napier . - can o, bey .obtained, - Here, doubtless,- in> a, few years will be a second floor, and an&ther ja'rgo department of some sort u Up-to-Date in Everything.^ Half-way down tho .• stairs,'-; between the' first and:,ground,; .floors, J*an archway . gives entrance - into :;a ' c lushed ladies'. waiting-room.''Here: are comfortable settees - and „ armchairs, ■ a writing-table, and pens: and'j paper, and also illustrated papers .and magaziiies ,to while away tho t-imo who have a few unoccupied minutes; oh their hands: betwixt appointments.';, This. is also becoming a popular meeting place

for visitors from tlio country, and the firm, having placed the room there for the convenience of tlio ladies of Hawks'a: Bay, is well pleased to see-it appreciated k f ■ Beyond arc the dressmaking.and : fit- -,', ting rooms,- which are all-well appointed, and provided with.- an ingenious arrangement of swinging mirrors, bjl jWhich a new costume can. be seen from . every-point of view, and its wearer-as-snred of a pcrfect fit . Below the new building is a spaciouo.„basement, whence parcels are dispatch-jV ed,- and where new goods : are opened and: distributed to the different depart-.'?'■ ments. Reserve stocks are also on.-hand,' 5 / 1 here, and also in a'store ito.the the promises. ■ In this quarter, too I ,' hes 5 the upholstering workroom, andr.in •• ing thissurvev of the premises has- to -be .made of :the-.employees': dm»?.<i:. mg-ioom. i Then and Now. t Enough has. been. said to-show that • Blythe's is an institution--£ forr.: which Hawke's Bay may well take creditj and - ■ to give some idea of the siopo and rarni--. Heat-ions of -its business. upon.,;i Blythe's.-as it -is to-day, it-is mteresimg; to recall what its .founder.saw of. .-! it away back in 1872, when ho launched his barque and began 'what must havo... : been for.-many.vyeare.? a .stiff struggle,.. -Th6--.busmess,- it-.wast.stated,..is-being;; :: 'established- "with-a view. to.meei. what... : -i s^ejns^.toi have -been'-, long: Ranted; 'Nap'eiV'viz>; a-iWe]l-qfdered arid ed- establishment, in* keeping; w,ith. spirit and cappblo.of-advancing.with.tho times." ' There can be no:doubt that the... ideal which Mi Blythe' set before Mmself' thirty-eight years ago wa.?-. not lost sight- - of - either: by: himself . or.. his su«v ij cessors ,111 the management. ' To conclude, ono cannot resist quot- ... mg another pusgiaph iu the old advertisement of .1872 r which.) throws m■tercstmg'i light on-.Mr. vßlyJhe's. deduc-,.,; : tions after a y<;ar 111 commercial Napier of-the'eafly seyenties:, ,'!Oqr programme is short and simple We ,will not tak« up the Napie/ system of long credits and long profits We will endeavour; to Tie With the/'neighbourmg provinces Jin spirit'' and, Qnterpi-ipe,' and our mofto shall be—'Buy as cheap, as we can, and sell as cheap'as wo,,can.' Wo adopriha,,. plain figure. ?systoni, no abatements will be made, all will'be seived alike, and while according' a fan and rea onaLto leugth of bredit-to approved accounts, itw'Uat' seen.- what : that creaw - - costs, hSiof di count "