OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 698, 10 January 1922, Page 5

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Auckland, January 6.

After the storm comes the calm,* after holidays comes the inevitable re-action. As I wrijte the city, after a fortnight of feverish activity, and streets thronged with holiday-mak-ers, is as ddll as ditch-water. Most of our visitors have Returned to the country or to the other cities where they belong. ' The shopkeepers have reaped their annual harvest. Now there is, comparatively, “nothing- doing.” By the way, holiday making in Auckland is very much what it was half a century ago, if the newspapers of the timfe are to be believed. I have been turning up the files Of the 'local papers of fifty years ago, and find that picnics,'harbour excursions and sports’ gatherings were the main attractions of Boxing-Day and New Year’s Day, just as they still are. The ferry steamers carried hundreds of people to the North Shore, while hundreds more found their way further afield to Waiwera and Kawau, Takapuna, and Motuhi were also well patronised, and for those jyho did not care to cross the water, Auckland Domain offered attractions in the shape of cricket *pd kiss-in-the-ring. One Christmaas custom has gone out of favour in Auckland —the decorating of all the verandah posts in the principal thoroughfares with evergreens.

NOVELS.

Mr John Barr, Chief of Staff, of Auckland Public Library, is reported to have said to a reporter of one of the local dailies a day or two ago in discussing library matters: “The lending department still goes on beating tbe record of each previous year, and it is pleasing to note that non-fiction is more and more appreciated.’'’ From which it may be inferred that the chief librarian does not approve of fiction. Well, for my part, I consider that the people of Auckland, in common with the people of everywhere else, are under an obligation to the novelists they never can repay. How many who are lying on beds of sickness have reason to bless the story-writers; how many who are harassed, worried, and careworn have found relief in the pages of a really good novel When I hear people, as I did the other day, characterise novel-reading as “waste of time,” I get impatient. Novels have righted many a wrong, exposed many an evil, taught many an invaluable lesson,. Moreover, it frequently happens that those who are loudest in their condemnation of novels are guilty of downright hypocrisy, because they are novel-readers themselves, but are ashamed to admit it. What is there to be ashaamed of? All honour to the novelists say I. They are public benefactors. CHRISTMAS CARDS. Auckland booksellers report a revival in popularity of the Christmas card, as evidenced by the large demand for these things during last Xmas week. Two or three years ago there was very little sale for these cards, and at Xmas time in 1920 the enquiry for them was very limited. But during the Xmas just passed everybody seemed anxious to secure one or more of these pretty little souvenirs of the season. That was well. The custom of exchanging Xmas cards promotes good feeling and .cements friendship and goodwill. It does more. It furnishes employment for many thousands of xeople of both sexes, for the output of Xmas cards is reckoned in millions, not millions of money, but millions of cards. Valentines have gone out, and as they were generally stupid and frequently vulgar we can quite well spare them. Christmas cards are different. THE FOOD WE EAT. The attention of retailers who use wrapping-paper has been called this week to the regulation in the Sale of Food and Dr u gs Act. “No person shall sell any food so packed that it can come in contact with paper or other material that is not clean.” It is also provided that newspapers which have been handled by readers in the ordinary, course will not be considered as clean within the meaning of the Act.' A very wise and much wanted regulation —provided it can be enforced. Lots of storekeepers wrap meat and bread, fish and cheese, bacon and ham, etc., in newspapers purchased from ui-chins who have collected them from who can say where? And another practice common in many food shops should have been prohibited by the Act. I refer to the disgustinig trick indulged in by many shop assistants of licking their fingers when handling paner in which they are about to wran food. A shopman whp served a lady with some fish in an Auckland shop recently, and who wetted his

forefinger in the process, was quite surprised when the customer refused to take delivery, and walked out of the shop, thereby entering her protest against an insanitary and filthy practice. STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM. Auckland is famous for its strawberries. Most of the growers are located on the other side of the harbour, and the raising of the luscious berries ha's developed into a considerable industry. Not only does Auckland grow sufficient strawberries to supply its own requirements—and they are very considerable—but it despatches daily throughout the season large consignments of the fruit by rail and boat. The present season is proving- one of the best on record for strawberries in Auckland. For several weeks past tons of berries have reached the Auckland market daily, and prices have been lowerthan those ruling for the last ten years. Ordinarily a chip box of the fruit will retail at from Is 6d to 2s. This year splendid strawberries have been selling in Auckland at from 7d to 10d per “chip,” although holiday prices were higher. The demand for cream has b.een correspondingly large.