SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 December 1914, Page 2

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

FATHER CHRISTMAS IN ALMOST EVERY SHOP

OUR REPORTER ON THE TRAMP)

Starting from the Railway Station Refreshment Rooms, kept by Miss Harrison, and going (right along Bridge Street, to Miss Becroft's fruit shop, turning off to the right and continuing along Commercial Road, past the P°st Office, and on past the ECHO Office, right on to Helensville South or Frst Avenue, there are signs of happy Christmastide in almost every shop, Messrs Harry Graham (storekeeper), Anderson (baker and confectioner), and Robinson (cream and milk), being the last on the left hand row. Needless to say, not only do the various fruit, confectionary, and fancy goods shops carry large stocks of Santa Claus stockings for the young ones, whose faces beam with smiles as they look into the shop windows. j Besides refreshments there are lots of things at the Railway Station. Stewart Bros.' Bakery and Confectionary, besides nuts and lollies, is loaded with cakes, tarts etc., for Christmas or any other time. Ward's Hairdressing Establishment is now carrying a large variety of light reading, besides hair-cuts and clean shaves. Stewart Bros., the Universal Providers, are loaded to the doors and ceilings with everything imaginable; more especially drapery, clothing, millinery, fancy goods, groceries of the choicest, dried fruits, biscuits, sweets, crockery, ironmongery, and toys, etc., with plenty of courteous lady and gentlemen assistants. One can easily spend an hour looking round and admiring things generally. Megson's Drapery Establishment is also just now carrying the latest styles in all goods appertaining to a first-class drapery and clothing establishment, and ornaments, vases, fancy goods, etc. While under the shadow of the Star Theatre, Miss Becroft has a good supply of fruits in season, chocolates, lollies, etc. Walters' Fancy Goods Bazaar also contains many choice highand - low -in- pi ice. toys and novelties, books, the latest journals, stationary, and so forth. Sandin, the town Chemist, is of course well stocked in liquids nasty and nice, but he has also some lovely scents and other articles suitable for presents. It is some distance on the j other side of Commercial Road that we strike Tucker's Tonsorial Tobacco and Novelty Shop, where there are other useful lines kept, such as games, patent medicines, books of the month, etc. Ketterer is now showing a grand display of genuine gold and silver jewellery of many, values anxt— every description^ while, of watches and cfocks there seems to Iflng^no ejfd. Indeed, there is no encTfo some of his most valuable collection ;. we refer to rings. / ' Mrs Newey, noted tpr keeping ■ a good supply of th;e choicest fruits and garden produce, has heaps of good things, for the children, besides abundance of ice-cream (the real, "genuine article) always ready. And next door again we come to Coulter, the gentlemen's tailor and mercer. Just now hej-is remarkably busy on summefoutfits in suits of many and .various clothes of the best English and Colonial manufacture. A few yards further en' we j pick up McLeod's green-grocery^-and fruitery, with many kinds of articles and Chris mas goods for the small fry, who are in great expectation of a visit from Santa Claus. Barney Spitz, of the Auckland Ideal Drapery Stores, is but a few yards on, where bargains in hundreds of lines are to be obtained. —All are welcome to inspect. We are now fairly in Helensville South and First Avenue. Here we visit: Screaton's large stores, coir | taining drapery, boots, shoes, clothing, groceries, iron and tin ware, china, glass and crockery, and tons of stuff ECHO polumns could scarcely enumerate, besides useful and elaborate toys for both boys and girls, fancy goods and presents of many yarities. j The Kaipara and Helensville Hotels come next after a step or two, where, together with the Terminus Hotel (down near the , Railway Station), Christmas i Cheer for the "moderates " is tcfci be obtained. Crossing- the road from the top hotel (Helensville)" | we come to '■ i \ Harry Graham's well-stqcfySd ! stores, full of the usual Christmas i goods, of the best groceries, '

drapery, fancy articles and toys, all in profusion and variety. The proprietor, who has but recently taken over this old and wellknown business, comes from .Pukekohe, and will, if we misI take not, soon make a name for himself as a right down good business man, with everything on .-;, the premises as "just right" -for-, w& patrons. ! We had left out the butchers, but the Christmas beef will be " all there " next week ; while the shoemakers (Messrs Cullens and Wylie) are pegging away, and the saddlers (Messrs Bailey and Poto), all have heaps of work to do. The ECHO firm takes this early opportunity of wishing ALL our business men and women, to~ . > gether with their legion of } assistants, a busy time and a Merry Christmas. We are in\ eluding in this latter wish —OUJ^^ worthy Postmaster (MrAnsel^^B and his staff of toJogf^p*Tri^J^^B mess'xsS^iftr;' letter carriers, etcTj^^j the parsons of the various denominations, and last, but not least, the local guardian of the peace. The painless dentist (Mr Eames); the family who run the "Star Pictures;" boarding-house keepers, and our only solicitor (Mr E. T. Field), chairman of the Town Board, all his Councillors; the Town Clerk (Mr H. W. Stringer); the blacksmiths and coach-builders; the plumbers ; the Bankers; the Railway Manager and staff; members of the Fire Brigade and the Band, including the drum bang !