THE CHRISTMAS TRADE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1044, 28 December 1912, Page 3

THE CHRISTMAS TRADE.

The local tradespeople, who all made special preparations for the Christmas trade, were amply rewarded • for their enterprise in this connection as excellent business is reported throughout. In past years it has been the custom in Foxton to decorate the exterior of the business premises with ferns and other evergreens, but this year this class of decoration was discarded altogether, a departure that will no doubt be welcomed by all, as, although the evergreens may look very nice 011 Christmas Eve, they are generally allowed to remain in aud about the streets for a week and their withered appearance by no means adds to the beauty of the town. With this exception the street presented the usual Christmas Eve appearance, all the shops being well lighted and the goods tastefully displayed. The street was well filled with people, it being the general Opinion that this year’s crowd was a record one. In the early part of the evening practically the whole of the juvenile population was in the street and the air was filled with the music of squeakers, trumpets and other noisy instruments, that bring joy to the hearts of the kiddies.

Throughout the eveving business appeared to be brisk in all the shops and those engaged in attending to the wants of the purchasers were kept busy. Yesterday morning our reporter interviewed a number of the business people with a view to getting an expression of opinion as to how trade this year compared with previous Christmases, and found that the general verdict was that this year's returns were better than usual. One of the lougest established business men in the town said his Christmas returns this year were easily a record in the history of his business. Taken althrough there appears to be no doubt that business in Foxton this Christmas compares more than favourably with that of previous years.