THE CHRISTMAS TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 272, 23 December 1909, Page 3

THE CHRISTMAS TRADE

BRISK BUSOJBBB Of THE SHOPS. Once again Christmas is upon us. For nearly twenty centuries Christmas has come and gone, but it seems like Temiytloiife brook, likely to go on for ever. And the Christmas still retains all its pristine interest unabated, perhaps evea t Ever since that morning, nineteen hundred and nine vtsivs fl go r "when the message came bringing peace and goodwill, this would -eem to have been a festive season, and its kevuote is goodwill. Goodwill pervades the community. It finds its outlet in the hearty hand-grip, the •• merry Christmas" wish, In the giving of presents 1 , and iu the burdening of the dinner-table with all manner of good things. It is only natural that business people should eater for this trade, and tin? Mew Plymouth retailers have laid in axeellent stocks of all kinds of Christmas cheer, goods suitable for presents, and holiday attire. A News reporter made a round of the shops yesterday, and although he found but few of the Christmas displays 1 actually ready, it was quite evident ttiiil the Christmas trade was in full swing. Almost without exception business men were well satisfied with the amount oi trade, and many characterised the past few days' business as a record. Everywhere the shop assistants were being kept briskly on the move, and the value of the purchases gave the lie direct to the story that trade is dull. To digress a little. An impression has got abroad in some quarters lately that in certain trades New Plymouth is' experiencing a pronounced depression, and the idea springs from the facttiiat commercial travellers of New Zealand bouses have been complaining of the paucity of the orders. The explanation is that many of the New Plymouth firms have ceased buying from dominion warehousemen, preferring to indent direct | from British and Continental firms, thus making a considerable saving. This saving is handed on to the consumer, and accounts for the fact of New Plymouth being a cheap buying centre, much cheaper than many of the towns' of its size in the dominion. , THE RM) POST.

First amongst the places visited came the Red Post Furnishing Warehouse, on the corner of Devon and Liardet Streets. When the reporter arrived Mr. Hayden Was just opening up a special shipment of goods imported specially for the Christmas trade, and now placed on view in one of the Liardet Street windows. There are some very handsvme Mack and copper-plated curbs, with dogs, stops, and fire-irons, fire screens en suite. The screens are very fine pieces of furnishing, whether used with these particular fenders or not. There are also brass-bound and ornamented mirror Screens, hand-painted, choice goods. Another window is devoted to a nice showing of vases in real Worcester ■ware,. tea-sets (selected from over a hundred in the showroom), Paragon china, and so on. Any of the articles above-mentioned is suitable for a Christmas present. "THE MELBOURNE."

On the opposite comer "The Mel- [ "bourne" manager was caught after a considerable wait, the firm's ''famous low prices" having attracted an almost continual shopful of customers. Here was shown every article of "men's wearing apparel, of which the principal lines at this season are panama and boater straw hats, fashionable ties, summer Suits, braces, and so on. En the boot department there is a considerable run ■on the special shipment of 300 pairs of men's bajmorals, which are one of the leading lines in the business. W. ROBERTS.

The place par excellence for the Christmas present trade is the jewellery establishment. Here it is possible to buy pretty, valuable, and acceptable presents in small compass, making the actual presentation an easy matter, i'he Amorous young man finds at Mr. W. Roberts' shop " the" ring, or a charming "bracelet, brooches in gold, enamel and greenstone. Silver-mounted vases are a line imported direct, and they are very choice. Electro-plated teapots, hot-water jugs, salt-cellars, sugars, and Watches (including hard-wear timekeepers for bovs) are also included in a very fine stock.

C. CARTER. For the solid enjoyment, of Christmas, however, neither furnishing, jewellery, or clothing will completely " till the bill." Hie inner man has been educated to expect something special at Xm&s time. It is interesting to note that the Christmas trade in provision shops is undergoing a complete change. Our forbears brought with them from the Old 'Land memories of roast turkeys, suck-ing-pigs, steaming plum-puddings, and all the other heavy foods which the wintry Christmas demands. But in New ■Zealand climatic conditions are exactly the opposite, and we look for foods more suited to our needs. Thus the demand for the ingredients of the Christmas pudding has fallen off, and goods more closely associated with cold collations arc in demand. Mr. Carter, of the People's Grocery, finds that plum ■puddings in tins, crystallised fruit, tinned and canned fruits, cordials and syrups for cool drinks, and tip-top English confectionery arc asked for, and these he stocks largely. For the Christmas trade he landed a.large consignment of handsome vases and speciallypacked English chocolates. Both lines have justified the importation. There has been a good trade in Christmas bams. BELLRINGER BROS. "Biggest two months' business we've ever known," said Mr. C. E. Bellringer lin reference to October and November I months, "and December is likely to be Ift big month, too." This well-ordered < shop is replete with everything in the [hardware line, and, as usual, there's a Ipecial Christmas consignment, of which the biscuit-barrels and salad bowls in iolid English oak, and mounted in silver ire strong features. Then there are silver and electro-plated sugars, creams, teapots, cruets, and fruit-dishes. Taylor's " Eye-Witness" cutlery is a leading line, whilst there is an excellent selection of framed and unframed pictures in the art department.

"The Kash" is well stocked for the holiday season with men's wear. There are all the latest novelties in ties, straw bats (panamas and boaters), sox, belts, and so on. There are summer suits, with and without vests, tennis and I Cricketing flannels, and the well-known tailor-made "Prestwell" suits ready to •wear. '"The Kash" is giving special Christmas values in all these lines, and in every department of the men's merberv and clothing trade, and particularly in articles of holiday wearing apparel. H. COLLIER AND CO." Messrs. H. Collier and Co. are providing Merry Christmases for the many by supplying first-class gramophones and Tecords. The entertainment of Christmas guests is simple when you have a first-class machine and some of the records of the songs of the world's greatest singers; which suggests that the gramaphone would make a fine Christmas box. There are lovely bound books of music,, both vocal and instrumental, trad the latest novelties in musicians' ■birthday and autograph books. J. BENNETT. Mr. J. Bennett, the interior of whose shop was recently remodelled and brought right up-to-date, has filled his j fixtures with a very fine stock of jewellery of all kinds. Oak biscuit barrels, handsomely mounted in chased silver silver and silver-mounted vases; muffchains, clocks; new designs in spirit kettles', brooches, rings, and pendants, are nicely arranged in the mirror-back-ed cases. There is also a line range of ladies' purses, licit buckles, engagement and other dress rings, well worth inspection.

AJIUURY BROTHUiS. Ambury Brothers are making a special display. The main portion of it will be found in a large comer window, where Taranaki's Dreadnought, surrounded by a flotilla of gunboats, is a central feature. The ships are set upon a large mirror to represent the wide ocean, the window is expressed in folded handkerchiefs " Ambury Bros.' best wishes for all time." Just inside the main door is a picture of Santa Claus ascend- ' in" a ladder to reach the top of the I dimmey with his pack of toys. These .- displays arc well thought out, and will ' doubtless receive a good deal of attention. Seasonable articles in the firm's big stock are the many-colored gloves and hose, leather bags and handkerchief boxes, sunshades, etc. There is a splendid range of millinery, sprint and muslin costumes, dust-coats, and silk blouses, suitable as a present for any lady. The men's department is also specially arranged, and makes an attractive showing. . _ r > IHiiißllXailfii

HcBWEN BROS. The windows of MeKwen Bios, are decorated for Christmas week. But tlie point of interest lies in the excellent and well-assorted stock of boots and shoes, uf which there are stylish samples in the windows. The firtn has a great range of tan goods for ladies and I gentlemen, and i o r the children, a large stock of an Australian firm in liquidation, having just been secured and landed in time for this special trade. HYGIENIC BAKERi. Rush of orders prevented ill'. J. C. Legg from limiting Liu- halt-ton cake lie had proposed l<j pul un s.iie this week. " We've got no stock to siiow you," he said to the reporter, " because the stuff's sold every day. But we'll be making niinee pies, plum puddings (ye olde English), right up to the late hours of Christmas Eve." SOLE BKUS.

The " roast beef of olde Euglaij'i *' forms no inconsiderable item ou the Christmas menu, and prime beet is obtainable from Messrs. Sole Bros. Tins year's Christmas display will include 200 brace of turkeys, geese, ducks, and fowls, secured from the best suppliers. The lambs, some of them. topping dlj lbs weight, are from Messrs. \V. birdling (Waitara), \V. Foreman, and X. Jury (Tikorangi), This firm makes one of the best Christmas shows in town annually. WHITAKER'S. The Premier Store, opposite the Melbourne, is fully stocked with seasonable goods, amongst which may be (mentioned cordials of all kinds, muscatels, figs and almonds; tinned apricots, pears, poaches, pineapples, and so oil. English confectionery in fancy packages are specially stocked for this special season's business. All Christmas provender can be obtained here. MOKEY Aflil) SON. This is one of the oldest-established drapery and millinery firms on the coast, and this Christmas, as in all other Christmases for some forty years past, -Messrs. Morey and Sou are making every provision for the supplying of the novelties and apparel required at this season. Mr. Morey commends to the notice of the public his fine range of light costumes and blouses. These are particularly fine goods, which are meeting with ready sale. Sunshades are very necessary just now, and this Arm has a fine stock, besides which millinery and neckwear are well stocked, in excellent variety. Pretty presents for ladies are included In the hand-worked traycloths, d'oyleya, and runners, scarves, handkerchiefs, and gloves, the latter being held in large quantities, and in all the newest materials and shades.

" HOFFMANN." Mr. L. E. Hoffmann, local manager of the British and Continental Piano Co., informed the reporter that he had been actively engaged for the last 17 months in providing " Merry Christmases" for the folk in and about New Plymouth, having'in that time sold no fewer than 141 pianos. At the moment he had just unpacked the fourth of a shipment of Bechsteins, and was rejoicing over tile third sale of pianos for tile day. The Bechstein is his principal make, and the instruments are excellent. The examiner of the London College of MUsic 'had a Bechstein for his local examination this week, and spoke in very complimentary terms of the instrument. WHITE AND SONS.

"In holiday attire" is a saying that suggests everything new, light, and fashionable.. Holiday attire is a feature at White's just now. There are holiday hats of all kinds for ladies and girls, holiday sunshades, cream dustcoats, print and muslin costumes, and the whole range of summer goods. For Christmas gifts' the firm shows ladies' peggy bags and purses, handkerchiefs of all kinds, perfumes, and gloves in all the latest shades. The windows contain a fair indication of the up-to-date stocks within. (To be continued in next issue.)