MESSRS WAKEFIELD AND HOGG'S NEW PREMISES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 4 November 1882, Page 3

MESSRS WAKEFIELD AND HOGG'S NEW PREMISES.

After a somewhat long interval since the fire in their old shop, Messrs Wakefield and Hogg are at last in a position to open business in the new one, possession of which they take to-day. Everything is not of course quite in apple-pie order, but when their customers enter the new shop they will find it a singularly well constructed and arranged establishment, and one which need fear no competition in any town in the colony. It will be remembered that the fire practically gutted the old shop, without interfering to any extent with the upper story. The new shop is somewhat larger than its predecessor, being 20ft x 20ft, and is spacious enough for all practical purposes. Even after taking away the space required for windows, counters, dispensing department, and so forth, the accommodation for customers will be found ample. The new shop is a really fine apartment. The roof is plainly panelled in white, the walls being painted a sea green, with pink and white tinted mouldings. The fittings are of course entirely new, and in manufacture and design, leave nothing to be desired. The material is cedar throughout, inlaid with mottled totara knot, and the fronts of the counters have some very effective oblong glass panels. Glass, in fact, meets the visitor on every side, in the shape of mirrors and fronts of cases. All the woodwork, especially the counter bracket supports, is highly poiished, and will no doubt be much admired. Facing the doorway and surmounted by a clock is the sponge and brush case, upon which is a marble top. Behind this, and approached by a door on each side of it, is the dispensing department, which extends the whole width of the shop and to a part even of the sides. Here the arrangements are admirable and in some respects novel. The doors leading to this department themselves deserve notice, containing some handsome figured glass. The counters, drawers &c., in the dispensing department are all of kauri, and everything is contained in drawers which are dust proof. Every kind of drugs has its allotted place, and the poisons are judiciously kept under lock and key, so as to avoid the chance of an unpleasant accident. It may here be mentioned that the backs of all the cases in the shop are ebonised. Quite a striking feature are the drawers around the walls, which have their names neatly written on strips of plate-glass, and are to be fitted with amber-coloured glass knobs. Novelty has even extended to the earthenware utensils in which chemists keep, their mysterious compounds, and a shelf of pretty blue and white vessels strikes the eye very favourably. With large windows, plenty of doorway, and glass everywhere, there is no lack of light ; but to make assurance doubly sure, the dispensing department has a large window in a line with it at the side of the shop. Homoepathic medicines have their department, and it is evident that Messrs Wakefield and Hogg intend to make a special feature of them, for one of their windows is adorned with a large bust of Hahnemann, the apostle, of this particular branch of the healing art. Outside, the new shop is already familiar to passersby in the Avenue, its handsome doorway and fine plate-glass windows having for some time past been admired. The front is, however, to be embellished by a lamp of picturesque design imported from England. It will have ruby glass sides, with the name of the firm upon them. And with regard to the gas arrangements, the shop is to be lit up from brackets at the sides, the ceiling being left untouched. Mr Barnott was the contractor for the alterations and fittings, and Mr Hughes for the painting and glazing. Both have done their work creditably. As we have said, Messrs Wakefield and Hogg open their premises to-day, and the shop will doubtless be thronged with old and new customers.