CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3694, 23 December 1890, Page 2

CHRISTMAS SHOWS

A.towßoMtSo'Towi.-

• Although 11. period of unwonted - stagnation and 1 business depressiou I has existed in this district for some , months past, consequent 1 no doubt to t a large extent'upon the flax trade i having, suddenly stopped, and many have signified- theii* intention of j reluctautly'seeking "fresh fields: and 1 pastures new," the appearance of a [ "turnfor the better"' is easily dis--1 cernible at the present timo, and i faces which not loug since were 1 almost as elongated as the proverbial ' fiddle are now, about, the reverse, J Many have suggested that the season , of Masterton's commercial prosperity > is at an end, and: that tho »g oo d r old times" will never again appear, , But on this point wo beg most rei spectfully to differ. Is it not a fact • that we have at our back vast areas J of land-land of the utmost fortuity . —which are being opened up year by , year, on" which families in large > numbers are settling, and whiohmust J make Masterton cheir commercial ! centre? And does it not occur to i the most obtuse of comprehensions s that, adapted as Masterton certainly | is ior market purposes, it must s necessarily advance? We cannot . hope for an'inflated, prosperity such is so common to townships not many hundred miles distant, but we have every reason for believing that with amoderateassistancefromaprovident Nature, combined with a persevering spirit on' the part of our settlers,; we may yet become what we wore always .destined to be, the "Chicago of the South." I Although .the excessive heat of the e past few weeks has not improved the appearance of our surrounding country, nor the prospect of an I. abundant harvest, the town itseltIwring an unseemly water, channel ■ l, -was nover more attractive than it is now. Everything appears; to have on its Christmas f garb, and everybody is making » preparations for a <«Merry Xmas and ;l a Happy New J!earl" in every sense >of tho term. Our representative r yesterday paid a visit to the leading d establishments in tho town, and in ', the brief space at our disposalwe 1 will deal with the various Christmas o displays. His first place of call was 3 the well-known warehouse of Mr J, e Oahhsntek, . Thi3 depot is well filled j f with boots arid shoes of every descrip--0 tion, from the humble blucher at '' 5s 6d to the gents' porpoise, shooter • at 3,05, Mr Carpenter has a largo i repairing staff, and turns out work • equal ( to anything that oould be t found in the Wellington district. '1 Then follows the educational depbsir tory of Mr J, B, Innes, where i Christmas presents and New' Year gifts are all the rago. Tue shop has - a very busy appearancejust now, and 1 the large stook of toys, fancy goods, f cards, books, periodicals, eto, recently a opened up, is visibly fading qway i - before its owner's eyes, Thewjndow 1 of Mr J. Williams' tobacconist shop s ia wel} stocked with, all those luxuries I so. mu,ch desired at this festive season, I an,4 everything, from the modest clay pipe' tq the real Habana oigar, is of i the best and most refined quality. 8 We wore sorry to notice that in the 8 toiisorial department of Mr J. Habhis i there was a vacant chair, the wiolder • of the shears being confined ft! .his 1 home throughsicknoss. Mr-W.'BsLi/s slaughter sale of drapery, millinery i and clothing is still being continued, ' and we should judge from outside I observations that the Christmas , trade is as sound as a "bell." Mns ' Sage's fancy bazaar window presents i a very Christmas-like appearance, i and it can easily be seen that there • is- here on sale every article jn, the • fancy goods lp,fpn jbg funny "jumping;jack"|o the welUrossed ! dpllwhicl) so olieevstlie heart of our I maidens. The tobaooonist.'s shop of i Mr D, M'ljAoulanj whioh is so i carefully managed by Mr J. Wash. [ ington, has one of the best stands in ' the town, and does a very steady business in those lines so common to those establishments, The hairdressing department is, supervised by Mr Washington Myself, and is just TOWftboflU'teadeep"at all hours of the day. On the opposite side of the; street is that well-known bakery and confectionery business which has l of late been couducted so ably by ' Mr James 'AH the '

delicacies p,f Hie season are hei displayed, anil have a most temptin appearance. Just round the cornei in Perry Street, is the eatablisl'mea ofMrß, F, Temple, wljero over thing in ftetuviiingto Queen Street we fin lender tUe clock a shoi of, jewellery, watches, clocks, etc, suitable'{o? (Ibristmas presents, ii ,tMopo,flii ,! 'W. Douuall, Th bachelor who can pass by of. engagement and wedding ring here made, without yieldiugio th temptation, must have a' heart 1 o steel.. ; Passing along, we corai to the establislnnent': of',. M: James BiiitOTie, saddler am] harnesi maker, which is 4llod. withever) article iiv.tlw trade. The business o Mr[ Elliott lias, assumed large pro portions 'during 'tiiopasij'fqw: years and ;he employs, a large.'staff' o men,,, and' 'ajiop_".%( nest visit, Itaj^at'openedup: i largo.;'and: yaried, >ol j e w#ty; and, ; go# b^We

ollio;Blio|);"Bpsil{lffpr|i|yfj||rk juitjftfflv^ speciality \6fbesides; ,;■ arrangiji|.;;wtk Vthß test cbiquriit'infl^ colou ring,, .-Tlur handsome :i window in.vitsetf/asigm inside" < one' isaiv procure Christmas goods 'of ivery description! The. stock/of draperyj Volothihg, and millinery is eecbncl to mmM i the district ahd;as. theiiibttb of the fii.*m is *• siria 11 prbfi ts and; quick Munis," it; > may; be relied iippu that every article will be disposed 'of'at the' most reasonable rates. Of the'Co operative stores"of Messrs M,.Qkmimo & Co. we need hardly say anything, sb:weli "and favorably known is the establiaUpent;:-' Notwithstanding,that Christmas boxes.bave been dispensed with; the rush for currants and raishis, aiid those other little trifles which are so essential in Christinas' pudding's, is even greater this' - year than usual, r The windows of' the large store'; are ■ wall-dressed,< and illuminated';-' and will be agreat attraction on Christmas Eve, We next come'to the, warehouse ;ofthe WHOLESALE DRAPERY COMPANY, J tl/e windows of which', are perhaps as attractive ;a3.auy in the town. Everything is being sold at holiday prices, and the large -stock of new stiminer drapery, clothing, millinory, etc,, just opened up should meet with a ready sale. - ; An" extra inducement for. purchasers is made here, for onV table indthe centre of the main hall is arrange some very handsome '. and costly. Christmas boxes,.- to be presented,; ■ to, customers. : - Messrs Warner and. Broom,: -tailors,' are about as bupy as they possibly cair be, turning out to order holiday suits" of every style and quality* whilst almost next door Mr, Joseph Dixoius working day and night ; ,tb moe 1 -, the! Christmas demand for his well-known " champagne," ; Mrs Monms Vis displaying ducks,: geese,, fQwk,' turkeys; new potatoes, green peas, and'every other kind of'vegetable which is so absolutely necessary for the Christmas' dinner.' ;Mi' J,W Leahy, on the;other hand,'is attending to the more serious requirements of the public, andis preparing the «soles ll U Bis customers for—well, hardly, eternity -at least a few months of holiday wear, The Misses Johnston, next door, are doing their very best to fulfil tho orderi they have in hand for holiday costumes for the ladies, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the fair sex will not be dissapointed in such a trifling matter as weather. Mr Geo, Johnston, general merchant and direct importer, is of course as busy as he well could be, and his new Christmas goods in.every department afford a capital selection for his customers. The last establishment on this side of the street is that of Messrs Chamberlain Bros., bakers and oonfectioners. Christmas and flew Yoar cakes are being made a spooiality.'but despite this fact those contemplating oonnubialibtio joys at this season need have no fear but that thoir orders can be executed with the greatest care and despatoh, The furniture lusinesa of Mr T. Jago has not been saorifioed for the. more seasonable undertaking, and we need hardly say that furniture can bo here turned out on the shortest notice. Mr H, Hounsmw's boot shop, although of modest proportions, contains a; tradesman whose workmanship: it would be hard to beat in the district. Arriving at the furnishing establishment of Mr V 7. Winn, oue cannot help being struck with .its "ohairful 1 appearance, aud the fine,specimens of cabinetmaking whioh are on view should wsultia numbers of Christ mas orders. The Bon Mavcho has now almost become an housebote word throughout the distriot, and the show this year by Messrs L,-J Hooper and Compromises to be.. th< best ever made. Tho rush foi bargains has now fairly set in. There is ono thing which oannot well hi disponsed with during the holida; setson, and that is the chemist'i shop, for it invariably transpirei that during this particular time o tlio year, if a person does not havi the good fortune to blow-his heai into oblivion he at least require: a little sticking plaster to remim liim that l\oli.tlay-maldng is not al beer and skittles. '■ These lfttt requirements will of ooursq b attended to by our old friend Mr T Gt.Mason, Then again, before- oni can indulgo in any pleasure with ai ordinary degree of comforthe mustb equipped for the time being with oni thing which cannot bo dispensei with, and that is an easy-fitting pai of boots. Messrs R, Hannah and Co have a display just now whioh doe the heart good to see." Everything ia boots and shoes is on view in thi windows, and the public cannot' di better than pay an early visit o inspection, The' grocery am ironmongery warehouse of Messr, John Graham & Co is, fron its central position, a sure port ofcal for numbers of country visitors, am more than that,is doing a town trad' in the various branches of tin business, whioh must, at any rate, b gratifying to those most uirectb interested.' The. most luxuriou fruits of the season are now on yiev in the window of Mits TmEn, whiol is always exceedingly well dressed Wo noxt come to tho saddlery der,{ ot Messrs Townsekb k Cowper, \jhie is well stooked with saddlery "ib harness of every description. Th general workmanship of this Urn is so well-known that it needs n recommendation on this occasion Mr W.Pjjrhyls in tho very midst o all the excitement of tho season, Hi has killed tho fatted calf—aud laml also-and at his corner shop has i capital display of alllhat is tempting Of course Christmas and its festivl ties affects Mr Q. C, Sage and hii tent and cover business yery little, Indeed, h,is. harvest is reaped in thi winter time. Not so, however, wit! the Cheap Cajdi Tailor, Mr, Webb who is' working diy and night t< complete the orders he has on hand There isanadmirablo showat thi furnituro factory of Messrs Hounslo,! and Hoar, which does credit to th( firm, ind as cheapness and durabilitj is their motto, a ' substantia " biz" may reasonably be anticipate! for the holidays. Mr D. Pickkhim is, of course, pegging away at liii plumbing and tiiismithmgj and ii demonstrating the fact that he is i "sticker." ■■'■ With such'well-fitlet oyster aud fish marts as those of M 0. CoiUEß.ahd Mrs Cole one cm pll exclaim " begone dull.care,'! a He atfock'stho tempting dishes placei before 'him hi these establishments Qw very interesting tour is poiioludei by theobservatioii that tho Christnia sho\y offtakes, etc., at WyNaHECTER' is exceedingly good, and in returiiini ,'je find that our.prett' 9Jpiiaq;.^:iß!)i ) r-eutitle.d ;, i:Th;

".i.rw l '• — : " ' ■ v off tlie press ani - ready for oiroulation. -With every prospect of rigbt lovely weather •' ' for the holidays and plenty of solid fun, we ciin the more heartily congratulate the residents of our humble < township upon the evidences theie are of a returning prosperity, and wish them a" Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.".