JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 240, 7 October 1916, Page 10

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

AT MILNE AKD CHOTCE'S. : i - STORY OF FIFTY YEARS. • , ] A REMARKABTJS EXPANSION. ! -I The firm of Milne and CRoyce. Limited. I are celebrating the jubilee of the ionn : dation of their b-.aiiiess. Since the first millinery and drapery Mtsinoss 'was I opened by tlie Misecs Mihie , in a shop, j J whic-ir still stands at the corner of' I Albert and M'yridham Streets, the career ' {of t'.io fimi has be"en marked by times of i uninterrupted prosperity. Milne andi Choree have grovrn with the city—indeed the ifrm was established so long ago: j that it might almost be'said that thej city has grown with Milne and Choycc. ! For the seven years successive to" the commencement of the business the Misses MiJne carried on together, successfully meeting competition and laying the foundations of an. excellent connection.- They 'arero then joined by the present managing director of the" firm. Mr. H. C. Choyee. and almost simultaneously, a move was made into larger wooden premises at the corner of Wellesley Street and Queen Street. Business still prospered, and it was reeolve.t to move towards still larger quarters, and it was only a few. years later (after formation into a limited company) that the present site was secured. The building, when taken over by. the firm was «->»nrt of a :\varren of offices, but drastic alterations were made, and the firm was finally established in the present premises. Alterations and additions have been made from time to time to meet the requirements of an expanding business.' and to-<iay as a general drapery, soft furnishings, fancy goods. and men and boys' clothing emporium it is known throughout trie province for the excellent quality of its goods. When the business commenced the Misses Milne had one assistant, making a total of three. To-day, in the eighteen departments of the establishment no lees than 294 aseistante are employed. There are numbers of the employees who have a very long connection with the firm, notably one valued lady assistant, whose record is 28 rears' service.

Milne and Choyee bavc what is reckoned to be the largest installation of cash registers in any business in Australasia, and their credit- telephone system is remarkable for its reliability, while its up-to-date mechanism enables the transaction of business with gratifying eeleritv.

A presentation album, containing views of old Auckland, bus been compiled by the firm ac a souvenir of the jubilee, celebrations. Sunibere of the pictures are- rare, and those who arc fortunate enough to receive, copies will be glad to preserve them. There' is also a book for the children, in which the story of Mother Gooee is pictured in coloura by the talented child-study artist Clara 31. Burd. Thie series of pictures shouli! certainly be a source of delight in the nursery. ■