CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8676, 28 December 1893, Page 3

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

MESSRS KEMPTHORNE, PROSSER AND COS NEW PREMISES. Amongst the many improvements in the matter of new buildings which have been made in the city during the past year, thab of Mesare Kempthorne, Prosscr And Co., in Lower High street, is one of the' moat noticeable. The elevation ia a very handsome one, and the building itself substantial and commodious. On entering from Hiih street, tho first department met with is the drug room, 80 x 40. Here are kept the thousand and one drugs, both wot and dry, which are needed to be in stock in a business of auob magnitude as that carried on by tho tirm. On this floor also is the office, which is conveniently situated so as to command the entire department. Another department of the business of the firm is also represented here in the shape of bulk chemicals. The tittinga are alike handsome and well suited to the purposes for which they are used. Every separate item of the 'stock is easily got at, and the despatching of any order however large is easily and apeediiy carried out. Ascending to the first floor by meani ot a wide, handsome staircaee, tho next department visited is a comprehensive one. Il comprises patent modioinea (in connection with which the name oC the firm is know,n throughout the colonies), druggist's sundries, photographic goods, and perfumery. The department is the saino efza as that below, which has just been described. Here in close proximity are to be seen elegant flasks of Frenoh perfumery and package! of Beecham's pille. The perfumery business of tho firm, it may be noted, is a large one, and stocks •, are kept of all the nnest qualities of Eau do Cologne, and all the eweet essences of Piesae and Lubin. The importation of photographic goods of all kinds is another of the apeckU* tiea of the firm. Cameras of all kind*, from the spying and secret Detective and Kodak to the large ones, which, in the photographer's studio are such instruments of torture, are to bo seen in great profusion. Some of tho cameras, which are intended foi mountaineeringuee.aremounted in aluminium and are wonders of lightness combined with strength. The bins and shelves around are filled to repletion with the many article* in the ahapo of accessories to the photo* graphic art, which have grown so numerous since its development and improvement. Looking around the department one might almost fanoy that by mistake a painting room of one of the theatres had been entered, for here and there are to be scon landscapes, seascapes, meadow*, and other scenic effects. These, Mr Low, the manager, explains, are backgrounds used ia photography, so that the sitter, without moving, can at will be taken on the margiu of a lake, in tho Snowy Mountains, or on the fertile plains. Wickedlooking instruments used for surgical operations glitter coldly out of cases at one, and there are also some very curious dental and scientific instruments which former conjur* up reminiscences of a very unpleasant quarter of an hour with the dentist. Test tubes for makiug analyses are here in all kinds, as also the most re* cent developments in what Mr Low calls "elegant pharmacy" or tabloid* !of compressed drugs. Very handy these for exploring parties, because they occupy so small a space and yet contain so much. The top Btorey or second floor, which is the same size as tbe other two, is devoted to the storing of balk goods, and for bottles, of which the firm use a very large number. A powerful lift runs through all tho floora, the receiving and delivering being done from the Tuam street side of the building. Outside, still further eastward, is tho yard and store for keeping methylated spirits of wine, &o. The firm, as will be remembered, carried on business for some time in tho store formerly occupied by Messrs Wilson, Bawte.lt aad Co. On a fire taking place there they ' removed to premises on the site of tho present building. This, however, was found to be too email, and the building above described, which ia an ornament to the portion of the city ia which it is located, vu then erected.