Xmas in the Suburbs

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 69, 15 December 1931, Page 15 (Supplement)

Xmas in the Suburbs

GROWTH OF SUBURBS City’s Outward Thrust

It is only necessary to carry one's memory back for ten years to realise the enormous scale on which the suburbs of the city have developed, for it is within the last decade that the City Council has adopted a policy of encouraging residents in the heart of the. city to live in one or other of the suburbs. This has been done mainly by the introduction of the universal tram concession ticket, cheaper fares over two or more sections, and the establishment of bus services to link up the more distant suburbs with the tram termini. These concessions ■ gave a great stimulus to the opening up of suburban areas where hitherto houses were few and far between and the population smjj.ll. The State gave a helping hand by opening up lands in the neighbourhood of Miramar and Kilbirnie for the settlement of workers, and by advancing loans to workers on a generous basis workers’ dwellings grew up “like mushrooms in the night.” Private enterprise did not lag in adding its efforts to induce the population to live in the sunlight and fresh air, and one estate after another was subdivided and attractive residences built and

occupied. This “Greater Wellington” could not have been achieved without the absorption' of some of the adjoining boroughs, the first move in this direction being the amalgamation of Melrose in 1003, followed by Wadestown in 1007, part of Karori, and ultimately the whole of Onslow, Miramar, and Karori Boroughs with minor exclusions. Where the population goes shops will follow, and in the suburbs mentioned, as well as at Berliampore, Ngaio, Johns£i>_ville, and Khandallah, modern business premises have been erected to cater for the needs of residents. Shopkeepers are catering in every possible way to meet requirements, trying to help the comniunity to make ends meet by competitive prices, often saving the necessity for travelling into the city to make purchases. Telephone facilities have helped to make suburban residence more attractive, and there is hardly a suburb which has not its own picture theatre, well equipped and up-to-date. With the festive season and the holidays drawing near the suburban shopkeepers have made their windows more attractive than ever, and housewives and others will do well to study the special announcements appearing on this page. / Hutt and Petone Few towns in New. Zealand have made more progress in the last few years than Lower Hutt and Petone. They are now important shopping centres. The big shops in Lower Hutt and Petone are admirably stocked,, the goods are well displayed, the service is efficient and courteous. Most of them do their own carrying, so that the purchaser may rely on the goods being delivered to his home, in whatever part of tlie district lie resides, without loss of time. The assortment of goods stocked is as wide as the requirements demand, and the shopping centres are so compact as to make much walking unnecessary. In all respects residents of the two towns, gnd visitors also, are well catpred for. To tlie visitor especially tlie two towns hold much to interest. Petone with its industries and beautiful seafront, and Lower Hutt with its fine Riddiford Park, baths, and magnificent homes, are places worth visiting. Should the visitor, at the same time, care to do ills shopping there he will find the quality of the goods and tlie cheapness of the price the equal to anywhere else in the Dominion.

If this toffee lias to be kept, wrap each piece neatly in wax paper. , Uncooked Nougat Make fondant cream as before, using one white of egg and sufficient sieved sugar to make a stiff paste. Add a few drops of vanilla. Knead until smooth, using icing sugar to dust the board or slab, then work in with the fingers two ounces each of angelica, cut in tiny pieces, glace cherries cut up, and blanched, dried and shredded almonds. Press into a shallow wooden box lined with wax paper. Cover with wax paper, then place a board on top and weights to press. Leave to set, then remove board and paper and cut into blocks. This nougat makes very pretty bonbons.