A PUBLIC MARKET FOR DUNEDIN.

Evening Star, Issue 14036, 17 April 1909, Page 12

A PUBLIC MARKET FOR DUNEDIN.

TO THE rJUIOE, Sir,—ln your if sue of April 3 you published my opinions as to where this market should be built. L would like to give your young reader© who have not seen a public market a description of one 1 was taken to see when a boy, and although it is nearly half a century ago I can recollect it well. T was told that here one could buy any thing from a needle to an anchor. It was in the'city of Abuideeu, and it was called the Now Market. Its principle entrance was from Market street, a rather steep street running oil Union street, the principle street of the town. The other frontage was to another street at a very much lower level. ' This was the entrance to the fish, meat, and vegetable and green grocer market. Early in the morning the carts arrived with these goods, paid a small sum for their stall, where they opened out their goods for sale. The people made their purchases, and a very busy morning was spent. The stalls were arranged in one long row, and the public passed along to inspect the goods and make their- purchases. There was abundance of water, and the place was kept scrupulously clean. From the Market street entrance one could descend by broad flights of stone stairs to the fish and meat market. On the first floor, which was level with this entrance, were arranged the heavier goods, such as grates, ranges, and furniture. The stalls were arranged against the outside walls, with a continuous counter in front, having a broad promenade in front for the public, with a high iron rail and balustrade running right round. The place was lighted from the centre from the glass roof. Upon the first floor were refreshment rooms. One could get breakfast, dinner, and tea here. People went to work in Aberdeen at six o’clock in the morning, had breakfast at nine, dinner atone, and left off at five, nine hours’ work a day, and many workmen got their meals here because they were both cheap and good. The third floor was on exactly the same plan as the others, with broad stone stairs, but this flat was arranged for the lighter goods, jewellery, crockery, basket-ware, drapery, photography, books and magazines, and when up here one could look down to the floors below, where a fountain played, and at night a band played, and there seemed to be always a crowd of people and plenty of business and hardly ever an empty stall. it was the evening promenade for both old and young. This place served more than one good purpose, which at another time, with your permission, I may attempt to describe.— l am, etc,, Progress. April 17.