CHRISTMAS AT NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 378, 23 December 1882, Page 2

CHRISTMAS AT NORMANBY.

Christmas Day coming on Monday in this year of ouv Lord 1882 the preparations made by tradesmen of all descriptions to do honor to the festive seasou, please the tastes of their customers, and, it is hoped, bring profit to themselves, are a day or two in advance of the usual period of such shows. Your reporter in goiug the anything but weary round of the various depots of luscious delicacies displayed, prompted by the requirements which nature demands for the moistening of his mortal clay during the summer weather of a truly antipodean seasonable Christmas, called at Mr. McGregor's hotel and sampled the rare assortment of choice and fragrant wives with which the house is stocked. Wandering from golden tinted sherry to ruby port with its ethereal beeswing betokening its antiquity, tasting of foamy champagne and the sober stillness of fragrant hock, sipping the pale amontillado which leaves only bubbles on the glass as its delicate aroma passes to gladden the palate of the consumer, your correspondent spent moments not a few in admiration of choice things prepared for the devotees of Bacchus. Tearing himself away, he visited one by one the stores of Messrs England, Gibson, and Beresford, the shops of Messrs Eagles and Bashford, and the meat emporiums of Messrs. Treweek and Crocker— all had made equal preparations for welcoming Father Christmas. Grocers' windows were filled to repletion with fruit from the far Mediterranean, still glowing with the bloom imparted by a sun which shone on its ripening in the Northern Hemisphere, mingled with oranges and lemons, cocoanuts and bananas from the isles of the sea *, whilst many parts of New Zealand contributed the more perishable fruits of the seasou immediately present in the lavish display of cherries, strawberries, and gooseberries with which the windows were garnished. The hotels of Mr. Alex. Brett and Mr. Wilson were in no way behind that already spoken of in. the provision made for gladdening the heart of man, and it speaks well for the genuine character of the liquors supplied that each call your reporter made upon the hosts of these hostelries added to the rosy character of the shop windows he subsequently passed. The gigantic Christmas trees with which, lie thinks, the windows were made gorgeous, were in the evening, he believes, lighted by innumerable candles, which threw a glory of illumination on the brilliant colors of the decorations, leaving all efforts of electric refulgence far behind. The flags of all nations floated from the trees, and toys of all descriptions hung from their branches. The streets were crowded with spectators and side by side could be seen the tanned skin of the dwellers on the Plains and the pale physiognomy of the denizon of the bush. The ladies collected round the door of Mr. Browue, the draper, and admired the gay ribbons and filmy laoes displayed, or made visits to those of the confectioner and purchased from the collection of cakes which appeared illimitable. In the butcher's shop the gigantic oxen, the plump and egg-shaped pig, the delicate lamb, the jucy mutton, and the tender veal, were arranged, side by side, a wealth of good cheer, perfectly irresistible. Evil speakers may say he has trusted to memory for his language,' and to imagination for his facts, but let the doubters visit Normanby next year, and see for themselves.