EARLY TRADERS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 4 July 1921, Page 3

EARLY TRADERS

SOME QUAINT ADVERTISEMENTS.

( Advertisements apoearing in the early newspapers are orten as interesting as news items, and in a greater degree mark the progress of settlement, writes Mr. W. A. Edwards, of the •fc-arly Settlers' Association in the Wellington Post. Below are given a few of more'than usual interest. Hotels taverns, etc., are very prominent. Ihus the first shop opened in Port Nicholson," the Britannia Hotel and stores, is advertised in the first number of the Gazette. There is a list ot goods on sale, comprising groceries' of ail kinds, bread, haberdashery, ironmongery, nails, etc.. in the first number mhe 9 azette ' with M- S- M- McDonnell s advertisement, giving his address as 'last tent on west end of beachv ±*etpni. '^Some months'later the settlement had moved to the Thorndon side °| t^. harbour; and; under the headinc *>f Wine and Spirit Vaults, we read•The New Zealander, delighted at the great influx of civilised and other beings to his native country, has opened i his house to administer to their palates ' most of the liquid luxuries of their own ' country, and which; he feels assured upon' trial will be found nowise inferior to those they^erefa&ujj-: tomed to imbibe at home. . . . Tne above-mentioned, gentleman absent on atouifof discovery^ and plaJl jobbing,; has Mtlipecia^ ordej^i^iff Roberty to transact business in his'" absence, and has charged him to adhere strictly to the following low prices. (Prices here follow). Kumu-toto Bri- i tannia."

The Queen's Head Tavern, after announcing "the above is open,'' and requesting the usual favours/ etc., announces that the splendid new boat Speculator, with an experienced crew, will leave the beach at Petoni every morning at a o'clock for Britannia, r;nd return from the above house at 3 in the afternoon. The Commercial Hotel and Coffee Rooms, J. Allen, proprietor, after thanking, his friends for their support whilst at Petoni, notifies he also has opened above establishment, at Britannia, also a general store, from which he can supply all articles in the way of drapery, hosiery, provisions, fresh meal;, etc^ etc. He; also announces that his boat, with an experienced crew, will continue to leave Petoni every morning at 8 o'clock for Brittania, and return at, 4 in ,the afternoon. ■ V

Three carpenters : • and •~* buildeis* announce that they have entered into ' a co-partnership, and are ready to receive specifications for buildings: of all' dimensions,' to be executed with- punctuality and despatch. The reason given for this partnership is the difficulty of procuring competent journeymen: carpenters, who, individually, would be unable to contract for buildings to be finished in: a specified time. Another" gentleman advertises .the fact that he is ready, to prepare, plans, elevations, and specifications of any public or private buildings, etc.. and refers to his experience at Home and in the neigh-bom-ing Colonies, and his knowledge of colonial timber, etc. His address is Green Cottage, No. 1, Britannia. One notice of particular interest appears :■—Any . person- desir-ous of building on land adjoining the town can procure land for that purpose "free of rent" by applying to James Wall. Esq., Britannia. One unusual advertisement (October, 1840) is of the sale^ of goods on board the barque Magnet, a vessel of 148 tons, trading from Syd_ hey. "The: cargo of general disc, crockery, etc.," including blankets and-prints, arid everything to suit the ladies, flour, sugar, tea, crockery and ironmongery, tobacco; snuff, Manila cigars, etc., etc. Goods of all descriptions too numerous to particularise. Goods landed free of expense to pui> chasers at high water mark, on any part of the beach between pa, Pipitea, and Messrs Bidgways, Guyton, and Carp (near the pa, Taranaki)." "Archibald Anderson begs to inform the public he has opened a store at Thorndon, on the north end of the beach, andhas on hand such goods as jackets and trousers in corduroy, velveteen, and duck. Groceries at different prices, wines and spirits, hardware and cutlery, etc. He also informs the public that they can be supplied with good fresh mutton ant? pork daily.