CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10216, 9 December 1893, Page 3

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

MESSRS J, BATES & CO. The business of Messrs J. Bates and Co. ( having increased to such an extent that their premises in Cashel street'were found totally inadequate to display their very large stock of china and crockciyware, the I firm has built a very handsome showroom at the rear of their main premises. The now building is 10511; long by 25ft ia width, with brick walls 12ft, in height,' laod rests on a concrete foundation. Beneath, the floor of this building and running its, entire length is a commodious stock cellar. The roof o! the showroom is an ex-prin-cipal one, sheathed and covered with iron, while light is provided by seven large skylights. The walls are matchlined and painted olive-green, the .roof being coloured pale-blue, and tho timbers are picked out in French grey. Tho show-i tables and stands are black, varnished,and tho whole building has a light and lofty appearance. Entrance to the showroom ia gained by a large archway' leading direct Trom the front shop, and at the rear is a handy packing-room; 25ft by 25ft. Mr S.C. Parr was the architect, and the contractor was Mr P. Lloyd, who hag carried out the work in a faithful manner. The firm has now about eight thousand superficial feet of floor space in which to display its varied stock. The old 1 showroom upstairs in the main building is' being renovated and re-decorated, and altogether the premises have received a thorough overhaul, and now look as well as paint and varnish can make them. Messrs Bates and Co., have just opened up very largo shipments of choice goods from Limoges, Worcester, from the Crown Derby and other celebrated pottery works, all of which are now displayed to advantage. In Boulton and Worcester ware there ace some very choice and elegant ornaments and works of art, while the. variety of high-class Belleck china in all the latest etylee of ornaments, tea services, centrepieces, &c., is a really creditable one. Tea sets are there in a score of patterns, including very choice specimens in Doric, Atlas, Crown, Garnett! and many others of exquisite design, Flemish and agate ware are displayed in great profusion. Specimens of handsome Louis china include all sorts of nicknacks, while tea services are represented in all patterns and styles from the useful tea set to the dainty afternoon tea services. In Crown china there are some reproductions of antique shape, including Davenport’s well-known style, all worked up in the latest colours and including some exquisitely pretty patterns. The flower bowls are very handsome, and include beautiful specimens of Lambeth, Doultou, Chinee, Silicons, lace-ware a'nd many other varieties, while there ar,e a number of table centre-pieces to mutch, all being richly embellished. The old brown Toby ware is represented in profusion, and includes jugs, teapots and a number of useful-articles, many of them; being of quaint design. Dinner services are represented by over a hundred different patterns, embracing all kinds, from ,the highly ornamental and expensive to, the strictly useful. The very Is,test patterns in toilet sets are shown, including the Aquarius, Swan and Eclipse tilting sets* many of which are extremely handsome; The hand painting on some of the articles is of a high order,' and the patterns ace really works of art, while all show a very high finish. The firm hai just unpacked a very large consignment of the celebrated Rochester lamps, in all the latest designs of table and hanging lamps* many of the patterns being unique, and all of them being handsome. A novelty in the way of suspension lamps is also shown, in which the chains are connected with hidden springs at the top of the hangers;' . and the lamp can be raised or lowered at will. Another new line ia the pedestal or Eiano lamp, which can also be put to any eight required by moans of a slide and spring. These are beautiful specimens ot workmanship, and are highly finished in antique brass and onyx. Besides the lines mentioned the firm’s stock include* everything that can possibly be required in a household in the way of crockery, ana the stock is well worth a visit of inspection ’