NEW YEAR PROSPECTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 31 December 1909, Page 5

NEW YEAR PROSPECTS.

OUTLOOK IN CHRISTCHURCH

RECORD CHRISTMAS SEASON

[fbom our cokrksponjjent.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 31

Local business people are optimistic regarding the prospects of trade for the New Year. Stationers and booksellers agree that whatever niay have happened at the beginning of the year they have never had a better, "season" than the present one. v Jewellery being entirely a luxury, city jewellers were among the first to feel the effects of the stringency of money, and during the past four months their business has been exceptionally quiet. The advent of Christmas, however, was marked by a pronounced rise in the commercial barometei'j and there are indications that the rise will be permanent. One jeweller who has been in business in Christchurch for fifty years told a reporter that the volume of business' don© during the Christmas season greatly exceeded that of any other Christmas within his experience. The outlook for the New Year was very bright indeed. Those engaged in the drapery trade seem to have had an exceptionally good year, and taking things all round a very optimistic note is sounded.