CITY NOTES.

Northern Advocate, 17 October 1923, Page 6

CITY NOTES.

TRADE IMPROVING. (Special to "Northern Advocate") AUCKLAND, This Day. Taken all round there are indications that the depression which has existed in city trade circles for a considerable period is gradually lifting. It is too early yet to judge whether permanent improvement is to be looked for, or whether it is merely the stimulus of the spring season, but a more hopeful outlook most certainly prevails. A change cannot come too soon, for the winter months have been the worst experienced since the war. People are beginning to spend a little more freely upon clothes and other necessaries, but t\e buying is marked by more care. A men's mercer in conversation ■with an "Advocate" representative on Friday said a noticeable feature was the purchase of a better class of goods. Men were seeking better values and passing by the cheap stuff which found ready sale last year. Extravagance in women's purchases is also being considerably curtailed, though new season's fashions are selling fairly freely in the "big shops. I * A NARROW ESCAPE. Talking about big shops, an accident occurred at Messrs Milne and Choyce's place in Queen Street on Friday afternoon which might have been attended with decidedly unpleasant consequences. Work on the outside of the building is now nearing completion and workmen are engaged in removing the the casing- from the concrete frontage. While this work was in progress high up on the fifth storey a shower of stone got away and came rattling down on to the footpath below. Shouts from the workmen attracted attention ana people in the vicinity scuttled for safety, but it was by rare good fortune that only a few pedestrians were on t.uc uncovered part of the footway at the time and no one received injury. REGULATING TRAFFIC Tho city Council is evidently satisfie I with its experiments wth the "Keep to tho Left" by-law. The original white chalk line down the middle of the footpaths to guide pedestrians is to be replaced by permanent w'ute tiles, and hints are given that a few prosecutions may be tried to stimulate the public memory as to the rules of the road. Traffic inspectors at the m-iv intersections are becoming visibly mor? insistent, so it is safe to predict tha 1the first batch of offenders will pay an official visit to the Courthouse before long. Queen Street is eert i tily i'-.iu.tht with many dangers for the nervous and , unwary. Two women were knocked down by motor cars in that locality during the week-end, but luckily neith-

er suffered serious injury. NEW THEATRE. The city builder, Mr Fergusson, who has secured the contract for the creation of the new theatre in Whangarei is busy getting his gangs together. Workmen may be expected on the job before many days have passed. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mr Peter Thompson, well-known hi Whangarei Druidic circles, is to return North ' shortly. He will be er.gpgod upon the new theatre. A Whangarei lad who has taken to the sea as a calling, Wesley Woolhous", has just returned to New Zealand. Ho is looking remarkably well and strong and is the proud possessor ■of ■ his full A.B.'s discharge. Mr F. Ivysli, at one time a member of the "Advocate" literary staff, has returned to scholastic work. He is amongst the relieving teachers of thf3 Education Board, his last engagement being at Paeroa. Mr and Mrs J. Boyd have now definitely decided to take up their residence in the city. At present their home is in Devonport. PROPKRTY BOOMING. The rate at which suburban land is being cut up and placed upon the market at the present time is really astonishing. Fifteen or sixteen large estates have been sub-divided irrespective of smaller allotments, and if people find it difficult to obtain a house to live in there is certainly no great obstacle in the way of acquiring land on which to build. Good prices are being realised, but the terms are made so easy that ready sales are reportol

jin many areas. It is a good time f>r j carpenters and men in allied trad and any man who can hold a saw in his hand should not be long out of work. Pay averages 2/i) per hour, but good men have no trouble in getting It is rather strange that with all this | money being spent in the city qui.'fc times should be experienced, but the money is not coining in from country districts. * STR AWBKRRY SKA SOX. In a fow more days the j'oung couMis who keep tryst upon the city roof gardens will be able to make love over strawberries and cream. Reports from the North Shore gardens indicate tint a splendid season has so far been experienced. During the late winter co\l and wet were not favourable to tho growers, but recently warm rain and occasional days of sunshine have done a, lot of good and berries are tilling out ".sell. Big areas are under crop tlii.; year.