FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17346, 18 December 1919, Page 10

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

N.Z.. INSURANCE COMPANY. sotTND CONDITION revealed. (Frotn the Herald tfJ December IS. 1869.) Th& half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the New Zealand Insurance Com'■any "was held yesterday afternoon at the bead Office of the company, Queen Street. Mr. garau.-! Browning, deputy-chairman of the bvAi-d *>f director's, presided. Mr. U«oi-)fft P. Pierce, ir.an-igcr, read the 16th ho ' ;.'f«iiy r-V/rt, i--:Vffi which it appeared .that :!'*■. ;x«-.k." .1 the company was iighly sa.'istactory. T;-.' '. cm nt of accounts sub: lit ted. showed a balance m favour of the company, amounting to i.'9o4S' 2s Id, after making provision for all ascertained losses to the present time. After; faying a divided at the rate of 10 per cent." per nnnirm, which will amount in a «mm of £2750, there will remain a I alanc« to ■ ."edit, of profit and loss of .Cu"<bi3.?2s -id. This speaks well for the ability with which the affairs of the company ore managed. Trio report was unanimously adopted, after which Messrs. C. -I .Stone and J. S. ■ McFarlane were, unanimously re-elected directors. t MBLVEKCS CHRISTMAS FAIR AND GIFT BAZAAR, The impression the observant visitor i to Melvera s well-known Household Stores in Karan£,ahapo Road (close to the | corner of Queen Street) gathers, as he ! surveys the interior of the premises, is that Karangahapi- Road is beginning to t:i~. Queen Street pretty close for first p!a_ • when it com~s to business houses, j Cert arid v Melvern's extensive premises with then '000 hr-\, at norr *>;.•,. ,-, ■£& not disgiao. • S» l ' , t n" i?;* i .y, This jrea- —e i; n;,-ided ii..o tin ■*• *■"".•-'•, ."-!,i c* h nf 'ij«.m is jrcet- now 'ii'lN ~. .rt.'•'■*.n;_ will of >."Muty, ' ■■id a.so c' ,■■;. My, the «f wfejrfi are j imperially adapted lor pr-ywosiNtion j Taking the i'iors in a .itjuhw, and .<iirt- j ing i --•-. 'he l .op ins, the fr, •. r -i»*nt, j devotou 'urn'turc .and furt;l> -.<:£;• is! reached. Here will be fcand an r--*. fr*nsn collection of modern household I'vroitto*,' in solid iak, and also in rimu, j e>iuUs and ritsffl articles, in a > variety of pjrfg *r»d pleasing designs. Here, -also, are e-remples of tha I pretty l."1 fashionable sea-gras,*; furniture, aiso & line' range of carpets, squares, rags, runners, and mats, etc., nd all kinds of ap-to-daf: joor-coverings. Opening off the furniture show-room is '.ne bedding department, a mods'! of what such a place should i>e, and filled with bedding of every description, together with wire-mattresses etc. etc. Descending to the ground-floor the visitor reaches , the main shop, containing * a number of departments, including j grocery, in nuicb Melvern's do an extensive • business. This branch has be€3\, extended in order that it may keep pace with the ever-increasing trade. Several entirely new . departments have recentlv opened on this floor, including one for tobacco, cigars, pipes, and smokers' requisites generally. The confectionery department, with its tempting array of sweetmeats of all kinds, is also new. On this floor, too, is the crockery and glass department, and '-ire may he seen a variety of pretty things most suitable as useful Christmas and New Year gifts, including beautiful tea and dinner services in fine art china and in chaste designs, and a large assortment, oj ilovely afternoon tea services. Then thetti are fancy vases, some of-them of most artistic appearance, and charming enough to put under glassabades.t fancy jugs, srreefc-dishes ornamental plates and dashes, jardinieres in art'ware, etc. etc. Tl;d glassware also makes an - imposing show, and comprises many heantiful goods in cut crystal suitable as gifts. The show-cases containing the platedware.. attract everybody's attention. Any of th*sse articles would make ancepfcabU presents. Other pretty gift goaisis cotospj? ol" manicure sets, workoo:«« and "sork-bsskst;,, fitted., and unfitted, perJamery, m& fancy soaps in pretty boxes, wrist, watcafis, and a hundred or two other things. Travelling requisites. srDl also he toxoid on this floor, such as suit-cases and handbags, and so forth, - Many pr-r44y and iaaxpsntovse articles will be found amongst the antimony-ware goods,-' such as pm-lxyic3, stamp-boxes, uowder-boxes, photo-frames, etc. The • i goods are also very attractive, ' so..Tfjiising glove and handkerchief boxes, «a h-boxes, and fancy boxes of every descr ption. . Some are in the familiar black giit embossed lacquer,, but "others are.in lacquer . of.. a golden-brown shade, and these are ,real.y beautiful. All these goods -are modestly-priced. All kinds of stationery wi'.l be' found on this floor. ' aid & great collection of pretty and novel | Chiiiiaias and New Year greeting cards. Pome are put up in boxes containing » ; nt-'ty, others are loosegreat baskets iml of them— all will repay inspeat.'O'.i. Those who are wise will select their yards as soon as possible, and avoid the inevitable rush later. t Passing down a short flight of broad, shallow steps, the basement is reached. This large room, extending the whole length of the building, is entirely devoted to toys, and such anothsr exhibition of the kind it would bg difficult, perhaps impossible, to find in Auckland. Thousands of pounds worth of pretty, novel, and ingenious toys are here, displayed on the counters running a'.l round the department, on tlio stalls arranged, right along the ( ..utre of the room, and on the walls. Not an inch of spaco is wasted. The place is brilliantly illuminated by electric light, and the general effect as one enters i* very striking. Some special attractions , have been provided to enhance the pleasure and delight of t'he children, who will flock here hi crov/ds between this and New Year's Eve; these attractions, include " the laughing gallery" the children will laugh—a real fish-pond, *ith celluloid fish swimming in it, and the ever-popular bran-tubs, in which a multitude of little hands will soon be dipping for prizes. As for the toys, it would require a column or two of type, to do them any»liing like justice, and we can only mention some of thorn, and that but briefly. Well, there are teddy-bears, large and small, dolls in thousands, dressed and undressed, ' boy dolls, and girl dolls, baby dolls, and sleeping do'ls, was dolls and compo dolls, ! celluloid dolls and rag dolls, and kewpies ! from two inches high to about two feet. A big kewpie in tartan bonnet and kilt .'-•presents " Harry Lauder."' Then there, are miniature motor-cars— ■nail ed : tions' of the real thing— big enough to bold a little boy or girl, and ( ip.ilile of attaining quite a turn of speed ! The toy railways., with little trains that inn along real railway tracks, and can !■■ made to pass through realistic little I ■ Mil,!:;, will Cud much favour with the 'I lien there .'iro rocking-horses, iron -■'».;-..ns with i-on wheels, (they are big | sough these Vaggons to bold a boy or .> .-ill'-. Irkycles. sonic with rubber tyre?, ■ ■■'} 'I wish neat eather saddles, gaudy' 1 ; :,.■ .-e lanterns, coound bladders, boxes i •! -..i'l!i>.-s. ••.;. -fannuiis, boxes of mould-. ./ ea\ lov-'tea-fetß, cricket bats and ' . ,nel hi'.tidredd uf oilier to%s at all I , '1 '-■ "'•*'• are the o; ; ft books—such a ! / "' d" ■<> ' -t".v uv.fl picture books for! '".' w '">' '■'>'>■ 'in-.-, |,niii';ir annuals, full ' '• "- : '- 1 I'-'e '-a. for he older ones. ■■'■-'< •'<■* ■" adv-itme by land and . :! -i!->o 'u!i Hi-.- i,..,. _~o . v ( n-u,.s, and ! , : l.'iii.n ''.'" favourite authors for 1 : '"' 1, '■ "" '.be ni"-i 'nmprebensive •'•'..' kind «t Air.-kl-n.i. l.'nder ' .'"'! you .;.,., !,,j V f. ■ i V : ncr needed '' '.' ■ ■"•'■ ""'II tb- furniture (i the _:,' j', I ,'":' "' '"' '"'■' ("hilstrnas puddliig '-.;!,",.;,';.' '''. ''' '' ''' ' in-lf-tij a '■ i.nivei.-ai 1 ril\ ■( r-l And -, >~ "t ' ' ''''""' ',„. 'Tf'.'-enls ■, would I %?„£*;"* hav j • nt \ 0pp,,,.,] ~ ,„,.,„,,. i- ~ K,l..iun ,\ , t ? 10 . their Train nr» n ,; -, , ' •' •' ahead. ' ! '" ii: - ! ' is ,