CHRISTMAS GIFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 10

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

NOVELTIES IN TIIE SHOPS MUSICAL COCKTAIL SHAKERS PUDDINGS AND HAGGIS Cocktail shakers that play tunes while they are being shaken, teacups with handles shaped like butterflies, and clocks that work by electricity from the mains are some of the Christmas novelties to be seen in Auckland shops. Not only are, manufacturers showing more ingenuity and taste in catering for public needs, but prices are lower than they have been for 15 years, a fact which is strikingly illustrated by the display in one city shop of an amazing assortment of household novelties, none of which costs more than ss. One of tho happiest features of this year's Christmas novelties is the slv, humorous flair about so many of them. For instance, there is (lie brass firestand I that looks like a guardsman protecting home and hearth; the poker and the tongs hang concealed behind his back, but the brush for cleaning the grate sticks up through the top of his head like a soldier's busby. There are comical little china dogs that sit up with crossed paws to hold a toothbrush, and table picks, used for picking on! the cherries in a cocktail, that are fashioned into miniature golf clubs. Cifts for the Beach Girl No one should bo puzzled what to give one's friends this Christmas, for tho shops are full of articles that aro just the fashion. Take, for instance, tho marvellous array of things to give a girl who spends the summer on the be; eh. Sho can have a bathrobe in red, yellow, blue and green stripes, with a towel bag and a beret in tho same design to match. She can wear the smartest of woe den sandals, lacquered blue or red, with straps and buttons to match, while a ifery fashionable adjunct is a sunshade that packs into a red celluloid case. A useful novelty which should have a popular reception is a smoker's set which can be attached by a clip to a bridge table. It is really a lacquer shelf, holding ash-tray, matches and cigarettes. Two of them, attached to opposite corners, help to keep clear the smokers' implements that often litter the bridge table. Also seen in tho shops is an indoor aquarium, tho glass tinged with green to produce tho illusion of deep water. Tinted glassware is, in fact, a fairly widespread fashion to-day, a3 in the case of the greenglass salad dishes, shaped like lettuce leaves, with indentations to retain moist uro. Haggis from Scotland Scottish households, and gomo others, will bo interested in the haggis, inado in Scotland, cooked, packed and ready to serve after warming. Genuine French hors d'ocuvres arc other choice gifts obtainable from the provision merchants. The flavours include sardines in lemon, olive oil and tomato, and fillet of tunuyfish. Christmas puddings, it is interesting to observe, are now being packed in cellophane, a transparent hygienic paper, hitherto used only for packing raisins. Picnicking outfits should be strongly in the vogue at Christinas. An innovation in tho way of compressed foods isa concentrated "vegetable mixture, which includes cabbage, carrot, parsnip, turnip and onions. It is an Auckland preparation. specially suited to hampers, mountaineers and picnickers. A gift also welcomed at Christmas time is the, picnic hamper, some particularly compact kinds now being on the market. I nbreakablo cups and glasses, teapots and jugs, in red and blue, make acceptable utility gifts for anyono fond of the outdoors.

Bronzes Made in Auckland The useful little gift known as a hookend, to hold a row of hooks on a table, takes sonic attractive shapes this Christinas. There aro book rests shaped like dogs and cats; others, in bronze relief, illustrate ilie L'ory of St. George and the Dragon, and the " return of knights victorious." They are made in Auckland and sell cheaper than similar bronzes imported from .America. Brassware, indeed, is being made in large quantities in England and can now be sold cheaper than the Belgian ware. Jt is interesting, in fact, to note the successful way in which Britain is displacing foreign countries in manufactured goods. There has been an increase in the production of English clocks, including chiming clocks, formerly the prerogative of Switzerland and Germany. Considering the high duties imposed, (hey are selling at very favourable prices. The electrical grandfather clocks are ;i complete novelty this year. All that is necessary is to plug into an electric light, point. They keep perfect time, being governed by the electric pulsations. From Watches to Egg Cosies There has been an increased demand for watches, and soino particularly attractive kinds, both of the pocket and wristlet, varieties, are displayed in the jewel' lcrs* windows. Genuine amber and real stone necklaces are also fashionable gifts at present. Other acceptable presents of a nature not usually thought of are organdie tea and egg cosies, hright-colonrcd table mats in floral designs, art linen table cloths, cocktail glasses with black feet, gilded bronzes, sets of dinner chimes, cups with handles like flowers, cake dishes with handles made of cane, calendars in the shape of cardboard swordfish and kiwis, ( ,gaiette lighters tor women, picture, backed playing cards, and a vast variety of other attractive arlicles.