CHRISTMAS CHEER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2733, 23 December 1881, Page 2

CHRISTMAS CHEER.

“ Christmas comes but once a year,” especially for tradesmen, and the butchers especially must be glad that it comes no oftener, though they may also be pleased when the season returns when custom compels them to “ lay themselves out'’ to, show to what extent their business offers opportunities for the exercise of a degree of taste and skill in constructive decoration of their wares, and to exercise a more than usual care in the choice of the raw materials (no pun intended) with which they have to deal. This evening some of the Timaru butchers will eclipse all previous efforts in the endeavor to make a tasteful display of meats, and their shops will certainly form centres of attraction to admiring crowds. We have not space to mention all of them, and can only refer to thosedisplays which, during the afternoon, promised to be the most successful.

Messrs Peacock and Geaney, at their shop in Church street, seem likely to carry off the palm, for the quality and extent of their display, the care with which their goods have been prepared, and the taste and skill with which the shop and its contents are decorated. Their “ exhibits " comprise the carcases of four splendid bullocks and a heifer from the Levels Station, and a second heifer from Mr Russell’s herd, at Otipua —two tons and a-half of prime, capitally prepared Christmas beef. Two of the carcases are hung up whole, and form a fine centrepiece to the picture presented by the shop. They have a two-months old calf, fed by Mr Dormer, of Saltwater Creek, the appearance of which does credit both to the grower and the slaughterman; a splendid lot of Southdown lambs from the well-known graziers, W. and A. Grant ; a dozen solid porkers from Pleming and Hedley’s, Seadown, and eighteen sucking pigs from various growers. The tables are heavily laden with saddles of mutton artistically dressed, beasts’ heads, dressed with wonderful neatness, young porkers, and a variety of small goods too numerous to name. The shop is profusely decorated with flags, foliage and flowers, and the Timaru band has been engaged to play during the evening.

Messrs Edmiston and Kidwell will run other competitors closely for first honors. This shop is not so convenient for such displays as are some of their fellow tradesmen’s bu tthe most has been made of it, and a very creditable show is the result. Four fine bullocks, fed by Mr Garforth at Kakabu, are hung up, their weights ranging from 700 to 1200 lbs—splendid beef. Among their sheep are three of immense size, one of them, grown by Mr Elworthy, being 130 lbs in weight. Their score of lambs are just of nice size, and very equal; these are from Mr A. Grant’s flock at Temuka. They have two fine calves, half a dozen porkers from Temuka, and a dozen sucking pigs, all of capital quality. Their counters are well furnished with decorated saddles of mutton, sides of bacon bearing seasonable mottoes and and artistic devices, and “ small goods.” A striking feature of this department is a good sized pig, made into bacon, and smoked whole. The shop is neatly decorated with foliage and flowers and the “ dressing ” of the window show particularly reflects very great credit indeed upon the firm. Messrs Green and Johnstone have their shop decorated also, but they have not endeavored to compete with others in making a display for the sake of doing so. They have a very good show of meat, their beef comprising one of the prize fat beasts at the late Timaru Show. One of their counter exhibits is a saddle of mutton, cut and trimmed to the shape of a real saddle, with pads, stirrups, D’s, and everything complete even to the seams and sewing in the leather.

We understand that a considerable sum has been collected during the day for prizes for the best display of meat, sufficient to provide three substantial prizes.

Many of the grocers and fruiterers shops are also nicely decorated, and indeed every retail shop presents more or less indication of the near approach of the great festival of the Christian year. Wo have not space to notice these at present, bu tas their decorations are of a more permanent character, we may take another opportunity of doing so.