Mr Budd’s Improvements.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2955, 29 November 1900, Page 4

Mr Budd’s Improvements.

Mr A. Budd, the well-known caterer and confectioner, Stafford street, lias just had completed considerable alterations to his premises, which enlarge their capacity for i accommodating his large and always increasing numbers of customers. Habitues on entering the shop will at once observe that it has been considerably lengthened by throwing into it another room, and the fittings have been extended in proportion. These have not only been lengthened, but remodelled, and the shelving behind the counter, with a large diamond- J shaped pier glass fitted hi the centre, now presents a handsome appearance. The most important alteration, however, con-, siste in the addition, next to and rearward of the shop, of a dining-room, tfUt by 14ft, 13ft high, neatly finished, walls m plaster, woodwork painted pea-green. Ibe room is entered from the shop throng i a handsome glass-panelled door, and it is well lighted by> day by means of large windows filled with cathedral glass, and by night with a four-light gasaher m the 1 centre This room contains seven tables, seating in all twenty-eight, half on chairs, half on upholstered benches along the walls. A fireplace with college grate will afford warmth in winter. A small lavatory is screened off in one comer. The room presents a nice and cosy appearance. The kitchen, which adjoins the dining-room, but is cut off from view by a small pantry, is fitted up with a variety of cooking apparatus —an ordinary range with highpressure boiler, a large “ grill ” with coke fire, a gas cooker, gas hot plate or griddle, and «1 large gas-heated water boiler, the latter having a tap for filling it fitted to it. The coal and coke ranges of course have chimneys; the gas heaters have a combined Cowl’s,! ventilating shaft so that the culinary department will be kept fairly cool. The arrangements for changing dishes, washing up, etc, have been well devised for quick work and saving labour. The three tea-rooms upstars (chiefly used by ladies) are retained, and have been made more convenient by adding a pantry, which will reduce the labour of carriage to and fro. The new kitchen contains somewhat of a curiosity in the shape of two large egg-preserving tanks, built of concrete, which at present contain no less than 3000 dozen eggs. It will probably be found necessary to remove these to a .cooler place. Improvements are also in hand at the rear, where the back yard passage is being concreted, and drains relaid, and these will be flushed by the water escaping from the motor which drives the cake-mixer and other confectionery machines. Mr Budd’s business has grown steadily until his turn-over exceeds £3OOO a year, and his enlarged premises will be none too large for his requirements. We observe that his front shop is lighted «.t night by a new form of incandescent lamp, with pierced chimneys, that appears to be a good idea, and we may mention also that a large stock of cake decorations in glass cases, imported for the trade, make an effective decoration for the shop.