A HOT-WEATHER RETREAT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 235, 7 November 1914, Page 13

A HOT-WEATHER RETREAT.

The tired business man and the woman who is weary with heat and the stress of shopping—in fact, all who go about the city streets in the hot weather—have a desire for some cool haven of rest and quiet where they may be -refreshed. People don't always demand tea, especially in the summer days — : what "they want is something gratefully cool, and now they will know where to get all this summer conifort, for W. R. Cooke and Sons have opened a commodious resort for all -hot, thirsty, and weary folk in the basement their premises near the corner of High Street and Casliel Street. It is an ideal place in the hot weather, a spacious, cool retreat away from all the noise and- dust and heat of the streets, and it has been designed to convey an atmosphere of cool repose. The plain white walls are pleasantly broken with a simplicity of dark woodwork and quietly-coloured leadlight windows temper the too brilliant sunlight without into an' even, restful illumination, which is assisted by the artistic electric lights pendant from the ceiling. The small oak tables and chairs are beautiful in their simplicity of design, and a finely decorative feeling is given by the tall, cut-glass vases holding flowers.

The soda fountain shows what thought has been bestowed on the construction of this summer luxury, for it is admirably constructed of variegated marbles, silver and nickel, and compact in its very capaciousness. Here there are rows of silver taps from which all the many essences are supplied,, and other taps from which the iced sodawater is supplied. The multitudinous variety of iced drinks, ices, and other lieat-dispellers, served in this retreat' is only part of its convenience—the extensive room, which will easily accommodate 160 people, is an attraction in itself, its restrained decorative', ness, its soft light, its silver, cut-glass and flowers, its atmosphere of ease and quietness, are in themselves sufficient reason why it must become one of the most popular and pleasurable nooks in the citv.