TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16705, 3 April 1920, Page 6

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

The new warehouse which has 3nst been finished for Messrs. J. Averj, Ltd., forma a desirable acquisition to tho growing list of modern business premises which are from time to time being erected m New Plymouth. The building is conveniently situated m Currie Street, being but a stones throw from tho centre of the town and almost immediately alongside the rail--1 way goods shed. It has been constructed in reinforced concrete to the plans : of Air T. H. Bates, the contractors be- ; ing' Aiessrs. E. L. Eoberts and Son. 1 It consists of two stones and the front elevation to Currie Street is particularly attractive in design and is finished in whito cement plaster, ihe buiiainz is beautifully lighted throughout, and the general finish and convenient arrangement of the different depart- ! ments reflect great credit on all coni cerned. ... ~ | Before attempting to outline the ac- ; comodation provided a word or two in I reference to the firm itself would not I perhaps bo out of place. Mr. John I Avery, the principal, has been in busij ness "in New Plymouth for many years i and it is undoubtedly due to Instability I and business integrity that this firm % bo well and favourably known, not i only in every corner of laranaki but ! much further afield. Before coming to i New Zealand Air. Avery had been on I the staff of Messrs. Lorillaru and Co., I manufacturing tobacconists, of INew ! York, and when towards the end ot : 1678 be decided to “try out his luck : in tho Dominion lie brought with him a i stock of the leading brands of tobaccos, I and this formed his stock-in-trade when j he opened business on bis own account in New Plymouth in June of the following year. Air. Avery’s place of business at this timo-was in Brougham Street, and later he moved to more ! commodious premises in Devon Street j in the block extending from the Imperj ial Hotel to the Huatoki Stream, the 1 whole of which was swept by fire a few i venrs later. Air. Avery, with his i brother, Mr. Thomas Avery, then | erected tho premises in Devon Street i which arc now occupied by Alessrs. I Singh and Burke, but the growth of I tho business was such that the accom- ! modatiou provided soon became inadej (piste and the Alessrs. Avery' then acI quirod a property on tho other side of tho street immediately opposite, The buildings situated thereon, which had been in the occupation of Waller’s butchery business and later of Air. Hart, fruiterer, wore dismantled and the building which now stands there was erected. Here Air. John Avery carried on business continuously until j quite recently, when he sold his retail tobacconist’s business to Air. J. Austin and transferred his wholesale business to the new warehouse. Originally Air. Avery® confined his attention to the tobacconist business, but of later years, when the firm was altered to that of Avery, Ltd., other fields were entered, and to-day Avery’s-, Ltd., are not alone wholesale tobacconists as nnjst people imagine, but general merchants carrying large stocks of popular lines too numerous to mention. To go back to tho new warehouse. As already intimated' it fronts Currie Street. The entrance leads into a large vestibule and public office, the clerical staff in charge of Air. 0. Berg being comfortably housed in p. beautifully lighted and airy office situated to the right. The principals’ office is also situated on the right and just behind tliis is the free store tobacco room into which tho stocks of tobacco are moved and displayed as they are transferred 1 from the bond store. In the rear is a large bulk store for general merchandise and also accommodation for making up and packing orders. The property runs through to Kawau Street, whence a cart entrance is provided and a loading and unloading dock has been constructed for the convenient handling of goods in bulk and also to facilitate tho transference of tobaccos to a spacious bond store which has been provided. Access is gained to tho second story by a wide winding stairway leading from the vestibule and also by a second flight of stairs from tho bulk store for the use of the staff. Here goods will bo displayed for inspection by clients and the latest furnishings are now being installed for this purpose. A very decided improvement is the new arrangement which is beirfg adopted in regal'd to shelves. Instead of these being fixed to the walls as is usually done they are being so placed as to form a series of wells, thus providing many times the accommodation without in tho slightest degree sacrificing convenience. The interior finish of the building is in stained rimu, the effect being particularly pleasing, whilst the ceilings are composed of fibrous plaster with stained rimu battens. Electric light has been installed throughout, tho snap switches which have been provided being very convenient, much more so than the ordinary fixed switch. The business will be under' the active management of Air. Arthur Avery, Mr. John Avery exercising a supervising control. The firm is to be heartily congratulated on its enterprise, and it is to bo hoped that it will merit its reward in a largely increased volume of business.

J. AVERY’S, LTD

NEW WAREHOUSE,