A DEPARTING CITIZEN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13845, 5 March 1909, Page 2

A DEPARTING CITIZEN.

MR AV. PENROSE. Mr AV. Penrose is about to leave Timaru for Dunedin, and through his departure the town will lose one of itsi most enterprising citizens. He has been in business here for the, past 18 'years, during which time he has made'a very wide circle of friends -and his name has 'become a! household Word in South Canterbury. This being so, a representative of the ■' Timaru Herald" waited on him .yesterday, to ask him whether he had any farewell message for the people with whom he had done business for so long. Mr Penrose replied that he Was glad of this opportunity for expressing his thanks and gratitude to: the people of Timaru arid South Canterbury for the loyal way they had supported him. He regretted now that he. had been induced to seek fresh fields, and.if he'had the deciding over again, he would not dream of leaving Timaru. He'had not reckoned on finding it so hard to part with the people of this town and district, than, whom he .did n °t think a better or nicer'lot to deal with, could be found. He had always got on exceedingly well with .them, ' and in leaving, he had the satisfaction of knowing that during all the years he had been in business, he had never had any real ''difference" with anyone. ,He had found everyone most reasonable" and when, on occasion, a little dispute had cropped up, it had usually happened that the customer was nearer .right than he was. He was leaving Timaru with very great regret, and- with the wish that the people here' would enjoy long continued prosperity. Asked for'some particulars concerning his experience of the drapery business, Mr Penrose said he ..would -much prefer to say nothing, but under persuasion, he did say a little, and from this the reporter gathered that Mr Penrose started with Coy and Drummdnd 25 years ago. Remaining with them for two years he afterwards joined the firm of Drummqnd and ; Glasson, and served for five'years with them; at the end of wliich time the firm dissolved partnership, and he took the business over. That was in the shop which he is now vacating, though since first starting iii'sbusiness on his own-account, he has added materially to his shop space by taking in the adjoining block with the exception of the premises known as Gabites 'Corner. It may not be'out of place'here to recall the fact' that Penrose's drapery' premises- has , lia'd. a varied career in that at one time it did duty as the post office, and later, its walls echoed the voice of a knight of the hammer as he disposed of goods by auction. Besides adding to his Timaru' premises, Mr Penrose launched out in other directions. Twelve years ago he established a' drapery business at Akaroa, arid two years later he

started another at Oamaru, both of which businesses he is still in possession. Starting with a, very small -I ■staff he gradually increased his business and for the past few years he has given employment in Timaru alone, to be-, tweeh 70 and 80 hands, and his wages sheet lias totalled nearly, £SOOO perannum.-

With his iiew shop in Dunedin Mr Penrose,is well pleased. - It is situated at the corner of George street and St. Andrew street, is within a quarter of a mile- of the Railway-Station, arid is right in the heart of the drapery shops of Dunedin. . But it is a building which will. bear ■ comparison with others, and consequently is at no disadvantage in its close proximity to other important drapery establishments. By some it is said to be the most up-to-date drapery emporium in the' Dominion. It is a handsome., two-storey ;brick .building, and: is possessed.of some novel features. When Mr Penrose bought the section on which, it stands, there were old buildings on it, which were occupied by Messrs Fyf e and dimming. When their lease was up, he had all buildings demolished, and let a contract for the -fine structure wliich now covers the entire section. The new shop is- being fitted up in a very modern way. Mr Penrose is a fresh air disciple, and with a view to having the building well supplied -with' fresh air lie has gone to considerable expense in installing a system of tubing through winch to lead fresh air in from outside, and a contraption for its distribution inside. For warming the building a very complete low pressure hot water service has been installed; with "Ideal" radiators, for distributing the heat over the building. Thus there will always be fresh air in summer, and warmth, in winter within the shop—two points -which should count for a good deal in the.race for popularity among the southern shopping emporiums. ' Another noteworthy feature about the building, is the.system of lighting which has been adopted, this also marking a departure from the beaten track. Round the whole of the front, and sides, of the shop, between -the verandah and . the first floor, are prismatic transom lights, which diffuse light all over the building at any time of the day. Besides providing an abundance of light this band, of glass, 4ft. 6in.. wide, has a very fine effect, and it makes this shop the best lighted one in Dunedin—a very important point.in a drapery establishment. Under .the verandah six 3000 c.p. arc lights are provided, while the windows are lighted inside by electricity. Both gas and electricity have been installed in the shop, so that in case of anything going amiss with one, the other will be available. , In one of the spacious show windows, a new feature is : again seen in that the. window lias a revolving floor, on which to display .millinery and costumes, the movement being effected by a little motor. All the counters in the fancy depnrtment of the shop, are of plate glass imported from America, they are display cases and counters combined, and will be lit inside at night, by electricity. The other fittings for the shop arc of eleborate design. It is worthy

of note here, that with characteristic loyalty to Timaru, Mr Penrose let the contract, for providing most of the fittings, to a Timaru man, Mr T. G. Thyne, who, with Mr Thyne, jun.y has been working, on them for the past six months, and both men are now in Dunedin, getting;"theria in place. A cash railway has been fitted up to serve the entire,.building,- and everything has been arranged with a view to the convenience of patrons, and the comfort of the .employees—two points to which Mr Penrose has always given special attention. . He will be leaving here at an early date, but will hot be able to start business in Dunedin for about a couple of : months. ■ .■-,-■