SHOPS AND SHOPPING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 14, 2 April 1892, Page 331

SHOPS AND SHOPPING.

BY MADAME MILLICENT. «HERE have been so many weddings lately in New Zealand that it is hard to believe the census enumerator en he telis us that, in proportion to our mlation, there are fewer marriages in this nny than in any other part of the world, re small place whose name I cannot recall ne excepted. This may be due to the fact that manv of our young men have left these shores to seek for sufficient money to marry on. If this really is so, our marriageable maidens may once more wreathe their faces in attractive and alluring smiles, for our wanderers are returning. What is also important from a matrimonial point of view, well-to-do visitors are now frequently to be met with, who find our pretty and housewifely colonial girls excellent piizes to carrv off Home or to Australia with a plain band of good New Zealand gold on the third finger of their left hand. Talking of weddings, one naturally thinks of wedding presents, and right here, as our American cousins would say, the difficulty begins. What are we to give her or him ? For either bride or groom may happen to be our intimate friend. Auckland is in no way behind even London firms in its attractive display of jewellery, and a present of this nature is always acceptable. It was in quest of suitable gifts for two young fiiends of mine about to be made one that I entered the enticing shop of Mr H. Kohn, Queenstreet, Auckland. The firm has another branch in Christchurch under the heading of B. Peterson and Co., High Street. I naturally looked at articles suitable for a lady before turning my attention to those which would meet the requirements of a rather fastidious man But it was, indeed, an cmbarras de richesse. Mr Kohn waited on me

himself, and was most obliging in showing me the latest ideas in brooches. They were truly lovely, and I gazed at one of an arrow shape, with a cunning little swallow set with pearls daintily perched on the plain gold band, with covetous eyes. It would look so charming under the piquant chin of the bride. The piice was not extravagant, £2 15*. This could be obtained in diamonds for £l6. Then another took my Heeting fancy, what the girls would call ‘a love of a brooch.' A straight bar of gold with polished edges, in the centre a moonstone set in four tiny polished claws. It was marked 455. One in similar design, with the addition of a circlet of pearls round the moonstone arranged in heart shape, was £3 ss. Another very neat and elegant brooch consisted of two gold bars secured together neareither end by a little rope of pearls, 42* 6d. Still another bar of gold had an exquisite harp in pearls and gold reposing on it.

Yet one more fascinating brooch. This one was almost too lovely to leave, yet I had already selected one of the others. It would be the crowning touch to a black evening

gown or fancy dress representing Night. According to the newest fashion, a small bar of gold was the foundation, tin

it lightly but securely were arranged four diamond stars, sparkling and shimmering, a diamond moon, ami one pearl close beside it like a miniature earth. This was £l2 16s.

A large and inviting assortment of novelties in studs next demanded my attention. The old monotony of sleeve links of similar pattern has vanished. Instead you must now wear, dear male readers, two quite different links on the one cuff* Those on the other correspond, which is quite a comfort. A very chaste pair had for one link a ball about the size of a cherry stone of polished gold, its mate being a fiat oval of coloured gold, 47s 6d. The links I liked best consisted of what looked like a broken twig about as long as a pin, only considerably stouter ! It was joined to an oval piece of plain gold. This pair of studs was exquisite in its simplicity, and cost only 50s. Some raised ovals, a kind of egg-shape, were very handsome, price 55-*. Another, with one link fluted and the other plain, at 45s was very elegant. All sizes of solid gold links can be obtained here from 455. I regret to say that ladies are largely demanding these various studs, their mannish cuffs requiring an appropriate finish. Mr Kohn makes and designs these articles himself, so that customers can rely on obtaining exactly what they write for or personally desire.

I must hurriedly mention the bracelets, one most alluring being composed of diamond leaves drooping from a centre, wherein a Maltese cross of four diamonds rested on diamond leaves. In the middle of the cross was a pearl edged with a small wreath of diamonds. Three small gold bands completed the other side of the bracelet. It was unique and excellent, and well worth the £65 asked for it. Another had a sapphire surrounded by diamonds, £4O.

For a general piesent nothing could be more suitable than one of the newly-imported travelling clocks in their dainty morocco cases. The clocks themselves are of gilt, ami can be removed from their cases and look quite at home on the drawing room mantelpiece. The prices lange from £4.

A very useful article for an invalid's use, or for a breakfast it deice, is one of Mr Kohn’s combined toast racks of silver, butter dish of pretty, painted china with silver knife, and tiny cruet-stand holding the necessary mustard, pepper, and salt, in silver and glass. One handle lifts them all on their silver stand. Amongst such variety, choosing a gift, if hard work, is very delightful.