Nearly all of the Dunedin shops had on Friday night assumed their gala dress in preparation for the Christmas festivities, and, as a natural consequence, the streets were crowded until a tolerably late hour. Everyone appeared to have turned out for a preliminary glance at what would, on the morrow, be a scene of inextricable bustle and confusion.
The shops, of course, which offered the most brilliant display were the butchers, greengrocers, and grocers, in short, all those whose particular mission it is to minister to the more substantial needs of the festive season. All appeared, however, fully alive to the fact that if Christmas had not actually arrived it was close at hand, and might drop in unexpectedly at any moment, and all had accordingly bestirred themselves in some slight measure to do homage to the occasion. Among the butchers shops, all of which were more or less tastefully decorated, we must especially single out for mention those of Messrs Shand and Worth. The piece de resistance of the whole was the carcase of an enormous prize beast,… which weighed no less than 13cwt [660kgs]. The extended length of this leviathan almost occupied the space from floor to ceiling. …
Mr Vezey had devoted his energies most towards elaboration of detail, and… his windows were filled with carcases hanging in close rows, and tastefully decorated for the sacrifice whilst beneath this, on one side figures the head of a magnificent beast, rendered harmless for ill by the judicious impalement of an orange on either horn. Various other decorations of flowers and fruit were lavished upon the headpiece of this favoured animal, and the same profusion was observable in many other instances.
The grocery establishments were equally well to the fore, having as a rule crowded, one side of their windows with substantial goods— hams, sides of bacon, and devoted the other side to the display of lighter articles. … Messrs Bardsley and Co. also went out of their way to do honour to the season [and] enlivened their windows with several mechanical figures, which were the cause of wonder and delight to juvenile passers-by and the arrangement of fancy soaps, and groceries was highly artistic!
… The greengrocers also showed themselves unwilling to be left behind in the race, and in most instances, besides their ordinary commodities, laid in bountiful supplies of poultry of all sorts and sizes.
Quotation from: Otago Witness, 31 December 1881, p12.
Images of southern rata, Metrosideros umbellata flowering in Knox Church gardens, George Street, Dunedin, 19 December 2012.
Merry Christmas!
