Ballantyne, J. and Co., Timaru, Christchurch, and Basinghall Street, London. The South Canterbury house of the well-known firm of Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co., of Christchurch, Timaru, and London, makes no pretence to any architectural features on the outside, but inside, with judicious alterations extending backwards, it is probably the most compact and conveniently arranged in the colony.

Messrs J. Ballantyne & Co.'s Premises.

The Main Premises.

These are on the west side of Stafford Street South, and contain 18,000 feet of floor space, for general drapery, costumes, tailoring, etc. On the opposite side of the street is

The Furnishing Annexe,

with 7000 feet of floor space, making a total of 25,000 square feet wholly devoted to the display of goods.

Furnishing Department.

Drapery Department.

The Tailoring And Dressmaking Rooms.

These rooms are well arranged, and perfect provisions have been made for sanitation by the firm's architect, Mr. J. S. Turnbull, who has personally supervised the later additions to the premises. The firm has a compact

Factory In Latter Street,

and the main warehouse, the annexe and the factory are connected in all the departments by private telephones. The firm gives constant employment to

A Staff Of Over 170 Persons,

and the nature of the business is such that each one has full employment each week and all the year round. The district of Canterbury that is covered by the operations of the firm's Timaru house extends southwards from the Rangitata to the Waitaki, and inland to the Mackenzie Country, and the representatives of the firm cover this ground twice yearly to its extreme points, and three times in the more central districts. The growth of the business of Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co., of Timaru, has kept pace with the development of the district. The larger operations of the firm's Christchurch house may seem to overshadow the Timaru business, but the progress of the two houses has been on somewhat different lines. Christchurch, with its large and compact population, appeals more to the imagination, but Timaru, with its population of about 6000, is the distributing centre of a growing and prosperous district entirely agricultural and pastoral, and the special supply has followed the demand, as trade necessarily follows the settlement of the land. A view of

The Frontage In Stafford Street

is given in this article, and this, and the five views of the interior, give some idea of the arrangements of the premises. The principal departments are: drapery and household furnishings (illustrated) carpets and floor coverings; dresses and silks (illustrated), with costume-making and ladies' tailoring as a special study. The firm occasionally sends promising page 1001 workwomen to London to gain special experience, and when it does so it makes arrangements, through its London house, for their comfort and employment.

Dress and Silk Department.

The Fancy Departments

with hosiery and gloves occupy a block in the centre of the premises, and are in the direct way to the principal showroom; a view showing the principal stairway to the showroom marks the position of the department. Approaching by the stairs, the principal showroom (illustrated) is found to be a handsome, well lighted apartment, stocked with the latest novelties. A second showroom, for underclothing and costumes, makes the approach to the private fitting rooms, of which there are four, and the workrooms for dressmaking, etc.

The Men's Departments

for tailoring, outfitting and mercery have a separate entrance, with fitting, measuring, cutting and workrooms, in which a large military business is carried on, the full

Equipment Of Volunteer Companies

being a special department of the firm's Timaru house. On the opposite side of Stafford Street,

Principal Stairway to Showroom.

Principal Showroom.

The Cabinet Furnishing Branch

is conducted in the annexe of one of the showrooms, of which a view is here given. Here is stocked New Zealand made furniture from the steam factory of the firm in Christchurch, and also from the firm's local workshops, in Latter Street, Timaru.

The Local Factory

has been kept fully employed on special orders, and the demand is always for well manufactured goods, of good design and taste. Generally, it may be said of Timaru, that the public want honest goods; and the experience of the Messrs Ballantyne in their own business has always been that the people of Canterbury prefer quality to “sweated” manufactures. The daily interchange between the Christchurch house of Messrs Ballantyne and the Timaru house is of great help to each, and enables the firm's customers to secure novelties from the firm's direct shipments to Christchurch or Timaru.

The London Offices

are in Basinghall Street, E.C., and a member of the firm, with a staff of buyers, controls the firm's English and Continental business. Both Timaru and Christchurch receive direct shipments by every mail steamer reaching the colony, and the firm pays very large sums in Customs duties. One marked feature of Messrs Ballantyne and Co.'s business is the large amount of post orders,

Shopping By Post

meeting the wants of the firm's customers in all parts of the colony. The connections of the firm extend to every district in New Zealand, and when once it secures an introduction, the client is rarely lost sight of. This arises from the very nature of the

Ballantynes' Stock

and the extensive class of goods dealt with; mere lowness of price is of no value to the firm, and there is no pretence of selling under cost price. A tradition of the house is

Courtesy, Quality, And A Living Wage.

All who know the value of true commerce will hope that these principles may continue, and that the mutual good feeling and the solidarity of the Ballantynes and their employees may grow firmer with each development of their business.