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Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 9 July 1926, Page 6

A special return concerning the rents' received from the Civic Square before \ the buildings were demolished, furnished ! by the acting-Town Clerk to the City! Council last night, stated that before the expiration of the leases the council received £1099 from the leases as rents. After the expiration of the leases a I number of the buildings were left stand- i ing for some time, during which period, the council, as owners', collected weekly rentals amounting to £179 17/3 a week, j No compensation was paid to .any of the lessees for the cancellation of their ' leases. The only compensation paid was that provided for in the original leases for the buildings, ihe total paid being £15,427 r>/. "1 have to congratulate the Devonport Traders' Association on their action in inviting their Auckland confreres to this gathering," said Mr. A. J. Entrican last | evening at a function in Devonport. I "Both the city and this queen borough of the North Shore are too prone to ignore each other's existence. Social I gatherings of this character must help j to unify common interests, and closer j contact between public bodies on both sides of the Waitemata would benefit the whole community." Mr. l\ Kins, president of the local association, lat<-r expressed appreciation of Mr. Entricnn's I sentiments, thanking the Auckland visiting commercial men for their presence and good wishes, and promising Devonport's hearty co-operation in any action for -i lie good of all. At the meeting of the Auckland City ] Council last evening, authority was ' given to expend £5350 on making additions and alterations to the tramway workshops, and £370 for the purchase of extra plant. It is intended to build six new tram cars, and the object of the expenditure is to allow for this to j be done under the most favourable con- i ditions and to ensure the greatest | economy.

A Queen Street firm which includes dyes as well as poultry requisites I amongst its selling lines has essayed a double-barrelled type of advertisement to draw attention to them. In its shop i window are half a doeen hens, which have been dyed in various colours. They i feed contentedly enough in their strange garb, but an inspection throjigh a mirror !at the end of a show case of a brilliant ; scarlet feathered bird appears to puzzle i Miss Leghorn. The fact that a dozen ! eggs in a nest have also been dyed in different colours adds to her bewilderment. Whether you are a first child or a fifteenth does not alTect your chances ,of greatness, according to Dr. YVilhelmina E. Key, who recently reported to the Eugenic? Research Association the results of her statistical studies of ' eminent persons. Dr. Key. according to Hygeia, wanted to learn if there was any scientific basis for the popular notion that the eldest child has the best chance of obtaining prominence. She studied the family records of many famous Americans, from Alexander Hamilton to Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Mark Twain and her conclusions were that the order of birth in a family has nothing to do with their achieving fame. James Fenimore Cooper was the eleventh of twelve children. General Sherman came in the middle of a large family. Dr. Key's studies seemed to indicate that "he regular law of averages was at work when it came to position in family and in world affairs.

! "How is it possible nowadays for a grocer to make enough money to retire"'" was a problem which facetiously engaged the attention of the Devonport j Traders' Association and their guests at ! a complimentary banquet to Mr. John ; Henderson in Ford's Rooms Inst evening. 1 Mr. A. J. Kntrican, representing the ; wholesalers, introduced the question by declaring that they had never made any .money out of Mr. Henderson: Mr. ' Lamont wrote a letter, in which he likei wise marvelled, supporting his query by ' saying that his wife, who is "of the I same nationality as Mr. Henderson, had dealt with him for eighteen years"; Messrs. A. \V. Page and F. J. Hutehinfon, speaking for the retailers, couldn't i understand it in these days of tierce competition, while Mr. W. K. Howitt . had interpreted Mr. Henderson's recent visits to the Costley Home as a search ■ for a soft "possie'' after ""the burden and heat of the day. -, Mr. Henderson, lin his reply, stated that his family had I likewise worried over this problem, but Ihe had. after many years devoted Ito their support, now delegated his ■ future welfare to their hands. '"I am ! to-niglit. however, one of the richest men in Xew Zealand," said Mr. Henderson, ; '"not in material wealth, but as a posses- . sor of those most precious of all riches, the goodwill of my colleagues, neighbours ; and friends." And with this acknowledgment of many kindly wishes, Mr. Henderson allowed the main query to ■ remain unanswered. I A suggestion that the health of workers was affected by stone dust was challenged at the Arbitration Court yesterday by a master mason, who gave evidence when the monumental masons' disi pute was being heard. His statement I that he had been sixty years at the trade caused Mr. .Justice Frazer to observe: "You look pretty well." "I have never known men to be affected by stone dust," said the witness, "but I have known them to die of senile decay.' , "Then evidently that is more dangerous," re- \ plied his Honor. Mr. Bore, radio engineer who is supervising the erection of the two new plants for the New Zealand Radio Broadcasting Company, is at present in Auckland and has lost no time in getting busy with the plant that is shortly to send Auckland much further afield. Assembly is now proceeding in the specially erected operating room on top of George Court's building. In the course of a brief chat. Mr. Bore expressed himself as well pleased with the site chosen, which he considered an ideal one, from which very effective transmission should be obtained. The special building in France Street al?o merited approval. The general layout of the studio and the various rooms in connection therewith are regarded as quite up-to-date, and will fulfil all requirements. Many alterations in the administration of criminal law in England have come into force under the Criminal Justice Act. which was passed last December. ITo the average British citizen the most important of these changes relates to drunken drivers of motor cars. The Dominions may in course of time also , move with the times. Any person who is ' drunk while in charge on any highway or public place o. any mechanically-pro-pelled vehicle shall, on summary con- ! viction. be liable in respect of each 1 offence to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four months, or to a fine not exceeding £00. or :o both. These are very much heavier penalties than under the old law, anfl their inflictio is automatically accompanied by disqualification to : hold a license for at east 12 months. i A suggestion in connection with the j unemployment question —that two large blackboards be placed outside the coun- | oil's offices, or in a convenient place with an office at hand.'one board for employers I requiring labour and one for employees I seeking work—made by the Civic League came before the City Council last evening. It was decided to reply statinjr that provision had been made for the I registration of unemployment hy the setting up of an Unemployment Bureau.

Our Warkworth correspondent reports that Mr. Francis Ftting, a well-known member of the literary staff of the "Auckland Star." accompanied by Mr. Frank Matthew?, a lora'l farmer, was riding at dusk alone: Woodcock's Road, Warkworth. when his horse shied. Mr. L'ttine fell heavily and sustained severe contusions to his face and forehead and injuries to his right arm and left leg. A passing motor conveyed Mr I'tting to Warkworth, where his injuries '.vere attended to. ''Who carves those beautiful white anzels?"' asked Mr. -Tustice Frazer at a sitting of the Arbitration Court yesterday, when the monumental masons' dispute was being heard. '■They are mostly imported." replied the witness who was in the box. He added that he had seen only one or two carved in New Zealand. Eugenics is to have a part in creating the civilisation of the new Turkey. The Governor of the Province of Constantinople, after a conference with the health authorities, has framed an order requiring medical examination of applicants for marriage licenses.

Gate receipts at the recent Hawera Winter Show totalled £1492, being an increase of £378 over the figures of the previous year when, however, the season was three days shorter. By 57 votes to 0, the Pukekohe Borough ratepayers have sanctioned the raising of a loan of £24,400 to repay and consolidate several of the Borough Council's short-dated loans, now falling due.