NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1929, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Bilingual Civil Servants,

"There is grave concern in tho Civil Service in South Africa over the ruling that workers must become bilingual," saia Mr. A. M. Williams, a former New Zealand, journalist, who has spent five years in Johannesburg, and is now visiting Auckland. "Failure to do this places Civil servants' positions in jeopardy, no matter how many years' service they have to their credit. Many old servants are throwing up their billets because in many cases they are past middle age, and cannot settle down to learn a now language."

Happiest Time In loife.

Tho. old statement, of which a good deal of use ia made at this time of tho - year, that school days are the happiest in one's life, was attacked by the Chief Justice (the Hon. M. Myers) at the prize-giving ceremony at Wellington College last evening. His Honour said he had read in the Press about boys having been asked to remember by speakers at school functions that tho time spent at school was the happiest period iv their lives. "Don't you remember it for a moment," enjoined tho Chief Justice, amidst applause. "It should not be, and. it is not, the happiest period of one's life." Certainly the responsibilities at school were not so great, but boys when at school-were developing their sense of responsibility for their later life. Every successivo period of one's lifo should bo tlio happiest a person passed through. Ho thought he could honestly say that that was so. One should always have something to look forward to.

Held Up By Bees.

A swarm of bees, hovering over the railway crossing in Victoria street, Hamilton, on Thursday morning for about 20 minutes, was responsible for considerable agitation on the part of pedestrians and drivers of vehicles (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The bees were removed by Mr. A. G. Drummond, of Victoria street. By placing some sugar in a dampened handkerchief he induced the bees to swarm on his hand and arm. With his hand black with bees, and surrounded by others, he walked to a tree in the entrance to the railway station nearby. He placed the handkerchiof containing the sugar among the branches, and then covered the swarm, with a box.

Cereals and Potatoes.

Th 6 following estimates of the areas under wheat, oats, and barley ia the Dominion have been, recently made by tho Government Statistician, the figures being based on a card censusWheat, 234,500 acres; oats, 275,000 acres; barley, 20,500 acres. Tho corresponding final totals for tho preceding season (1928-29) were 257,873 acres of wheat, 283,133 acres of oats and 19,840 acres of barley. Wheat, therefore, has an estimated decrease in area this season of 23,373 acres, oats a decrease of 8133 acres, and barley an increase of 600 acres. Also from a card census and at date 6th November tho Statistician estimates this season's area under potatoes as 22,600 acres. The corresponding final figures for the 1927-28 season were 21,304 acres. Only holdings of one acre and over outside borough boundaries are covered by these figures; a fair aggregate area of potatoes is also grown, on smaller holdings and within boroughs. Beckoned on the average of the last five seasons —5.49 tons per aere—^the total yield from this season's area would be 124,000 tons, as compared with a total actual yield of 123,607 tons for 1928-29.

Ravages of Deer.

Public opinion on the West Coast of the South. Island, according to the "Grey Star," needs to be aroused as to tho extermination threatening the forests in that area through the ravages Of doer. It it declared that such a danger exists, and that the pest is such that very drastic measures will bo necessary if the forests are to be preserved. Not only is the bush endangered, but valuable pasturo land is also monaccd. In tho tnore settled parts of "Westland deer have made their unwelcome apoparance in numbers causing considerable misgiving. In some parts thoy are reported to' be running with tho cattle, eating the pasturage and creating other mischief, and generally developing into a pest even, more serious than that caused by rabbits. Any comforting belief that the reports are exaggerated, says the writer, can be dispelled immediately. One party which recently visited tho Doubtful Sound vicinity were surprised by what they saw. The deer have come Over the divide and are now right down to the West Coast. The Grey Acclimatisation Society proposes offering 2s a tail, and to employ men to shoot tho deer at sight. The "Grey Star" says: ''These measures are not enough. The price offered is not sufficiently attractive to induce men to devote their time to the purpose, except casually, and meanwhile the deer will increase beyond the rate of the casualty list. Few, if any, seolimatisation societies have the necessary funds to deal with the pest in adequate fashion, and tho matter seems to be one for the State, which is directly interested ia forestry, as well as indirectly concerned with the national aspects of the question. Timber millers might Co-operate, but whatever ia done should be done immediately."

Victoria College Debating Team,

A cable message was received in Wellington to-day from the Victoria Collego Debating team, Which has boen touring Canada and the United States, stating: 'Start home to-day. Successful tour. Sixteen wins, one loss, ono draw, nine undecided." Tho members of the debating team are Messrs. W. Hall, J. Mountjoy, and G. R. Powles.

An Audience of Two!

Lack of interest in town planning is evident in South Taranaki, says a New Plymouth correspondent. At Hawera on Friday, Mr. J. W. Mawson, director of town planning, was to have addressed a meeting. Invitations to fifteen local bodies had been sent out, representatives being ssked to attend at the Hawera Borough Council Chambers at 3 p.m. At the appointed hour there ware present Mr. Mawgon and two Press representatives. Ten minutes later there arrived two representativs of the Patea Borough Council. At 3.30 p.m., the Patea representatives, rather than return without having secured any information, requested Mr. Mawson to address them, which he did. One apology for absence was received.

Extension of Karorl Cemetery. An impression has recently gainTd ground that it will be necessary for the City Council to close the Karori Cemetery and to find a new burial ground for the city within a comparatively short period—rumour says one to two years—but a "Post" reporter, who made somo inquiries to-day, was informed that there is no ground for t-'iat impression, as areas to be opened when the new roadway is completed will provide space for nbout.ten years. Th • future requirements, however are not being lost, sight of, and the question of a tmthcr area has received some consideration. The number of burials in the Karori Cemetery is, with tho increase in population, gradually increasing, last year's burials numbering 1121 ' Iho number of cremations is also iucreasing, more and moro rapidly. The total number of cremations up till 31st March last was 608, and last year 78 It is probable that these numbers would be greater were the fees lower; at present they aro double those for burial (£4 and £2,. and additional charges are made tor tho disposal of ashes