NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3109, 27 January 1934, Page 4

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

Farmers’ Union Conference. —The Dominion Conference of tlie New Zealand Farmers' Union takes place at Wellington on February 14 and 15. Heavy Demand, for Sheep. Keen competition for all classes of sheep was the feature of the weekly sale at Wanganui this week, buyers being present from as far down the coast as Foxton. There was a large attendance at, the yards and in spite of the fact that the yarding of sheep was particularly heavy, a total clearance was effected. M3aoii and Rarotongans. —There are apparently no difficulties of language between the Maori and the Rarotongan and it was noticeable that the Maoris and Rarotongans who met during the ceremonies at Kohupatiki were able to follow one another’s conversation after a few moments’ practice in varying their speech a little (says the Hawke's Bay Herald). Big Plane over Cambridge.— A roar much greater than that of any of the small planes that Cambridge people are now accustomed to see passing overhead, brought many residents and shoppeople to their doors yesterday morning. Flight-Lieut. C. T. P. Ulm's "Faith in Australia," winging its way over the town, made an imposing sight. The huge three-engined machine spent part of the day at Arapuni and returned later to Bukuhia. The Giving-way Rule.— Comment on the failure of Christchurch motorists to observe the rule that a driver must, give way to traffic on the right if there is the possibility of an accident was made by Mr E. D. Mosley S.M., in. the Magistrate's Court recently. He said that in some centres the rule was observed very accurately. In Christchurch unfortunately, owing perhaps to the nature of the country, k was not observed so well. There should be no question of an accident at an intersection. Blame the Wind!— Wellington’s playful breezes are sometimes adversely spoken of by those who do not appreciate their health-giving qualities, but it is not often they arc blamed for causing motorists to exceed the speed limit. When a motorist was asked in the by-law court the other day if he had anything to say to a charge of speeding, ho naively replied: "There ivas a very strong northerly wind behind me." The explanation did not suffice to blow away a fine. Bicycles in Africa. —Bicycles, Avhieli are so popular in Ncav Zealand towns, arc never used by white people in Africa, Mr C. Iv. Morriston, a visitor who has spent a considerable amount of time in South Africa, said in Christchurch. Bicycles were used by the natives, but Avliitc people all used motorcars. The white population of Africa had a very high standard of living, he added. They worked hard; but all Avork like washing and SAveeping avrs done by natives. School Holidays —The following holidays for the present year Averc approved by the Auckland Education Board recently for schools under its jurisdic.tion: First term, Monday, February 5, until Friday. May 4; second term, Monday, May 21, until Friday, August 17: third term, Monday, September 3, until Wednesday, December 19. With the exception of the closing date for the year, holidays are now fixed in accordance with a statutory declaration, recently issued, whereby tlie terms are determined according to a constant system each year. Income Tax Payable.—The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day’s issue that the due date of payment of income-tax is on Thursday, the Bth day of February, 1934. Additional tax will accrue if the tax is not paid on or before Ist March, 1934. The demands AA'ill be posted from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes on or about 2nd February, 1934. Demands must be presented with all payments, arid if a demand has not been rcccWcd the Commissioner should be communicated with. 7 The Younger Generation. "Who says that the younger generation cannot compare with their fathers, Avhen it comes to a solid day’s Avork?" asked a farmer from the South Otago district recently. He went on to tell of a youth A\ - ho has just reached his twentieth birthday and avlio desired to Avork in a shearing shed Avith the "blade," but whose father A\ r as not very keen to alloAA- him to do so, as the sheep on this station Averc heavy and the avool was not free from gravel. The father, however, ga% r e his consent, in the full anticipation that his son would not see out the task. The youthful blade shearer surprised his father and everyone else. He .improved daily as the shearing went on, and on the last two days shore no fewer than 320 sheep. On one of these days he shore 162 sheep—--94 before dinner.