NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 38

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The supplement to the New Zealand Gazette of last month,- which contained the newly-drafted motor regulations, holds an unintentionally humorous passage. Described as “ approving symbols for the purpose of traffic signs,” the supplementary gazette gives signs for right angles, and also for “ left angles.’’ The humour of the thing is that the Gazette is signed by Mr R. A. Wright (Minister of Education) . Most rare of New Zealand birds, the huia is regarded by the Maori as the bearer of special attributes which make the feathers prized tokens (says the Poverty Bay Herald). It was the habit of the late Sir James Carroll to wear a huia feather in the band of his hat, as a talisman connoting good fortune, and wherever the Maori statesman travelled the reputation of the huia was made known. More than ordinary significance attaches, therefore, to the gift made by Lady Carroll to Miss Norma Wilson, Poverty Bay's representative in the Olympic team, when the champion became the possessor of a plume which the late Sir James had valued highly. The topic of " tin sheds ” persistently recurred at a meeting of householders at Grey Lynn (says the Auckland Star). One of these was erected some time ago as an expedient, but it is still in use, ami the efforts of the School Committee to persuade the department to have it lined have not met with success. Some of the parents at the meeting complained that the temperature in this classroom during the past summer was so high that on occasions the children had to be sent away early. The discussion was capped and effectively closed by an indignant mother, who exclaimed: "The Government of the country is always calling out for bigger families. Why do they not give us bigger schools? ” A meeting of parents never fails to-appreciate a joke of this kind. At a meeting of limbless returned soldiers in Wellington the other evening it was decided to ask beadquarters to consider the desirableness of having a limbless representative for each centre at the annual conference of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the four representatives to hold a meeting prior to the conference to discuse affairs of interest to limbless men. and to appoint one of their number to represent the limbless men at the conference (states the Evening Post). It was also agreed to request the Pensions Department to attach a circular to each pension authority for one particular month, setting out full particulars with regard to all concessions and allowances due to limbless soldiers, and detailing clearly the method of obtaining them.