GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2412, 1 April 1922, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Through the plates of the Norwegian ship Ramsdalsliorn lmrsling, the vessel has had to pul into Glasgow for repairs. JDuring the stormy weather encountered on the voyage to linminghain, water got at the cargo of wood pulp. This caused the pulp to swell to such an extent that it burst the sides of the ship. What is a perfect lady? The question has received many and varied definitions, but one of the best definitions was elicited by an American. A woman witness, asked a question as to what had been the conduct of a plaintiff in a divorce case towards her husband, replied: “She treated him like a perfect lady, to be sure.” The judge, who admits that he dislikes the distinction between “women” and ladies,” thereupon asked from the perfectly selfpossessed witness, a definition of a perfect lady, and she gave it without hesitation: “A perfect lady is a lady who stays at home, keeps her home clean, and minds her own •business.” That satisfied the judge.

It takes men of stout heart and indomitable spirit to carve out homes for themselves in the backblocks, writes the special correspondent of the Taranaki News. One man —a returned soldier —together with his brother, had a 1,000-acre block in the middle of the Tangarakau Gorge. In the two years they had been there they had cleared 600 acres. Most of the block is standing bush, and is situated literally miles from civilisation, In the same valley are a man and his wife and two little children. The wife came straight, out from London to this outpost. Access to the valley is both primitive and dangerous, and the young settler has asked if the Chamber of Commerce would help him in getting better facilities. The pioneers' certainly deserve all the help they can he given.