NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3867, 6 November 1928, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

It is not generally known how the term “nipper,” as applied to a small boy, came into common speech. The Prince of Wales did not know until recently, when he learned its origin while aboard the Victory. In ships like the Victory short pieces of rope called “nips" were used on the cable, and the boys whose job it was to fix these ropes were known as “nippers.” They had to be smart and active and finally the word became one generally applied to small boys particularly those of a bright, mischievous type.

A Gisborne exchange says: A woman from Ruatoria, who had been a patient at a maternity home, is not likely to forget her trip home, for she set out with the wrong baby. The woman was a passenger for Ruatoria by one of the service cars on Saturday and was travelling home with a baby. When the car reached Tokomaru Bay an urgent message was received from the nursing home imploring her to return at once as she had taken away the wrong baby. This no - cessitated a journey back to town, where the babies were exchanged and the mother went home to Ruatoria.