ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 134, 8 June 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Note. —Queries regarding 1 controversial subjects, price or books ancl "where obtainable, arid meanings of names will not be answered in these columns in future. Bumble wants to know: (a) Where a book-of Lawson's poems-could be obtained, (b) Tlie size or a bellbird. —-(a) You can easily Unci out the answer to this query for yourself by asking at the nearest bookseller's. (b) The bellbird Is about the'size of a starling. Starshine wants to know: (a) Is there any way of stopping'.wood lice from eating -young plants? (b) Do you know which bookseller in Auckland sells "The Scarlet Pimpernel," by Baroness Orczy? — (a) Tlie wood -louse is almost tlie worst pest or the gardener, for there seems to be only one way'or killing it—by dousing it with boiling water. To protect the ;plant set traps by laying strips of wood in the form of a square round the plant: under these strips ol' wood the lice congregate, and can be killed with boiling water. Cinematograph encloses a pencil tracing of a "coin," the value of which he wishes to know. —The disc is not a coin, but an advertisement medallion.

Clover asks: (a) Are there really such things as ghosts? (b) How are mirrors made' —(a) Spiritualists assert that the spirits or the departed return to earth during 1 certain periods, but suiilcient concrete proof lias not yet been forthcoming to convince non-spiritualists that ghosts exist, (b) Mirrors are made by coating glass with a Quicksilver deposit, which is protected by paint. Puzzled Peggie wonders: (a) What Is the best method of catching rats and mice? (b) Are penguins only found in the frigid zones? —(a) The spring or "break back" trap is perhaps the best way of exterminating rodents, unless poison is used, ir you have cats or other .pets about the house it is dangerous to use poison, (b) Penguins to-day exist only in the Southern hemisphere, in parts of South America, Australia and New Zealand and in many islands of the South Pacific. medieval asks: (a) For information about John Barbour. (b) About John Wickliire. — (a) John Barbour is commonly known as the father of Scottish poetry and history. He was a very learned man, and had several appointments with Scottish kings. His poem "The Bruce" inspired national enthusiasm. Born about 1316, he died in 1395. (b) Undoubtedly you refer to John AVvcliffe, who was a great English religion reformer. He translated the Gospes into Engisli. He was born near Yorkshire in 1324, and died In Lutterworth, 1 Leicestershire,' in 1384.

Freda Ward writes me a letter in red ink because she upset the blue ink and as she wrote on Saturday arternoon the shops were shjrt and so she could not obtain any more.—l .received your- letter all right, Freda. I quite understand why you wrote in red Ink.

■ Dawn Collier in a very interesting letter, tells .me , about the .talkies.—The talkies are most assuredly wonderrul, Dawn, and seem a great improvement on the ordinary pictures.

Voila Reilly sends in a motto. —Your motto has been received, Voila.

R. Lyndon sends in a story ror .the fortnightly competition.—Your entry has ieen received, Ruby.

Mary Sheehan sends in her 25 points for a book. —A good girl's story has been sent to you, Mary. I hope that you like it.

Patricia Dromgool also send 3 In a certificate Tor a book. —A book has been sent to you, Patricia.

Mabel Doel has a rabbit and a black cat. —You are well supplied with pels, Mabel. I hope that you enjoy your holiday.

Jean Brown says that her Brownies are having a concert soon. She thinks that acting will be great run.—l, -too, am very fond of acting, Jean. I hope that jour concert is a big success.

J. Picknell has been sick, lately.—l hope that you are better now.

L. Eileen Christiansen says that her rather was very pleased to see her entry Tor the "I Buy a Puppy" competition published in the Budget.—l should thinlc mat he would be pleased, Eileen, for your entry must 'have been fairly well written to have been published in the Budget.

Iris Christiansen says that the other day a stray cat came to their house and as it was the same colour as one of her cats, she could not tell the difference until they were both together.—How queer, to Jiave two cats exactly the same. Your letter was very nice, so write again sOon.

Ellon Mac Donald wants to know when competition entries close. —All Wednesday competition entries must reach tills office before the last post on the Wednesday' following , publication.

Joan Turner writes to say that she Is sorry that she forgot her name in the last letter. —'We're all liable to make little mistakes, Joan, so let us forget all about the one you made. Write aguin, soon.

Wilfred Eidgood tells me that lie no longer resides at his old address, but cannot tell me his new one until he is definitely settled.—No club correspondence will, be forwarded to your old address, Wilfred. Anything- "We have to send to you will be, held up until your new address is forwarded to us.