ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Fluff asks: (a) in English money now much is a franc? (b) What distance in English measurement is one Kilometre?— (a) The franc, the unit or French currency, is a silver coin equivalent to 100 centimes, valued at a little over Old in English money, (b) A kilometre is equivalent to about five-eighths of a mile, or 1093.633 yards. Cynthia wonders why the water in bush creeks is always very cold, even. if the creek is in a sunny place.—This is because .they flow through the shaded bush, and the water does not remain in the sunny patches long enough to take up the warmth. Gumboots wants to know: (a) What causes quicksands to draw.one under? (b) How long can a frog stay under water with one breath?—(a) It is the constant movement of quicksand in the water in which it is Immersed that makes it carry anything caught in it to the solid bottom, (b) Frogs can remain without air for an indefinite period, and researches carried out by Dean Buckland showed that frogs could live almost a year if deprived of both food and air. Inquirer • asks: (a) What causes the waves? (b) How many stars are there? — (a) The wind blowing upon the surface or the sea causes waves to rise, (b) Astronomers believe that'there are about a hundred niiJJio?i bright stars in the sky, and Some think that if all the stars that cannot be seen wore added there would be as many as 3000 million.

Meccano wunts to know: (a) Where he could obtain a copy of the magazine "Science and Invention." (b) Where to obtain a book, "How to Make Electric Motor Dynamos and Generators."—(a) Mjyst stationers sell "Science and Invention." (b) Good books on all classes oi model engineering and electric motor making can be obtained from the leading stationers. Puss wonders: (a) How do tramway check clocks work, and what is tlieir use? (b) Is there any difference in the nutritive value or an ordinary sweet orange and a poorman orange?—(a) Each tram is identified by its key mark, and when the clock is rung the time and key mark are printed on a revolving paper, and so a record is formed which tells whether or not the cars are running- according to time-table, (b) The poorman orange contains many qualities that are not found in the ordinary sweet orange. M.P. wonders: (a) Seeing that "wai" in Maori means "water," how it is that "Waitakere" is given to a mountain range, (b) What makes hair go fairer, darker, or grey in arter ur e ?_( a ) Waitakere means tumbling water, referring of course to the many little streams which cascade from the ranges, (b) The colour of the hair depends upon the chemical quality of the cellulose substance. Its chemical qualities can be time, illness, depressing emotions, or sudden rright and anxiety. Hair has been known to turn white within, an hour. The reflecting of light from its surface varies according to the chemical composition, and this varies according to the material supplied for its nourishment by the body. Shipwrecked asks: Why do people wear rosemary on Anzac Day?— Because rosemary is for remembrance.