ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Kotare pste for the addresses or (a) \. A. Milne and (b) G. Bernard Shaw. — (a) A. A. Milne's address Is c/o his publisher, Methuen and Go., Ltd., 36, Essex Street, London, W.C.; (b) G. Bernard Shaw's address Is c/o.lhls publisher, Constable and Co., 11, Orange Street, London, W.C.2. Unknown asks (a) who wrote the book called "Mary Louise at Dorlleld?" (b) What are other books by the same author?—(a) One or our leading- booksellers Informs me that this book is not on catalogue. . I would like to know Sow to make the figures and Hands or a clock luminous, and t'he cost; (ib) wlierc could dnl'ormatioii be obtained about the Indian ascetics, commonly called Yog-is, who practise a systematic mind development? — (a) From watchmakers who do their own work it is possible to obtain a powder that has luminous properties when applied, and also a suitable adhesive with which to hold title powder in place. This outfit would cost between 7/0 and 10/, and the pliial of powder is very small indeed. " I would advise you to give up the idea of illuminating- the figures and Hands or the clock, for the process is really too costly. The powder mentioned is deadly poison. (b) Encyclopaedias wiJl give you some information anout the Indian ascetics. There are also a number of to-ooks by Yogi Ramaeharaka, tout they are rather advanced.

Dora wonders (a) now many planets tlicre are in the sky; (b) the lieigrlit of the highest building: in New Zealand?— (a) There are cigrJit primary planets. Over 500 asteroids, or smaller planets, (however, are catalogued. ■ {fo) We are advised toy the city draughtsman that to the best or liis knowledge the Cathedral spire in Christchurch is Uhe tallest structure in New Zealand. This is more than 2001't in height. •

Science Swot asks: .(a) Has anyone yet Been able to measure the diameter of an election, and if so wimi is it? (b) Is there such a tiling , as a schoolboy's license for owning , a wireless set, and mow much i 3 it?—(a) Tne electron Has toeen measured very carefully, though you must understand *hat the word electron means the unit charge, and carries no implication as to mass. The electron is so small a quantity of electricity that it takes about two thousand million of them to make up the very minute absolute electrostatic unit or electricity, (b) The schoolboy's radio license enables boys to take ■a three-monthly license. The, cost of the license is 7/6 for three -months.

D asks: "Would you have to have a certain amount of money to get into Vancouver, and if so how much, and how much Avould a second class fare cost .from Auckland; (b) would you have to abe vaccinated?" —'(a) Before being allowed to enter Vancouver, one must have in one's possession at least £50. The second class fare from New Zealand is £40 10/. .{*>) Vaccination Is not necessary^

Mousio wonders how the purr of a cat is caused. —The purr of a cat is caused by the vibration or the vocal chords. Music inquires whore lie could obtain the words without the music of (a) "The Letter Edged In Black" and (b) "The Stein Song."—(a) Sets or words without the music cannot ibe obtained for either of the songs you mention. Perhaps you could oh't/ain copies or the songs from a friend, and Avrite out the words Tor yourscir. Curious says: "Will yoa please tell"me the months of the seasons in New Zealand, and (b) how 'is- the average rainfall in New Zealand determined? —(a) The following are the dates or the •commencement of the seasons:—Spring, September 23- summer, December 22; aujumn, March 20; winter, June 20. (to) This is determined by obtaining reports from the various meteorological stations and taking the average rainrall recorded in each. Cecilia 'inquires: (a) If. it has yet been really proved that the cartOi is round? (■h) Who invented printing machines? —(a) Yes from the time the first man sailed round the world, going , always m me ■same direction, there has been no doubt that the world is round. Also ships would not come up above the horizon as they •approach us and disappear below it as they igo away if the earth were not round. Actually the world is not quite hallshaped, but is slightly flattened at the Poles (ib) It seems that the Chinese were the first printers. Printing by movable type was first utilised by John Gutenburg at Mayence about the middle or the 15th century. Two men named Fust and Schoeiter were associated with him. The invention is claimed Tor Gutenburg, and also for Laurence Coster, or Haarlem. Printing was Introduced into England by Caxton. The mechanism of the priming press was crude up to 180:1, when the first 'iron press was invented .by the third Earl of Stanhope. Steam press printing dates from 18U, Mr. John Walter, or the "Times," being first to use the ©team press Tihls was invented by a German named Konig. One thousand one hundred sheets per hour could be printed by this press. OWier improvements followed to give us the printing machine or to-day. Tony asks: (a) What is the age of enrolment in me Scout movement? (b) What is the cause of the sea waves rolling? -—(a) Lord Baden Powell, the Chie" Scout and rounder of tue movement, once wrote: "The best age to j'oin the Scouts is between 7 and 70." The movement is divided into three sections:—Cubs, 8-11; Scouts, 12-18; Rovers, 18 and upwards, (b) Waves are caused by Uhe action or the wind, and also near the coast by the tides and the resistance of the land, Which drives the water back upon itself.

Budgy would like to Know :how to take the shine off navy blue serge.-—ln order to take fine shjne, caused by wear, from a garment, first wring: a flannel with hot water and rub some pure soap upon it. \pply this 1-0 the garment, afterwards sponging , oft the soap with another flannel wrung Avtth warm water. When dry, iron the garment on the wrong side, or, if this is impossible, over a doubled piece of oallco which has been wrung out in clean water. A fairly not iron should be used for pressing- tne garment, which, wiaen ironed, is hvwg up to dry.;

SEPTEMBER 7. Adolph, Harold. Hnll ', N i™ l a ' Adnams, Edith. Izzard, Noel. Amies, Horace. McDermott, Lilian. Bousie, Eleanor. Nola, Leo. Buckley, Joyce. Page. JeanSoft, SB ffiardso^Marlon. Dicks.'Jean. Ricketts. KaiMcen. Edwards, Florence, gwanberg, Marie. Fox Alice. Shaw, Doris. Geaiic, Mandalena. Synnott, Jeffrey. Green Douglas. Titcombe, Jaines. Hill Jack. Watson, Marlon. Hailwodd, Mavis. Williams, Nora. SEPTEMBER 8. Allen, Katlileen. Nairn, Hugh. Aston, Mam. ' Kor « ate ' T ? o^^; Batty, Shona. Otway, Kathleen. Breese, Olga. Rau, Msie. Campbell, Ailie. Sigley, Tiney. Fiiilav, Patricia. Smith, Philip. . Moody, Joyce. Tredrea, Edgar. Murray, John. Wright,. Wynona. MacGregor, Rita. Wiles, Valerie.. McKoown, Myrtle. Wright, Valmai. Nniru, Doris. Williams, Joyce. . SEPTEMBER 9. Barnes, Joyce. O'Callaghan, Gwen. Barker, Pauline. Paul, Warren. Davis, Rinneka. I'urdom, Esma. Goddard, Joan. Peterwood, Stella. ]-lolmee, Neville. I'earce, Nicll. Hook, Irene. Piggin, Desmond. Kosoof, Leslie. Packard, Richard. Moon, Daisy. Sharp, Doreen. Maxtcd, Eileen. Turner, Sybil. McLeod, Adelenc. Williams, Gladys. SEPTEMBER 10. Burden, Trevor. Moros, Annie. Bull, Douglas. Milham, Ima. Bird, Margaret. Morgan-Morris, G. Dewar, Sadie. Munro, Avis. Dullin, John. > Mclntyre, Jesfeie. Duncan, Stanley. Perkins, Geoffrey. Fleury, Maud. Paterson, Annie. Henshaw, Ronald. Purves, William. Hilton, Kenneth. Reid, Audrey. Harnett, Clifford. Robertson, Margaret., Killip, Hazel. Spargo, Richard. Lyon, Muriel. Whitten, Herbert. Laird, Frank. SEPTEMBER 11. Adams, Donald. Lloyd, William. ~ Joe. Lowe, Clarice. Archer, Phyllis. Marten, Leopold. Churches, Thelma. Magee, Thelma. French, Dorothy. Myers, Rona. Feasey, Richard. Morrison, Ronald. Green, Ethel. Kyan, Beatrice. Hayden, Clarice. Stewart, Beryl. v Jinks, Hilda. Wills, Annie. Kearney, Beaverlcy. Watt, Nina. Lane, Douglas. Wade, Shirley. Luther, Esnia: . i , SEPTEMBER 12. Bedford, Margaret. McFetridgc, Jean. Boaver, Hilda. Morgan, Joan. Bates, Betty. Perkins, Stanley. Batkin, Warren. I'eacocke, Roie. Crosby, Maurice. Rafferty, Colin. Canhaiu, Roma. Ruffles, Hilda. Furmaga. Jim. Scholium, Leo. Gibson, iMarjorie. Stchr, Walter. Hipkins, Peggy. Svendsen, Raymond. Jacobs, Phyllis. Shaw, Lois. Maclaru, Elaine. Walters, Jim. SEPTEMBER 13. Buswell, Eileen. Mellsop, Mary. Bartlett, Joan. McJsaac, Mary. Butland, Valerie. Melsaac, Molly. Carroll. Mary. MeKenzie, Lynn. Clark, Quecnie. Parnell, Sylvia. Eldersbaw, Elsie. Rowe, Owen. Guy, Joan. Scott, Lydia. Gaffaney, Nellie. Watts, Jean. Hill, Phoebe. Whiting, Frederick. Jones, Gwyncth. Wilkinson, Keith. Legg, Marjorie. Wright, Gordon. Liversidge, Lola.