? Ask ? The Witch Doctor

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 18

? Ask ? The Witch Doctor

Each week in this column questions thai puszle our juvenile readers vMI be answered. It is not intended that recipes, household hints, controversial matters or subjects of interest to adults only should bn covered in this column, the main purpose of which is to supply ■ answers to the many queries that spring from the natural curiosity of boys and girls. Questions relating to hobbycraft toill aim be touched uvon hera Steve. —Tiic French 10 centimes piece or 1891 is of little value, and could not be sold here. « * * * r.u. Successful.—Full name, address and age must accompany all inquiries answered In tills column. Qulzzy sends in two coins for valuation.—Neither or the coins is worth more than race value, in regard to the third or a rarthing, the date mentioned is not correct —It should he 1845. » * » • Uncertain writes: Did the present Government go In at the last election as a Coalition Government, or was the coalition rormed arter they had been elected on the various party tickets? —The last election was rought with the United and Rerorm parties linked together as Coalition.

Curious describes a number of coins and asks for their value. —Without handling 1 the coins it is difficult to estimate their value. Should you care to send them to us, we will have them valued for you. Puzzler wonders where the wool goes from a hole in a stocking.—Whilst, of course, wool wears away just as easily as any other cloth, the knitted stocking has a'certain amount of elasticity, and the breaking of one or two strands, allows the wool to pull apart, thus making quite a large hole. * * * * Marl one.—Tn regards to question A, it is highly probable that the regulations covering coupons would prohibit the giving or the girts you mention in this country; the agents Tor the soap would inrorin you as to whether or not the scheme is- still in operation, (b) If you write to some newspaper in one or the countries mentioned, perhaps a correspondent would be round Tor you. # * * » J.W. asks: (a) What is the longest word in the English language? (b) How many colours besides red, white and purple is to be round in violets.— (a) It is difficult to state with certainty the longest word in the English language because it is possible to build up words to a great length by adding prefixes and suflixes both positive and negative. An example or such world-building is provided in antidlsestablishmentarianism, which is certainly one or the longest words in our language. (b) The violet Tamlly comprises 250 species, which include flowers or a greenish colour. There is a yellow violet streaked with black, whilst violets or red, mauve, deep violet, light mauve, dark blue, white and white and blue are also to be found.