ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 4

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

“ Interested." —Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser was born in 1885. He is the son of the late General Alex. Fraser, R.E., C.B. “ Gold Seeker,” Middlemarch. —The sample received from you is a chip of mica schist, which has been stained a yellowish colour by long exposure to the weather. It contains no trace of gold, and has no commercial value whatever. “ Inquiry,” Clyde.—Although Palestine was a Jewish colony there were no Jewish soldiers in the ordinary sense of the term at the time of John the Baptist. It is generally agreed that they were either Roman soldiers or mercenaries in the pay of one of the overlords. “ Prisoner,” Moa Creek.—No arrangements have been made for the despatch of food parcels to repatriated prisoners of war, or to the men when they have been released after hostilities cease. Wherever these prisoners may be sent they will be well looked after by the Joint Council of St. John and Red Cross. "I. S. R.,” Auckland.—-(1) There are various species of mosquitoes. In the case of one species—the gnat—only the female can bite. The male does not possess mandibles, and is therefore incapable of biting. Its food consists of vegetable juices. (2) The’ start of summer is reckoned astronomically from the summer solstice, December 21. (3) The width of the footpath in front of Boots, Ltd., Princes street, from the kerb face to the correct boundary is approximately 10ft lOin. (4) There are several species of rata. The one that is common to Otago is germinated from a seed and grows into a massive tree. The northern rata, well known in the North Island, commences as a vine.