NOTICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1296, 30 September 1876, Page 4

NOTICE.

Our Riddler friends will be pleased to hear that wo have determined on presenting, at the end of each half year, valuables Book Prizes to the most zealous and successful mathematical students and solvers of charades, &c. — one prize for mathematical questions and one for riddles. It will be necessary, therefore, to register con'oct answers in such a manner as shall permit of the adjudication of the Prizes by a fair and impartial comparison of the results of the six months' experience. All can make a fair I start next week, # the 7th October. We shall commence counting answers on that date. Exj cept from such places as Canterbury and Lake Walcatip, no answers will be counted unless sent in by the date notified at the end of the Riddles each week. Propounders of Puzzles will beallowed to countl for each of their Puzzles inserted, provided the answers are correct. 553. Question. — Propounded by John G. Smith, Longbush : — An Indian gardener being desirous of presenting a basket of oranges to tho Nawab, had seven gates to pass through before he could reach the Audience Chamber, at the first of which ho was obliged to give half of what he had to the porter^ at tho second ho had to give half of what remained, at the third half of the remaindei 1 , and so on. When at length, coming into tho presence of the Prince, he found he had only one left. How many had ho at first ? 554. S quake Words.— By Scotia, Rangiora :— 1. One of the Shetland Islands. 2. A town in Scotland.^ 3. A town in Peru. 4. A Scotch word, meaning true. 555. Do\3Bi/E Rebus.— By Wakatip Miner :— 1. An hostler. 2. A woman's name. 3. Extranpous. 4. A river in Victoria. 5. A contentious woman. 6. A town in England. 7. An exciseman. 8. Banishment. 9. A town in England. The initial and final letters, read downwards, will name throe prominent politicians. 556. Arithmetical Question. — Propounded by John G. Smith, Longbush :—: — In digging a well 60 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, I found that the upper half consisted of common earth, and tho under half of clay. How many tons of earth and clay respectively were excavatod ? 557. Hyperbolic Puzzle. — By J. Stalker, Rangiora : — My Ist is always changing shapo. 2. Apartments in a house. 3. An adjective. 4. A consonant. 5. Denotes a particular person or thing. 6. The names of two animals. 7. Denotes clothing in general. The^ centre letters read downwards will name a living author and lecturer on astronomy, meteorology, and popular science. The primals read downwards will name a constellation within 60 degs. of the Southern Cross, of which the lecturer sometimes speaks. The whole forms a solid in the shape of the letter X. 658. Word Square.— By Matilda, Wakatip ;— j 1, A metal pure in me you'll find, J

- 2. More than the quantity assigned ; 8. A name oft given to a Jew, 4. And what the rain is known to do. These words compose a kind of square ; Four letters in each word there are ; Read forward, downward, each way The self-samo meaning they convey. 559. Anagrams— Painters' Names. — By Amy R. S., Lake Wakatip :—: — 1. Each a mile long. 2. Cue lad. 3. Able star. 4. A lamp. 5. Our mill. 500. CnARADE.— By John G-. Smith., Longbush: — In countries where the snow drifts deep, ■ My first "will often lie asleep, While feathery flakes around it raise A shelter from the huntsman's gaze. In the hazy forest, wild aud drear, My second soundeth silvr'y clear, Many a horned band adorning, That the traveller may have warning. My whole, thougli fragile, may be found Oa precipice or rocky ground ; Bo careful, therefore, lest thou fall, In seeking one who charmeth all. , 561. Arithmetical Question. •— By Eureka Christchurch : — _ ~ A subscription list was started in a room, each j man agreed to give threepence for every man 'in' I the room, each woman agreed to give two pence for every woman in the room, and each child, < agreed to give one ponny for every child in the room. There were twice as many women aa , men, and twico as many children as women, and the whole amount subscribed was £45. How ' many wore there in the room of each denomination ? [Correct answers received before Monday, October 16, will be answered in our issue of October 21.]