NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 21

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Tapanul— We had seen the Courier's remarks. The reply given to the correspondent in question was perfectly correct bo far as his question was concerned. The department are at present confining their purchases to breeders who have contracts with the Government, and are not buying in the open market- It Ib possible that a few may be purchased now and again outside of contract work, bub when this is the case there are special reasons why this course should be adopted. Equestrian, Hyde.— lt can scarcely be said that a horse's knowledge of right and wrong can be wholly due to a fear of being beaten, as a bad habit can be cured by kindness and perseverance as well as— or perhaps butter than -by the use of the whip. It iB generally admitted tbat the horse possesses considerable intelligence, docility, and affectionateneßS. It has a very strong memory of places, and readily finds a road which it has once travelled before. Its caution in advancing on swampy ground has often excited admiration. 1 1 seems often to entei' with a kind of enthusiasm into the work in which it is engaged. For example, the war horse evidently delights in the martial music and military movements to which lie has been accustomed ; the racer and the hunter seem t> knotv the object of their exertions, and to be as keenly bent upon its attainment as (heir ridei's ; and the draught horse oP-en exhibits much acquired expertness in situations of considerable difficulty. Instances are alt.o on record of the remarkable display of intelligence in such things as the opening of doors, corn chests, &c, and two instances are known of horses which have learned to turn the tap of a water barrel in order to obtain water, one of which also ended by shutting it again. A horse has been seen to procure a supply of apples in an orchard by throwing himself forcibly against the trees and shaking them. Of course Buch displays of intelligence are not of every day occurrence, but all who have had extensive deallngß with horses have noticed cases in which a marked degree of intelligence has been evinced by particular animals. M. L.— You are simply paying the interest on fche money advanced, lhe advance is msde under the village homestead special settlement regulations, and the principal is repayable at the end of the lease or at any time prior thereto that may r.ulfc you, you In the meantime paying 5 per cent, for the use of the money. Caiaphas.— The competition for fche Chrlsfcchurch College Engineering scholarships is concluded, and you will find the result in our local columns.^ If you Intend entering for the next examination, you should write to the secretary of the Board of (Jovernors at Christchurch, who will supply you with all nec a6Barya 68ary information. W.W.F.— The F.rth of Forth commences where the Devon joins the Forth, thence extending six miles in a south-easterly direction ; then, with an avorago breadth of two and n-half milea, it runs 10 miles to Queensfeirv ; aud finalh, it extends 36 Miles north-east, gradually expanrfii g in width to 15 miles heUecu >ifen«-6s «nd Tantallon Castle, oa ihe co«6fc ot Kaddingtonshire. Ohkfuki.— (l) So far as we know, the largest nugget ever found was the Welcome Stranger. Tfc »cs found at Malingnl, eight miles fnun rtimolly, or. February b, 18' 1 9. Its gross weight was 2101b, and it yielded 23020z lSdwt sgr smelted god. (a> Gnm boots, free. (3) Powder, sporting, 6d per lb, and blasting, free ; percussion caps, 1b per 1000 ; cartridges, 15 per cenb. ad valorem -, dynamite, free, G M.— The Melbourne Exhibition closed on January 31. A.G.-(1) See above. (2) The letter •• q" is invariably succeeded by fche letter "v" in the English language, so that no word enda with " q. Native Fi,ax.-(1) Seventy or eighty tons of flax would be too limited a quantity to warrant your procuring a flax-dressing machine. (2) Seven tons green flax produce one ton fibre. (3) A stx-horsa

power engine 18 required to drive a flax-dresser, (4) Next week. (5) Two men and two hoys can clean and dress about one ton of fibre per week. (6) A shed about 40ft long would be required. T.-Calico is usually employed for mountinK mats. Gum would not answer at alias the adhesive agent. If you are not successful with paste try boiled starch, as it is much cleaner than either gum or paste. VV7 Knihilra.— The growth of macrocarpa is not limited to lSea", and there is certainly no truth in the assertion that the trees die on attaining that ace We know of one over 25jyear8 of ago which ia extending the area which it covers yearly. Ontookeb.— The publication of the lines would, we are afraid, have no effect whatever, especially as they have been read by almost everyone ab one stage of life or another. Alpha.— We cannot see what Injury a willow tree would do against a stone wall provided the roots had free facilities for extending themselves. Of course if they were oramped and consequently forced to find an outlet in the interstices between the stones Berious results might follow. F 8., Chatton, writes:— Two parties, A and B, occupy adjoining sections and sgree each to erect and maintain half the dividing fence. After some years B gives up his section and another paity, O, takes it. The fence is then found thus : A a half has been sown in goree part of which has grown into a hedge, and where tne gorse has nob grown the post and wire fence is secure, but upon' the half that B agreed to keep the fence is insecure, so that A'b cows come over into C's section. (1) uho question is who should put in repair or erect anew the half of the fence which B agreed to maintain? (2) Will the law force A to pay half the cost, or must C pay the whole? (3) O wishes to have the fence put right and 'pay half the cost, fco which A will not agree; thus, if C is legally right what steps should lie taken iv order to compel A to pay his share? (I) Regarding the gorse sown by A can C, who would rather not have it there, insist upon its being rooted up? or (5) If the gorse spread upon O's section, c«n A be held legally responsible and be sued for any injury it may cause? Perhaps 1 ought to mention that C did not take the section from B, that is B's eivi'-K up the section and o*B taking it had nothiug (o do with each other. The property iB owned by another party. This raises a question of importance to farmers, and we would take this opportunity of pointing out how objectionable is the common practice of each party erecting one-half of the dividing fence Instead ot both parties agree'nc as to the whole, fence and each paying halt the cost. Difficult questions are certain to arise, and do arise every day where two owners agree to erect each his own half, one of them erects his half, and t|e other does not; one keeps his in repair, and the other does not : or, as in the present cse one sells out and the purchaser refuses to carry out the understanding. In answer to questions l, 2, and 3, we are of opinion steps must be taken in tho ordinary way under the Fencing ! Act either to erect a new fence on B's half or to repair the old fence, and A suffers 'or hib folly in making such a 'ooUsh arrangement by having to p-y for three-fourths of the whole fence. In answer to questions 4 and 5, we give as our opinion that C cannot insist upon having it rooted out. Aid we do not think C can hold A legally responsible ,for injury done by the spreading of the gorse. | H.T., Mandeville.— (l) Under the circumstance (.he i ranger cannot charge you the fu 1 amount. (2) Yes, but not satisfactorily. The fruit will not only in all probability be inferior in quality, but the quantity will be limited, and the trees will not bear nearly so soon. It will not pay you to try the experiment. Settler, Palm9rston,asks:-Tho"occup!er of a deferred payment seftion, when leaving the land, cannot remove any buildings or fences he may have erected during the time he has occupied the land. Co-respondent, Macraes.— The bright substance in the bpecimen is a titanic acid mineral, probably ferruginous rutile, aud is of no value at all. If found in large crystals a few specimens would be acceptable for the Ofcago Museum.