NOTES AND QUERIES,

Otago Witness, Issue 1920, 4 December 1890, Page 22

NOTES AND QUERIES,

Ignobamus, Blackstone.— You can get cement for mending either leather or macintosh from Hallensteln and Farquhar at 6d per bottle. The cement is made by dissolving gutta percba in bisulphite of carbon, and each bottle has complete instructions for use. Sbttler, North Glenkenioh.— The plan you propose could not be fully relied upon, as there would always be tome risk of the turf falling in and filling the bottom drain. If you cut your drains, say 18in wide, down to within 6in of required depth, then with narrow drain spade take out 6in in centre, leaving ledge on either side. Place short pieces of wood at short intervals across, and lay grass or fl»x lengthwise on top, or better still brushwood if you can get it. Fill in on top with the earth previously removed, and you will have a drain that will give satisfaction, and which will stand for a number of years. J. G.— (l) It would not be necessary to have the names on the petition witnessed, but each name must be written by the person whose name appears. (2) The Handy Book on the Land Transfer Act is the best popular exposition of that act. At Wise, Oaffln's ; price, 3s. Aeneas. — A copy of the Pharmaceutical Register would show you the nature of the examination. Apprenticeship is necessary, and some knowledge of Latin is required. You could get a copy of the Register by making application to Mr T. M. Wilkinson, chemist, Ounedin. E. A., Palmerston. — The reply to J. H. S., Maoraes, was copied from the " Regulation of Elections Act 1881," and not from the Regulation of Local Elections Act, as erroneously stated. The provision does not apply to local elections, but to the election of members for the House of Representatives. Vermin. — Richard Norman, Albertown, writes :— I am in a position to give further particulars concerning the devastation the ferrets, stoats, and weaßels work among the native ground birds. At the head of Lake Wanaka the wekas, kakapot, and kiwis are completely exterminated, and in order to get specimens it is necessary to go away into the back country miles away. On the road to Jackson's Bay the imported vermin are 20 or 30 miles ahead of the rabbits. Unfortunately this matter was not brought under Mr Fergus' notice when he was up here. In Jamaioa the common rat worked as much devastation among the sugar cane as the rabbits do among the grass here. In an evil hour some one introduced the mongoose from India, which in a short time largely diminished the peßt, and there was joy and congratulations galore. These were shortlived, for the rats became cunning and took to the trees, and with the scarcity of food the mongoose became cunning also, and attacked the snakes and lizards and the birds' nests, and soon appreciably diminished them. The result is that a kind of tick, which before was extremely scarce, because the birds, snakes, and lizards kept them down, is now in millions on every dry bush. If the cattle should go to a dry place or near a dry bush their feet and legs swarm with these ticks, and they get under their tongues, and inserting their heads, soon get a firm hold, and if not dislodged soon worry the animal to death. The Jamaicans are now extremely anxious to get rid of the mongoose. In Western Australia there is a kangaroo tick nearly an inch long. If one of these gets on a man it will soon insert its head. If the man should pull the tick away the head will be left behind and develop into a foul, purulent ulcer, lasting some months, and afterwards the place will be more or lets itchy for years. The proper way to dislodge them is to place a lighted matoh near them till they are uncomfortably warm, and they will soon work their head out. Thit sometimes requires much patience and the expenditure of a lot of matches, especially as the tick must not be singed on any account. Maobi Dogs. — Richard Norman, Albertown writes: Mr Taylor White asks about Maori dogs. In the South Paoifio there used to be a small breed of dogs which were fed solely upon baked and boiled fruits, principally breadfruits, and the natives used to eat these dogs. Possibly when the Maoris came to New Zealand they brought some of these dogt with them ; but if they did so they are now extinct. Mr Robert Kidd, of Hawea, landed at the Bay of Islands 57 years ago, and resided there a number of years and started life with Sir Donald M'Lean, and became in time a very expert Maori llnguitt. which quality he still retains notwithstanding hit 30 years absence from the Maoris. He tells me that the Maoris were never dog fanciers, that there were only a few in. every pah, and were of every colour and size, but the head, ears, eyeß, and tail, were very similar to those of foxes. E. M. M.- Mr A. Beverly replies as follows:— (1) The nominal power of two heads of water with 1000 ft fall is 800 h.p. if the supply pipe Ib wide enough, say lOIn or lain. (2) The pressure at the bottom of the pipe, when cloaed, would bo 4341b per square inch, and when running something less, owing to friction in the pipe. (3) When eleotrictty is generated, the electric power is always less than the power spent in producing it, owing to friction in the dynamo, leakage, &o. Thus, a good turbine will give about 80 per cent of the nominal power, or 240 h.p. This applied to a good dynamo will give a ourrent of about 200 h.p. S. M. Hakateramea.— The usual dates when the seasons begin in England are:— Spring, 20th March ; summer, 21st June ; autumn, 22nd September; winter, 21st December. The dates are the same here, only the eeasons are reversed. They are regulated by the sun; spring and autumn beginning at the equinoxes, and summer and winter at the solstices. Ayrshire Breeder.— You can recover damages. Inquirer, Hawea. -(1) We do not think either can compel him. (2) No. Ighoramus.— lf you made the agreement in your own name you can be cued for the money, but if jon have no property of your own you need not mind being sued.