NOTES AND QUERIES

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 27

NOTES AND QUERIES

Whales in the ORKNEYS.--In connection with the query on this subject Mr James Chalmers, of Crown Terrace, Arrowtown, replies that he has seen as many as 70 and 80 in one school ' upon three different occasions off the island of

Stronsoe. ■yr. w.-O) See veterinary. (2) There is so far as we are aware no means of checking the rust in a kettle when it has reached the stage of blackening the tea. The only plan is to replace it with a new one. .- *

F. M.— A member of the British House of Commons cannot resign directly. Hence the use of the Chiltern Hundreds. The county known under that name was anciently covered with forests, which we're infested by numerous bands of thieves. To protect the inhabitants , of the neighbouring districts from the depredations of these bandittif art officer was appointed by the ' Crown, called tbe Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds ; and although the duties have long since ceased, the office still exists, and is made use of to afford members of the House of Commons an opportunity of resigning their seats when they desire to do ao. Being a Government appointment, though without either dutes or emoluments, the acceptance of it disqualifies a member from retaining his seat. J M Wairau Valley.-CD The method of reachdA Taneiro fares from £15 to ±-45 ; tnence to BuenosXresbl r steamer about two > or three times a week. We cannot state local fares. OS) The sun rotates on on its own axis in the same direction as the earth, its Pc™\ k eln S»bout 25 days 8 hours. (3) Of course he has ; he can caution the delinquent if he thinks proper. • Constant Reader, Hedgehope.— (l)You can make caUco watlrprooiby using a varnish made as > follows :-Disaolve 21b soft soap in a little water, and mix with an aaueous solution of sulphate of iron. The washed and dried soap is then dissolved in 31b linseed oil, in which Jib of caoutchouc has been dissolve! (2) An alum mixtiue for waterproofing cloth is made by dissolving *lb alum inTquarts boiling water. Then pour same into 2 gallons cold spring water. Let ffile ßemain in soak 24 hours. Then dissolve ilh suear of lead in 2 quarts of boiling water, Sterwa& pouring the whole into 2 gallons cold snring water. Gently wring article, and place fn second solution six hours. Take out and wring gently, and hang up to dry, C.ELGAR.-Mr Beverly replies to your question: -If the overflow has been measured with a notch board, there is about 34 c. ft per second. This with 10ft fall will give 2J horse power -with a well-vnade overshot wheel. The wheel should be 10ft diameter, 30in wide, with 8m to 9m

shrouding. J E and S.- Mr Beverly replies i-Fpr such a lepgthof pipe, 9000 ft, a fall of Bft is too small. Water win flow, of course, but slowly. A9m pipe would discharge about half a head, a Mvi pipe a head, and a 15in pipe If head. . To.deliver 6 heads a 25in pipe would be required. If you have any means of discharging the water at a lower level, a smaller pipe would ldou Thus a 17in pipe would deliver 6 headß at d7Uit the base line, or 65ft below the entrance, and similarly with other sizeß. If you could continue the pipe down towards your claim, and discharge into a tank,.the end of the pipe being immersed, the>water in the tank might be 25ft below the upper part of the pipe, at B (it would draw much farther), then an 18in pipe would be sufficient. In this case you would require a screw valve near the tank, and an escape valve for air at B. The pipes should be inside stronger as they are nearer the bottom of the gully, to resist the increased pressure, which is equal to the vertical depth from the entrance nearly. A. Primes.— There are no rabbit boards in Otago or Southland. Ndt — (1) The law provides for impounding stray animals. That is the only safe c6urse for the owner to adopt. Any other might give rise to serious difficulties. (2) Apple trees .barked by rabbits may drag out a wretched existence, but they are not worth retaining, in the garden, as they are only a prey to American blight and other diseases, and wDI not dd any good. Rout them out and put young ones in their

place. 0. M., Balfour.-(1) Yes. A large canal from the Red Sea to the Nile was known to have existed from Bix centuries before the Christian era to the latter part of the eighth century after it, when it finally became choked up and useless. (2) Cairo is not joined to the sea by a canal, but it has railway communication with Alexandria, Suez, and Siout. Old Salt.— Any person who, wishes to ply as a waterman must make application in writing to the Harbour Board for a license, the application beingcounter- signed by Captain M'Farlane, the harbourmaster, who will test the applicant s efficiency. .The fee for the license is 21s, and for the boat license 6d per ton. «/ Bannockbuen.— The distance direct from Sydney * - to London is 12,044 miles, and via Suez 10,840 miles. The distance from Auckland to London is 13,120 miles. Sydney is, according to maritime experts, 1076 miles nearer London than Auckland. Subscriber writes : In reply to query, in la6t week's Witness, as to the best remedy for cracked or greasy heels on horses. I can recommend as the, most certain remedy Gladwells Magic Healing Ointment.