NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2332, 10 November 1898, Page 46

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions for reply in coming issue to be received not later than Monday night.

Bushman. — When you have supplied JEIB worth of wood the horse will have been paid for. It docs not matter what kind of wood you supply. You could pay the price in money at any time, and the seller would be bound to accept it. The seller could also insist upon payment in money if ho thought fit. The law would not compel the seller to accept nor the purchaser to pay in any other medium than money. Replies to Queries are frequently unavoidably held over for a week, and this was the case with yours. A Miner.— Section 1 of the Regulations for Depasturing Stock Within Mining Districts (contained in New Zealand Gazette, No. 62, of 1892, page 1121) says: "Every holder of a miner's right and every holder of a business license occupying land by virtue of such right or license -within any district, and also any person or persons occupying land as a licensed holding, special claim, or mineral lease within any district, shall be entitled to run one head of great cattle free of assessment fees on any Crown lands within a district which are not held under a lease pr license for depasturing purposes. Provided that, if more than four persons hold or occupy land as a licensed holding cr special claim, they shall not be entitled to run more than four head of great cattle in respect of every such licensed holding or special claim." Queer Querist. — (1) There is no remedy for ru&t in iron kettles. The oxidisation could be stopped by having the kettle tinned, but that would probably cost more than the kettle is worth. (2) Of course; he has a perfect right to dispose of the property as he thinks fit, (3) Yes; it would be divided in equal shares among them. Shillelagh. — Not now, but before the passing of the Judicature Act- the Queen's Bench and the Common Pleas were each presided over by a Lord Chief Justice, and the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench was nominal head of all the then courts, and held the title of Lord Chief Justice of England. The titles of Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Chief Baron were abolished a few years back. Wajitati Correspondence. — Mr Edward Johnson replies to Mr Delaney at considerable length, but we think this trifling dispute has gone far enough and taken up more space .than it called for. We may say that Mr Johnson states he was invited to the ball, but that as the invitation was somewhat late in the day he did not accept it. Subscriber, Seacliff.— The average yields of oats in Great Britain for the years 1894-97 inclusive were 41.64, 37.06, 36,83, and 38.49 bushels respectively. The averages for New Zealand for the same years were 32.27, 29.05, 33.62, and 30.15 bushels respectively. Mosgiel. — We have submitted your question to Mr A. J. Burns, who replies: — I called the place "Mosgiel" in 1851, and went to reside there in 1852, residing there for many years thereafter. On discussing the spelling of the name with my father, who was born there, he said, "Do not call it 'Mossgiel,' as that is wrong. The original name was 'Mosgenel,' afterwards spelt 'Mossgiel,' but it should have been 'Mosgiel.' " Candidate. — Write to the Inspector of Police, who will supply you with the necessary instructions, and will also send you forms to fill up. Wager asks if any reader can give him the performance of Arthur Skinner in the stonethrowing, the hammer-tlirowiiig, and also his wrestling record, if any, in the colouy. W. James. — The eating of blood is forbidden in the Old Testament. Therefore the Jews eat only the meat of animals killed by being bled to death. T. W. S. asks where the American varieties of barley known as "golden melon" ond "oregon " are obtainable. Probably not in New Zealand, but you could get any seedsman to import a sample for you. Ignoramus. — The Yellow Eivcr, to which allusion is made, is called tho "Sorrow of China " because during the last century it has changed its course 22 times, and row flows into the sea through a mouth 300 miles distant fiom that of 100 years ago. It is e&tirnated that the floods of the present century have cost China 11,000,000 lives.

G. W. H. — Probably the poor result from your Banksia roses is due to ovor-pruning. "We shall endeavour to reply fully in next week's Garden column. Sold. — Enlistment in Britain was, until 1802, in the hands of middlemen, who received a commission for their trouble. Since that year it has been managed by the Adjutantgeneral's department. Formerly, a soldier enlisted for life, and could never look forward to a retiring pension while he" possessed a fair share of health and strength. This was changed in 1847 by an act which limited the term of enlistment to 10 years for infantry and 12 years for cavalry or artillery. A soldier could then quit the army without pension or re-engage for the remainder of 21 years. In 1870 tha Army. Enlistment Act was. passed.

Under this act men enlist for 12 years, but with the understanding that seven years or le3S shall be passed with the colours, and the remainder in the reserve. This is known as short service. H. J. S.— Your question could not be answered by a simple yes or no. There are cases in which unity would not be strength, of course. A very weak country, for example, may be strong in its weakness, but if it joined another country and a disastrous war were to ensue between the allies and a common enemy as a result, the union would certainly have proved a source of weakness rather than of strength. Old Bendigoniajt. — Mr Beverly kindly replies: "With pipes 6380 ft long and 57Jft pressure the discharge will be 14.6 heads from a 20in pipe, 10.8 heads from an 18in pipe, and 6.7 heads fiorn a 15in pipe. K. C. I. — Mr Beverly replies : — There is no difference in driving power between A and J3, but there is more strain on the chain and ball bearings in B, and hence more tear and wear. Makors adopt the sizes they find to answer best. Memory. — The name is not given in the Dunedin papers of the day, and hence the omission. We shall, however, endeavour to find out for you and reply next week. Country Store. — There is no limit to the number of hours, except in the case of women and young persons. W. T. W.— Germany, Austria, and Italy form the Triple Alliance. Britain is not concerned in any alliance, though it is stated that there is an understanding with Germany. A, L. — Miss Frances Ross played with the Lucas Company at the Princess Theatre, but, so far as we are aware, she did not appear at the City Hall.