NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 43

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Sluice.— Oregon pine ;s not the same as Call fornian red wood. Oregon pine is a hard wood, used for ships' masts, and being dry when it conies litre, will not shrink to any extent. Cp,lifornian red wood, although it shrinks les» than many other sorts of timber, is very soft. It is principally used for Venetian blind* on account of its lightness. Oregon would be suitable for sluices, and can be bought in Dunedin foi about 35s per 100 ft, but k<>uri is principally u'-^-'d for that purpose, being easy to work. First class Scum -i.e., kauri heart - should be always obtained. We cumot tell you anvtlnng about larch— it is not much known in the colony. For anvil blocks, ko-vhai is usually ; used, "as it does not rot in the ground. Aola.— We have submitted your spidei to Mr G M Thomson, who kindly replies —I a n not sufficient of an expert m spiders to name this species, perhaps Mr Gojen, of the ■ Education Office, c<mld. I think the species is probably °«c of those which go urctci the name of " trap-door spiders," living in a burro-.v. You might lecommend your correspondent to look out for these little doors , they are -usually found on patches of bare croirnd, and are about the size of a. bh filing, md assimilating fo closely to the surface that they are at first difficult to see ilr Go\en is, unfortunately, aw By n Austra'ia on 'a month's furlough, po our correspondent Jill have to be content with Mr Thomson s reply in the meantime. HA.WE\.-Your plant is Arbutus canariensis (strawberry tree), a native of the Canary Islands, but quite hardy. The flower is of « whitioh-grcen colour. The A unedo is a native of Ireland, with a white flower. May be had from Nimmo and Blair, Is Gd each. Will send by post cuttings of some ot tlie natives described in the Witness on icceipt of half a dozen stamps —I. M. I. Shepherd.— We piesume you mean a holland coat. If so, take as much boiled oil as is necessary, mix with it a little lampblack, if black is desired, or ground yellow ochre, n yellow Then lay the fabric on a smooth surface and put the oil on with a hard brush. Let the first coat get quite dry before putting on another. A little patent driers will cause it to dry quicker, say Jib to a gallon of oil If the last coat remains sticky after at is dry take lib shellac and two quarts of water, simmer it gently, and when near boiling add a little liquid ammonia to diseolve the shellac. When this is cod colour it as above, and put on with a sponge Lay the oil on as thinly as possible, or it will not dry. -lilKEK.— If you have a, permit from the Com- ■ anissioner of Crown Lands to cut timber for your own domestic use, you can sue the person taking the timber so cut for its value. £. N.— (l) The fence must be commenced 21 days after receipt of notice, and thereafter erected to completion without delay. (2) The constable was dis*Tictly • wrong in so acting, and a complamt to the Inspector of Police would meet the case. Inqtjireh.— " The Destitute Perse.:? Act, IS2C BLveß r magisteate jj°K.«t. 9A vsoUca-

tion, to suspend, alter, vary, oi cancel an order for maintenance. The giandfather in the case undei review could lake proceedings to compel the widow and her newlymarried husband to contribute sonethiLf/ towards the support of the children Oxe Who Wants to Know.— (l) A farmei under " The Abattoirs and Slaughterhcuse., Act Amendment Act. 1596, may slaughter on his farm for s-^le or barter not more than one head of large or five head of small catt'e in nny one week This does not apply (a) if the cattle are sold or bartered anywhere to d butcher; (b) if the cattle a:-e «old oi bartered to any other person anywhere ln-<-ide of a city, borough, or town district, or within five miles of the nearest boundary thereof, or (c) if the farm Is situate inside a city, borough, or town district, or within five miles of the nearest boundary thereof; or (d) unless the farmer so slaughtering shall keep a record of the cattle, so slaughtered, sold, nnd bartered , and such record shall be open to inspection by any authorised inspector. [?) The clerk of the county council will tell you the fee for a slaughtering hcenss, which, under the act, must not exceed 20s. Kabiitkr ■ -The runholder can prevent you taking the rabbits, as the property m the rabbits on his run is vested in him by law. I:jquireh.— The two essentials for a good draughtsman are a good knowledge of mathematics and a taste for drawing. Good eye-j-ight i= .d«o necessary. Cook. -You can obtain the necessary articles for lc.ng from Macpher&on, Kemp, and Co., Dunedm. The cot would be about 15s, and they can easily be sent by post