NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2510, 23 April 1902, Page 43

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Ikqttlrer, Te Tua.— The biggest capture of r- British during the present war was at Nicholeon's Nek, when 850 were captured and 250 killed and wounded. During Kitchener's attack on Cronje's laager at Paardeberg, there were 1150 kilTed and wounded. The battle of Tugela River and Spion Kop resulted in 1042 casualties, and at Magersfontem there •were 900 killed and wounded. A New Chum.— Mr H. 11. Davey, consulting engineer, kindly replies : —What you require Can be done by what is known as a hydraulic ram. This machiHe receives a larger quantity of w*ter than is lifted by it to a greater height than the original water level, the balance going to waste. From the nature of the machine, however, it is not safely made in large sizes, as the constant concessions would be very severe. The latest lists from Messrs. John Blake and Co., Limited, of Accrington, Lancaster, England, who m&\e a specialty of this class of machine, which only came' to hand last week, quote for ratrs up to 400,000 gal per 21 hours, which is 'ei;far short of your requirements, necesaitati",?, say, three or four machines. The machine-, however, can doubtless be made here in JJuuedin. Mr J. Anderson and Me3sra Burt, and perhaps others, have made them. Settles.— Forms o£ application for a loan under the Government Advances to Settlers Act can be obtained at any post office. Interested.— On inquiry at the Education office, Dunedin, we are informed that school committees may, if they like, collect fees for stationery, pens, and mk used by the scholars. Gvrton— (i) Yes, you can authorise the bank to draw en the debtor. (2) If payment is not made to the bank, you must sue the debtor yourself. SUBSCIUBEa.— (I) The wife, under the deed ol separation, has a clann on the estate, like any other creditor. (2) No The husband is beyend the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts, and he cannot be brought back from South America, as the debt for maintenance is not considered a crime. Kttrihikxj writes —I have a male cat here which was on the station in 1884, now over 17 years ago. The cat is strong and healthy, giving no signs of passing out at an early period, although its teeth are nearly away. Would you kindly supply me with information as to the age a cat can attain. According to Chambers's Encyclopaedia, a cat has been known to obtain the age of 18 years, so that your puss stands a good' show of breaking the record. A. H.— (l) It depends upon what kind of wheels you have. If you have an old perambulaior, there should be no difficulty in fixing the axles to the bottom of a box that would fit them. Possibly you msan wheels cut out of a piece of board ; if so, you would h«tve wooden sxles, and these can easily be nailed <r screwed to the bottom of the box. (2) .\'ot if the operator is any way expert m the use of shcepskears. C.vboline. — Yes, if the subject is of interest and the photograph suitable for leproduction. It must be a clear, bnght photo, and not- matt. The photo will be returned to you. Djscjlptjltjs. — It is difficult to advise yon a3 to the best book for yonr purpose. ihe Building World" and "Work," pwb'iahed by Casselfs, would probably give you what you'require, and the same firm also publish sn excellent series of technical manuals, cue or two of which you might find useful. Any or all of these books can be obtained fiomit. J. Stark and Co. (lute Sawell'.-i, PnncvS street, Dunedin. J. A. K. asks if any reader can. supply n v. with a recipe for turnip jam. W. B. — Yos , look direct south.