NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 47

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questiem for reply in coming istue to be received n*t Imter thtm MONDAY night.

Mabem.— To clean marble either of the following recipes will bs found effective: (1) Equal parts caustic potash, quick-lime, and soft soap; make into a thick paste with water, and apply with a brush; leave for s.bout a week, and apply again until the -stains have disappeared. ,(2) Mix up a quantity of the strongest soap-lees with quick-lim» to the consistence of milk, and luy it on the marble for 24 hours; clean it afterwards, and it will appear as new. This may be improved by rubbing afterwards with fine putty-powder and olive oE.

*. 8.. Kaitangata. — Dryers for paint: Mix well _Z2lb of barytes, 2Jb whiting, Jib <3xy white lead, lib of sulphate of zinc, Boz ground litharge, lib white sugar of lead, 2|lb boiled oil. Add about loz of dryers to lib paint ■when mixing for use. A SobscpjSbr asks if the name "Sheila," is Irish or Scotch. — It ia usually regarded as an Irish name, and Scotch and Gaelic dictionaries which we have consulted make no mention of it. Ther© is a Scottish w<3rd Sheal, Sheil, Sheel, Sheiling, etc., from the Iceland Skjol, a shelter. Its meaning is a .hut for shepherds or fishermen, or a shed for sheltering sheep during the night. You • are" probably confounding this word with the girl's name. Of course it is possible that "Sheila" may owe its "origin to the islands, "but we fancy as: a name its use may be re- ' garded as Irish. EajjlMßß, Grove Bush. — The world's record for «J throwing the 161b hammer, 4ft 2in handle. T -without follow, is 119ffc Oiin, by G. H. Johnson, of Scotland, September 19, 1896. JTabmeb, Oamaru, writes: — I notice in your Veterinary Queries Column of the last issue of the Witness where an inquirer, ■who signs himself "H. W.," asks what is the usual heat of the water in which to scald a pig. The answer is given him that the heat of the water for this purpose should be 212deg Fahr. This is a, mistake, which I trust you will permit me to correct. Haying had a good deal of practical experience

ill pig-scalding, I find thai if the pig is clean and dry, and surroundings favourable, a beautiful scald will be had with the water at 150deg, registered with an ordinary thermometer; but if the pig is wet and the atmosphere raw and cold, the water could be made, say, sdeg hotter, even a little more if the pig is very wet and dirty. If the water is used too hot, the pig, instead of being ct nice white colour, turns a dirty yellowlooking tinge. If you would kindly publish this statement your correspondent may see it, as if he scalds his pig with the water at 212deg he will make a mesa of it. pAXB, Play. — (I) If you look again at Part II of Schedule I to "The Impounding Act, 1884," you will notice that the charge of la per mile is calculated on the distance from the place where the cattle were impounded to the pound. Words importing the plural number in any statute include the singular number (vide "Interpretation Act, 1888," section 4>. The poundkeeper's charges are, therefore, correct. (2) The pouhdkeeper. #I»a.vt.— Section 104 of "Th« Education Act, 1904," distinctly states that "every resident householder in a school district, and no other person, is qualified to be elected a member of the school committee for such district." As the residents of Waitaki South, according to your statement, do not live in any school district, they are, of Course, debarred from standing as coinmitteenien. Nothing short of legislation will meofc *he cas». and tae best cottrte to uuisue ia

to bring the matter before the member for the district, who will no doubt use his best endeavours to have the present unsatisfactory state of affairs remedied in the approaching session of Parliament. Justice. — As watercress is a natural growth, you have no remedy for the penning back of the creek by reason of that obstruction alone. But if the flooding of your land is occasioned by the overflow of water penned back by artificial obstructions, you may claim damages and an injunction. Inquirer. — Yes, but the father can counterclaim for board and lodging if the son lives with. him. Certificate. — On the facts as stated in your letter all the man is entitled to is to take charge of engines with cylinders of tij> to

144 circular inches area, and boilers of 15 horse-power and under. By "circular inches" is meant, of course, the diameter of the cylinder or cylinders .squared. Ota.go. — Yes; if power to sell is conferred by the will, or if it is necessary to sell the property in order to pay the debts of the deceased testator, but not otherwise. Constant Readee asks if anyone can supply him " with the words of a song •entitled " Kitties Lads." Meh/INO. — We have not a recipe by us for preserving a ram's head, but the following method of treating an ox's head may enable you to deal with the ram's: — First take off the S«vin, rub well both skin and scalp with salt and alum, set by for 24 hours, then give both a coating of arsenical soap, and put the

skin on the scalp again. To polish the horns, first scrape them smooth, rub with sandpaper, then with felt dipped in finelypowdered charcoal and water, next with rottenstone or putty powder, finishing with soft wash leather damped with sweet >il. Thresher. — Both machine and native the residence of the bride's parents, " Kilmarnock Villa." Ravensbourne. by the Rev. Dr Millar Nicolson, D.Sc, assisted by Rev. F. Nichol, William, eldest son of the late Daniel Connor, Ravensbourne, to Selina, eldest daughter of James M'lvor, Ravensbourne. " Thresher." — Both machine and native labour are employed in the Calcutta jute mills, the proprietors having to find employment for the native women in sewing

THE COZ.O3WXAZ. HILiI.SMOUS. According to a lady writer Mr Seddon has a way of making things and people look very small in his presence. Hilakious : " Some men are great in one particular direction, but I—lI — I am great all over ! "