NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2782, 10 July 1907, Page 51

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions for r«fHy in cining iuu* (• *• reotind not ImUr than MONDAY night.

Ronald A. Gomkw, Victoria.— The writer of the article in question has left the colony, and we cannot therefore ascertain what he referred to in writing that Britain levies a tax on all cotton goods manufactured in India. As a matter of fact, no such duty is levied. The article was copied into the Witness from the Daily Times. Inquires. — We do not know of any office which makes a business of obtaining the addresses of relatives whose names do not appear on an electoral roll or in a directory. The Salvation Army, through the W«r Cry, is ready to assist a. search for relatives, and the police and post office . authorities invariably give all assistance . within their power. Twznty-yeabs' Subscbibek. —Mr Barron, Commissioner of Lands, is the local com- - inissioner under the Scenery Preservation Act. Wayback.— We hope to be able to supply • you with the information you require in next week's issue. Interested.— The Free Public Library in Dunedin will probably be opened'early in September. No doubt applications will be publicly invited for the position of librarian, etc. Roaring, Moonlight. — il!r H. M. Davey, consu ting engineer, replies: — In this case I have consulted another engineer as regards- your question, who desires his name to be omitted, and as he has your letter I have no means of putting your norn de plume, which therefore please excuse. We both think that you have offered the solution by the fact you mention : that the trouble ceases when the door is opened. By that it would appear that there is somehow too little air admitted over the fire, and the effect is somewhat similar to the well-known practice of placing a paper in front of a register grate. Venti- ' latioa should be in the door, or, failing this, it should be left slightly open when the trouble is on. But it is not co easy to say how or why it should cease «s suddenly as it began unless a cause that yon may have overlooked occurred. Re power, the nominal may be anything from it half to a fourth, «nd in some cases * even leas than even that to the actual power; but you have given insufficient data for estimating. It would vary with the pressure on the boiler, with the cutoff in the cylinders, with the speed and tbe stroke, but you have not supplied these details. Since writing I have looked «p "Nominal Horse-power" in a new engineer's pocket-book just to hand, and what it says is: "Nominal horse-power is •v term deservedly falling into disuse. It - ivras at one time employed by makers to denote only- the size of the engines without reference to the power they might develop." That and nothing more. How•TOr, if x°u still want it I cau get the

method of finding- out from some older book if you send more particulars. Poeotunoa.— Mr- W. H. S. Robefft|, of Oamaru, to whom your question -was Teferred, writes: — The Maoris say the English meaning of Popotunca is "a post standing without any special- purpose." That may appear to persons not acquainted with Maori life as a stupid name, but it should b9' mentioned that posts were , frequently put up to mark the boundary between two tribes cr sub-tribes ; also to mark the spot where a chief was killed in battle, or near where he was temporari'.y buried. These posts were vexy tapu, therefore the name Popotunoa shows that the post waa not tapu. "Noa" means "made common," or "not ta.pu." Another interprel-ation may be "to stand crowding rcund without resfcr-a.ni," or "to sit round food served in common." But the first is the coirect meaning in this case. The name was given by the Maoris to a conspicuous, isolated, conical hill, formerly covered with native bush and valuable timber, but the Government assigned the name to a large farming district called % "Hundred" prccMmed December 7, 1861, in which it was misspelt "Popotuna, " which may be translated "to sit round. focd'of ee"s." The proclamation unfonun«.tely fixed the defective spe.ling, which is not tbe Maori name. Inquirer. — A duty of 25 per cent, is charged on embroidered Irish linen made up in wearing apparel, and 20 per oent. if in the piece. If made to order the duty is 40 per cent. Forgetful — TEe foundation stone of the new railway station at Dunedin was officially laid on June 3, 1904. by the Bon. Sir J. G. Ward as JJinibter of. Railways. O. S., Orepuki, writes: — (l) When going from New Zealand, to England has one got to travel up ? (2) Why are the terms up north and down sourtfa used ?— Answer : (1) In the cense of traversing au arc of a circle, yes. (2) All maps and charts have the north at the top and south at the bottom,' hence tie term, which comes very natural, buit has no other significance. P. D. — You will have to write to the Commissioner of Police. Wellington, for forms of appKcation'for admission to the police force. N T., Cromwell.— Under the old Minirg Act the gauge bax for one head of water was to be 12ft long, 20in wide, and lOin deep in tLe clear. It was to be placed level, covered throughout, and the entrance end left open. The exit end was to be fitted with a bar 2in high fixed to the floor, and a pressure board 6in deep fixed to fhe top of the box, leaving an. aperture 2ln deep -the full width of the box. The velocity of the water before entering the box was not to exceed lft per ■second. This gave <a pressure of 7in from the surface to middle of aperture. In more recent acts the pressure was reduced to 6in. oy making the depth of tbe box and pressure board each lin less. Oilskin. — Probably you have not boiled the linseed oil sufficiently. It should be well boiled without burning it. After an application the coat should te hung up in a cool, airy place, and allowed to dry.