NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3260, 6 September 1916, Page 37

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions for reply in ooming issue to be noeired not later than BATURDAY night. Questions will NOT be replied to through tho poet.

Celt.—The sample of sand you sent for examination was sent for identification to Professor Park, of Otago University, who has reported that it consists of black sand, 52 per cent., and quartz sand, 48 per cent. The back eand is, he says, magnetite, which is the proto-peroxide of iron. Magnetite, he continues, occurs as scattered grains in most igneous and mctamorphic rocks, but it has no commercial value, except when found in large masses containing millions of tons of ore. Much of the iron produced in the United States of America is derived from magnetite—mainly derived from the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan The high-grade wrought iron produced in Sweden is extracted from magnetite by charcoal smelting. No deposit of magnetite of economic value is known in New Zealand. Black sands composed of magnetite are a common associate of the alluvial gold of Otago and Southland. Such sands .are natural concentrates; hence their presence does not imply the existence of large or valuable deposits of magnetite in the neighbouring rocks. Inquirer, Maheno, wants to know if parts of the surface of the earth have ever been seen to slowly rise and sink and rise again continually. The writer explains that what he has observed has been in hilly country 20 or 30 miles distant from point of observation. The nearest and most conspicuous is a tableland with a flat top. Looking in the direction of this tableland, he noticed what appeared to be a great difference in its appearance since he sawit about two hours before—in fact, it seemed a good deal lower. Keeping on looking at it occasionaly, he found it was still sinking flatter, and later it disappeared altogether behind the intervening spur. In about seven hours the tableland appeared again, just peeping over the spur on its upward journey. Since then he has had other mountain ranges under observation, and found: the same rising and sinking appearance. The observations of our correspondent are certainly opposed to all knowledge and experience. Dr Marshall. Professor of Geology at the Otago University, suggests as probable that they are due to a failure to appreciate the importance of perspective. Before any such matters can be credited it must be clearly stated that all the observations were made from the same point, and they must be accompanied by photographs or at least sketches. Bird-lover. —The two birds which you forwarded in a tobacco tin were submitted to Professor Benham, who kindly reportsthat they were a chaffinch cock and hen. The cock bird was the browner, and the hen bird the greener. New Zealand Upholder.—The information you ask for will probably net be available until after the war, when the authorities will have time to go into the question. Meanwhile, we take it upon ourselves to say that it- is not true that 75 per cent, of tho New Zealand reinforcements belong to the Home Country. A very small percentage only of the New Zealand forces are of Home birth. W. J.—lt has already been decided by the Government to issue certificates of enrolment, but the surest and beet method to' verity registration is to forward an application for a certificate of enrolment on the form that is obtainable at every post office. The subject is dealt with fully under the Military Service Act elsewhere in this issue. J. —(l) The national emblem of India is the red lotus, and it has also as a national badge an elephant and a silver star in the centre of a blazing sun. In South Africa Cape Colony has as a badge a female figure leaning on a rock, and an anchor; Natal, two wild beasts (a large species of door, with heavy horns); the West Coast of Africa, a trumpeting elephant and a palm tree. (2) The Italian flag is green, white, and red tricolour, wi*h tho shield of Savoy in the centre. The Royal Standard i= n blue flag. In tho centre is s black engio crowned, and displaying on it 3 breast (Inarms of Savoy. ..n each corner of the flag is the royal crown (3) The Italian National

Anthem is procurable in Dunedin. Apply

to the Bristol Piano Co. Gore.—(l) The payment of the fee to the clergyman is one of the duties of the "best man." /2) There is no limit to the amount of money a soldier going to the front may take with him,, arid it is not possible to mention any particular sum as absolutely necessary. A soldier is furnished with practically all necessaries when he goes into camp and on active service, and all the money he requires is for extras for his personal comfort. The actual sum required for extras depends entirely upon the individual. The majority of the soldiers live on the allowance from their pay. A Mother.—(l) Home work for school children is optional. (2) A teacher may not strap a child or keep in for failing to do it. Waitaki. —The preparation of the skins and the making of a sheepskin trench coat is undertaken by a firm in Dunedin at an approximate cost of 30s. Four sheepskins are required for a coat. Magpie.—(l) The natural food of the magpie is worms, but it will thrive on raw meat, chopped up fine, and if the bird is not too bright, scalded meat. (2) He received a sentence of six months, with hard labour. CONSTANT Reader.—Neuritis is the inflammation of a nerve. Neurasthenia is the term applied to nervous exhaustion, usually cured by dieting, massage, complete rest, etc. The only connection with paralysis is that both are nervous complaints, paralysis being the total or partial loss of sensation and the power of movement. Watehwiieel, Cromwell.—Mr H. M. Davey replies:—What is the width and approximate speed of the stream, and are the floats of wood or metal? If the stream were wide, would it be difficult to lengthen tho float.? so as not to narrow the stream 100 much, either by riveting on wings at each end of them, if the floats were metal, or making new longer ones if they were of wood- (a) Keep to the 12 you have, as it is nearly as easy to put the others on when the wheel is in its place, if such were found to be needed, and perhaps they ; would do as they are. (b) Keep the water as high as you can till within a few feet of the wheel, and make a quick slope down so as to bring the water with a momentum to its work, (c) More like sketch " b," but see that it gets very quickly away as soon as it has done its work. If possible, confine the water both, at the sides and "bottom so as to be as near the floats as possible, as the water will give you the best results so, for if any water can escape without doing work, you may depend on its doing. so. (d) This question is not, perhaps, quite understood, but, if possible, if the stream is wider than the wheel, narrow it down till it is as close to the sides of the wheel (or the ends of the floats) as convenient, and work the bottom so as just to clear the floats, and this for a few feet, when the bottom and sides should quickly deepen and widen, to allow the water at the tailrace to escape at once, (e) It is difficult to answer this correctly till more about the stream were known, but as you f-ny the 20 would give you double the power of the 10 in your case; this replies to (f). fe) The speed is best at slightly loss at the outer edges -of the floats than half the speed of the water, the running light speed is not useful. ,as it docs no uselul work then, and it depends more or less on the gear it drives and the nice fit of the various bearings, (h) Q equals quantity of cubic feet per minute, and equals 529 P, plus H. H equa.ls head of water in feet. P equals theoretical horse-power, which equals .00189QH. P equals effective horsepower, ,and equals PK. For undershot wheels K equals .51. (i) Yes, this should do all right if the stream either is fairly equal in quantity, or if, at the lowest, there is sufficient water for your requirements; or, if not quite, then if you could make a storage dam so as to conserve the water when not using it, if only for a few hours perhaps, (j) Probably a, rope drive, with means of keeping the tension equal under all conditions, and another rope in such a posiition that it could be placed at work if the first gave out, or these might be used, say, week and week about, (k) I believe such is not allowed by Government, j If you cannot understand any of the replies write again, and if you sent a rough pencil sketch oi the position of the wheel, the j motor, and tho place where the lighting 1 I and the power are needed, with the approximate distauces marked on the plan of all these, a sketch or further reply, would be given. Also, if you sent a description" of the requirements of power and number and size of lig:hts, an approximate price might he obtained for the plant. Does the power and lighting line pass over any road? As if so, the regulations are, I understand, more stringent; if so. the positon of roads, hills, valleys, etc., might be given in the plan if yorr send one.