NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 43

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Queiitiona for roprjr in coming isstM t* be reMirod not later then SATURDAY night. Questions will NOT b* replied V> thiougV Uxe post. Constant Roeadbh»-(1) The rates of pay and allowances are the same for the First and Second Divisions. It does not matter when a man was married; ho is entitled to the regulation pay and"' allowances, the new scale of which comes into operation on January 1. The pay and allowances of a private and his wife and children will be »s follow:—Soldier, 35s' per week; wife, 21s per week; each child, 7s per week. (2) The provision. of financial assistance is tKe soldier's by right, and is a# straight'out gift. (8) The first draft of the Class A Second Division will mobilise in March. R. "W.—(l) A man classed as C2 is fit for home service only. The defence authorities would not compel him to have one of his toes amputated. (2) There, is no need for an appeal, as he has been classed C2. P. O.—Potato onion seed is not procurable from seed merchants in Dunedin at the present time. The firm you speak of is Ryder and Son (Ltd.), seed specialists, St. Albans, England. * B. R. —(1) Recipe for making yeast: Take six good-sized potatoes, one quart of water, a large handful of hops in a little bag, a tablespoonful of. sugar, and one of salt. Put all together, and cook until the potatoes are soft enough to .mash readily; tben take them out, mash them, and mix a pint of flour with the dry potatoes. When the flour is thoroughly mixed and not a sign ofa lump left, put this into a clean tin pari" and set it on the stove; then pour over it the hot water in which the potatoes and hops were boiled. Put it in a little at a time, stirring as you put it in. If the water has boiled away so that you haven't enough to make nearly a quart, pour in boiling water from the tea kettle. When the yeast is done you should have nearly or quite two quarts Cook it until it is as thick as boiled custard. This will be ready for use in a day or two. Keep it in a large-mouthed jar in a cool place. (2) Old sacks are purchased by the New Zealand Paper Mills at the rate of ls 6d to 43 6d per cwt, according to quality. (3) It is not possible to state a price given for scrap iron. We suggest that vou supply particulars to the Otago Iron "Roller Mill* Green Island. (4) Soldering irons are sold at 6s to 7s per lb. You can get a medium set for about 10s. Heakt.—Physical exercise for a weak heart should not be undertaken except under medical advice. There are teachers who would carry out a doctor's instructions who would be recommended by the medical man you consulted. Inqitikeu.—We have submitted your question to a medical authority, but the reply has not come to hand in time for this issue. Momomo, Owaka, asks if there is any way of hardening the mouth of a colt, whose mouth has been made too " soft " in the breaking-in process. Presumably the mouth . has healed no. If not, you will have to wait until it has done so, U3ing some ointment if th? mouth is scarred at all. Comir.cnce the "mouthing" over again, using a " bit" covered with rubber, drawing the reins up tightly for a while. Everyone thinks they can " mouth" a horse, but few succeed, as witness the mount? indifferently broken by men inexperienced m the art. If there is a man- used to the work it would bo as well to pay for his experience. Witness Reader. —We know of no firzn in Dunedin which undertakes the instruction of motor car-driving, save only to the purchaser of a car. We arc told that the best way for a beginner to learn how to

drive is to hire a ear by the hour, and, under a competent instructor, take onehour lessons each day for six or seven days, and in addition to driving lessons take two or three lessons in mechanical construction. Th* 1 probable cost would be between £7 and £B. Your real difficulty is to find the firm or individual who could hire out a opt under such conditions. Some time ago classes for instructing in motor car-driving were conducted by the Inveroargill Technical School. Possibly these may bo resumed after the holiday term is ended

Fireproof.—The current cost for Poilite asbestos sheeting sold jn Dunedin is 13s 6d p«r of an inch thick. It is used for outside and inside wall-covering, for ceilings and partitions. Timtfr studding lg required for the walls; but if covered both inside and out with asbestos sheeting becomes practically fireproof.