NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 39

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Qaaitiona lor reply ta coming ls»»» to %• ••» MiT«d not UUr than SATOBDAT night . | Q»Mtio«is will NOT ba wpliad to thro*** «■• post Otama. —In reply to your questions (1) and (4), Professor Park informs' us (1) that the mud geyser at Waitangi, Poverty Bay, was caused by an outburst of natural gas passing thiougli a soft marine blue clay saturated with water. The outflow of mud did not knock down the standing forest. (4) Lignite is composed of decayed vegetable matter. There is no reward for any new' theory as to the formation of lignite._ Menendued with the true spirit of scientific research do not look for remuneration for their self-imposed labour. Farmer,. Waikburo.—You give no indication as to what kind of soldering you undertake. The process incorrectly termed "lead burning," or utogenous soldering, consists merely of heating the edges of the lead which require to be joined until they melt or fuse one into the other. The object to be attained! in this work is simple enough, but the actual process or mode of doing it requires both skill and care, besides some suitable apparatus. Soldiering Is broadly divided into soft soldering and hard soldering. With the former solder is composed of leadl *nd tin, while with hard soldering the solder (spelter) is composed of . copper and zinc, with occasional silver. Coarse plumbsr's soft solder is composed of one part tin and three parts lead; good plumber's solder of one part tin and two parts, lead; fine plumber's solder, for seams, angles, etc., 3J parts tin to six parts lead'; fine and harder blowpipe solder, three and four parts tin to onfc part lead. Rhea wants a reply to the following problem: —Mary's 1 age is 24. 'Mary is twice as old as Ann was when Mary was as old: as Ann is now. How old is Ann?——Perhaps some reader on whose bands time hangs heavily will reply to the question. Vandyke.—lt is somewhat doubtful if you will get satisfactory work from hogshair brushes for oil painting that have become stiff through disuse, as it will be difficult to restore the brushes to their proper shape. Try immersing the hair of the brushes in. a little raw linseed oil, giving them plenty of time to soak thoroughly. The oil should afterwards be washed out with soap and warm water, till the froth that is mado by rubbing the brushes on the palm' of the hand is perfectly colour- „• less. The brushes-should next be rinsed in clean water, and the water pressed out by a clean towel. The hair shotild then be laid straight and smooth, and each brush restored to its proper shape by pressing it between' the finger and thumb before it is left to dry. Oare should be taken not to •break the hair violent rubbing, as that would render the brushes useless. On no account should brushes be permitted to remain soaking in turpentine. Mother.—So far as is known, the payment of the soldiers' gratuity to the dependents of deceased soldiers is not kept back until "the returned men are paid. Each case is dealt with in the order in which it is received. The old-age pension was increased in 1917 by a bonus of £l3 per annum, to be oontinued until 12 months after peace had been declared with Germany. The Acts passed last session are not to hand so far. but it does not appear that any alteration in the pension was made. A Father. —Have you inquired if the amount has been paid into the Post Office Savings Bank to your account? Did you send in your application on the proper form? W. V. S., Bainham. —Mr H. M. Davey, engineer, replies:—"l have a distinct recolleotion of answering a letter which was yours, or else one setting forth similar wants. You must liave overlooked the answer. Now, how do you suppose I can reply when you tell me so very little? You give the head of water, but do not say how much. TheOj again; you do not eay whether or

n*>t your wheel woul/di taia raor© than it is taking. Anyhow, I may say that the way you have things now, as far as I can judge, is' a better way than the way your propose. If you have more water than your wheel can take properly, then how much more have you? If your wheel takes half, you could have another of similar size to help It; if not, then you could have a smaller wheel to take the balance, emd if that wheel is designed to run faster, have pulleys and belts to suit . By this you have less expense, and for light cute on© wheel might sometimes be sufficient. The te»t -power is one: that travels aa fast or faster than the heavy work it has to do, for when the power goes slower there is more friction in getting up the speed than you probably think. Ido not •quite understand your two pipe lines, as you give no diameters of pipes or quantities of water in them. What are the pipes madia of? Does water stand in the low-pressure pipes when it freezes? If so, that might account for your trouble?