NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 35

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions for reply In coming lame to be toeeiTed not later than SATURDAY night. Questions will NOT b« replied to through tha post. Puzzled. —(1, 3, and 4) The only way to Bend money to America would be by sending a money order. (2) Two dollars would equal 10s, and it would cost 2s to send the order. The Money Ureter Branch of the Post Office would fix the matter for you. Aqua.—The over-heat of the kettle should not have any bad effect, though it would be wiser to have it re-lined if possible. The occurrence is quite common, and eo far as is known does not affect the water. C. W. G. asks how to tan sheep skins. After softening the skin by soaking, remove the fatty matter from the inside, and soak the skin in warm water for an hour. Mix equal parts of borax, saltpetre, and sulphate of soda- in the proportion of about half of each for each skin, with sufficient water to make a thin paste. Spread this with a brush over the inside of the skin, applying most on the thicker parts; double the skin together, fie sued de inwards, and place in a oooi place. After 24 hours, wash the skin clean and' apply in the same manner as before a mixture of loz sal. soda, |oz borax, and 2oz hard white soap, melted slowly together without being allowed to bod. Fold together (as before) and put away in a warm place for 24 hours. After this, dissolve 4oz alum, Boz salt, and 2oz saleratus in sufficient hot water to saturate the skin. When cool enough not to scald the hands, soak the skin in it for 12 hours; then hang up to dry. When dry, repeat the soaking two or three times till the skin is sufficiently soft. Smooth the ‘ inside with fine sandpaper and pumice stone. A. M. G. asks for a recipe for washing blankets —one in which the blankets are placed to soak overnight without injury to them.—Blankets may be. soaked overnight in a tub of cold water to rvn.eh borax, ammonia, and soap have been added. Doubtful asks: —(1) In the game of bowls, if a man bowls his bowl halfway up the green, can he rush up, secure his bowl, and bowl it again? (2) At cricket, if a ball leaves tbe bowler’s hand and goes half-way up the pitch, is it counted as a ball? (3) If a “no-ball” is bowled, and the batsman hits it for four, how does it count? Does it count one for a “no-ball,” or four for the hit and one for the “no-ball,” and bow does it appear in the analysis? Can a man be run out who runs for a “no-ball?” (1) No.* It was the custom, in order to block a drive, to play a bowl, short. The laws at one time did not specify the exact distance a bowl had to travel from the mat. The amended rules (Rule 6, Section 11) provides that “a bowl which does not pass beyond 20ft of the space between the mat and the jack shall be dead.” If it has travelled &>ft, so long as it is within the bounds of the rink, it cannot Ire removed by anyone. If less than the 20ft, the opposing skip, with the concurrence of the other skip, shall remove it. If the skips are not agreed!, the umpire would bo appealed to. The player has no right to touch the bowl, and certainly no right to howl it a second time. (2) At cricket a no-ball is counted as a ball when it leaves the bowler’s hand. (3) Four runs only are counted. A man can be run out from a “no-ball.” Flax Waste. —A letter has been forwarded to your address which gives some particulars about your query. Sincerity, Nelson.—Mr H. M. Davey, 64 Frederick street, replies:—As the local Government authority is out of town today, I am replying to the second 1 question first. Mining and Engineering ar.d Miners’ Guide, by H. A. Gordon (price marked inside as 10s), is one; and a Text Book of practical hydraulics, etc., by Professor •Tames Park, is another; both treat of the subject you inquire about, despite their tilles, and you will gather a deal of useful information from either or both of theae. By the courtesy of the head official in charge I am able to say that it is not known that the information you ask for is published!, however the sharpest curve, and one not often in use, is one <A five chains radius, and the steepest

gradient (only, 1 believe, in one place) is 1 in S 3, except the Rimutaka incline, which I understand is 1 in 15. Also you can get much information by writing to the Canterbury College Engineering Department. If you require more (specific information writ© again. Rough Cast, Oteramika Road. —Mr H. M. Davey, 64 Frederick street, replies: —ln a book on the subject of various uses for concrete, under the head, colouring of earn©, it is stated as follows: —The nearest to your requirements would seem to be what is there termed chocolate, and the ingredients are: —88 parts of finely-ground Portland cement, 6 parts of black oxide of manganese, 4 parts red oxide of iron, 2 parts black oxide of iron or copper. And for pink, the ingredients are: —97 parts finely-ground Portland cement, _ 3 parts best quality crimson lake (alumina base). As these formulas are issued by the Milburn Cement,Co., they are no dloubt very reliable, and should give the beet results if carefully followed: They also give the ingredients for Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Black, and White. They also give a method of colouring done by dusting the colouring substances over the face of the work before it is set. This, they say, does for parts where there is no wear. It would not do for such as steps, etc.