NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 35

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions lor r«ply in cominf issue to bo r%•e'.red not later than SATURDAY night. Quea-iona will NOT bo replied to through iho post. Old Miner.—Tlie cample of whitish grey material you sent for identification was submitted to Professor Park, who lias reported that it consists of grey quartz in a state of fine subdivision and kaolin, the latter in small amount, but sufficient to act the part of a cohesive matrix. The cecomposition of mica-schist frequently produces this pulverulent form of quartz, which is of no economic value, thought it may in places contain a few “colours” of gold. X>oJiELN.—Each Hospital Board has its own regulations regarding the matter of charges. You should get full particulars from the Hospital B->ard in your district. In Dunedin no extra charge is made unless the patient develops unusual symptoms such as mental in which case a special nurse would require to be in attendance and would be charged for in addition, to the ordinary fees. Otherwise no ex£ra charge is made. Economist asks how to waterproof, horse'*’ covers and tarpaulins. Grind Gib English ochre with boiled oil, and add lib black paint, which mixture forms an indifferent black; loz yellow soap dissolved by heat in half a pint of water, is mixed while hot with the paint. This composition is laid upon dry canvas as Miff as can be conveniently done with the brush. Two days after, a second coat of ochre and black paint (without ary soap) is laid on, and allowing this coat time to dry, the canvas is finished with a coat of any desired colour. After three days is does not stick together when folded up. This tormula has given excellent results. — Tarpaulin covers are made by the following process, which may suit your purpose. Give three coats of a composition consisting of pure raw and boiled linseed oil and best vegetable black in the proportion of lib to 45 gallons. Stretch the tarpaulin on a floor and paint a mixture of two parts raw to one of boiled oil and the vegetable black. When thoroughly dry, paint the outside with two parts of boiled to one of raw oil with the bla-ck added. Mrs W. T. arks how to clean (1) black velvet; and (2) white kid. (1) Velvet must not be washed, but held in the steam from a kettle of boiling water. This raises the pile wonderfully. When this lias been done until the velvet is quite damp, take a hot iron, stand it < 11 end, and pass the wrong side of the velvet across the surface, slowly and evenly. (2) There are two methods of cleaning whit© kid. Presuming the articles are gloves, they must first 1>? drawn on the hands which should be dipped right into benzine and rubbed with each other until ail the dirt has disappeared. Draw carefully oil tho hands, and hang in a draught in a shady place to dry. Tho second method is to take a dry nailbrush, dip it in equal parts of F '.l lei’s earth and powdered alum, and scrub the gloves until clean. J. M.—Olagc—Strictly Otakou —was originally appropriated to the whole block, but really ved; ,Ui to a small district within the (J. . • • .) Maori villa < and whaling station. Tho word means “red earth” signifying the ochre used as paint by the natives, and which was very plentiful in the neighbourhood. To remedy the inconvenience by the promiscuous use of bath applications, the directors of the X.Z. Co. ordered a return to the old whalers* one of Otago. (2) We doubt if there is a book obtainable containing directions such as you require. Entrances and exits are usually conceived by the ballet mistress. A teacher of dancing might be able to design something suitable.

Fault. —An asphalt tennis court is faster than a grass court. Fiji.— Apply to the Education Department, Wellington, who should be able you information where to apply. New Chum, Otiake, asks if a farmer may drive his own traction engine cutting chaff or sawing wood on his own farm without a certificate as long as he does not go on the public road. A man can drive a stationary engine up to 15 horse-power without a license, but it is agaiftst the law to move a traction unless you have a certificate. If a certificated man move your machine, you could drive same. Farmer asks whether (1) The amount of surplus wool profits from Imperial Government that has been j)aid to this Dominion? (2) How much of the amount has been paid to wool-growers, and how many farmers have received their profits in full? (3) How many farmers have received none of their profits, and how many have received only part? (4) Was the withholding of surplus profits a legal proceeding, or a most irregular and undesirable monner of doing? (5) What is being done now with the money which has been withheld? (1) The only profits so far received were called the “interim” bonus, amounting to £1.019,000, and presumably there will be another bonus still to come. The Prime Minister, Mr Massey, is attending to this matter while in London. (2) The whole of the “interim” bonus lias been paid less income tax. Certain growers assigned their share to the marine fund, and these amounts were handed over by the Imperial Supplies’ Department to the Trustees of that fund. No intimation, as far as we know, lias been given by the Department of the numbers of farmers involved. (3) No information available. Suggest that you write to Imperial Supply Department, Wellington, for this information. (4) and (5) Not being able to supply detailed answers to No. 3, it i 3 impossible to give satisfactory reply. We understand that all the “interim” bonus has been distributed—tho hulk to rower® and the assigned portions to the Seaman’s Fund.