NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3512, 5 July 1921, Page 35

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Question* for reply in coming leans to be r» •eirod not later than SATURDAY night. Questions will NOT bs replied to through th» post. Inquirer asks: (1) The course of st u-:]y required to qualify as a chemist? I s matriculation necessary ? (2) The course required for accountancy Is it necessary to continue at some _ college, or does the pupil require a practical business training with some firm? (1) Matriculation is .not necessary to qualify for a chemist. The pupil is apprenticed to a chemist for a period of four years. If the first examination be not passed within six lnpnths, the employer has power to cancel the indenture There are three examinations (A, B, and C) to be passed before qualifying. (2) Assuming von mean a certified accountant, t-ho course can lie taken at a commercial college or correspondenos school, but it is usual and preferable that, a practical business training be had. The degree could be taken without, but from an economical point of view it is better to enter an office. Enquirer (Sutton), asks if it is possible to remove motor oil from white linen. —- —Dip the oil stains (when dry) in benzoline and rub well till they go. Dry the fabric and wash as usual. Oil stains are a I'n.tle difficult to remove, and it may take some time to thoroughly remove it. Anxious. —We are unable to state Ratana’s exact location, and can only suggest you should write to his home address, when *“the letter will he forwarded to him. The address. Wirenui Ratana, Katana, Wanganui. His Maori friends are rather inclined to say nothing about his itinerary Nunquam asks how to make boot polish. There are numerous methods cf manufacturing blacking, -bnt in nearly all the base is a hlack colouring matter, oommonly hone charcoal, mixed with substances which acquire a gloss by friction as sugar and oil. There are liquid blackings and paste blackings. A cheap and good shoe blacking is made as follows: —To lib best ivory black add. lib treacle, eight tablespoonfuls sweet oil Dissolve loz gum arabic in two quarts vinegar and Jib sulphuric acid. Most of tile pa3te blackings have cod liver oil as the chief ingredient and so cost more. A good waterproof paste blacking is the following:—Melt together 4oz black rosin, and 6oz beeswax over a slow fire. When thoroughly dissolved add loz, lampblack and Jib finely powdered Prussian blue. Stir the mixture well and add sufficient turpentine to moke a. thin paste. Apply with a cloth and polish with a brush. Tokata. —Stewart Island was named after an old sealer who made the island his headquarters about 1810. Oban is the name oi the Government township in Halfmoon Bay, but we are unable to say why it was so named. No doubt the late Mr Traill named the place which he took up as Jib place of residence Ulva. Enquirer asks: How to cure an opossum skin. Do net skin the opossum until cold, as the fur is easily plucked. Slcm carefully. Spread the skin squarely on a fiat surface, tacking with small tacks. Skin from tip of tail to tip of nose up the belly. All the skin is valuable. Remove all grease and particles of flesh from the skin with a blunt knife. Make a solution of four parts of alum, one part of common salt, and enough warm water to dissolve thc-m. The quantity depends on the size of the skin. Soak the skin in this solution for about 48 hours. Rinse well. Make a paste about as thick as gruel of flour and warm water and dip the sk.n into it for a minute. Then wash it clean with cold water and dry in the sun in the open air. When half dry rub and pull the skin well with the hands; stretch it again on a board and rub it with pumice stone to keep it from drying hard. Finish drying in the air. It is best to cure the skins as soon as possible. Reader. (1) There are no agents in Now Zealand so far as can be ascertained for either of the incubators named by you. (2) We understand tree lucerne has been cultivated successfully in parts of Southland.

M. A.—Not suitable. Country Tennis, Ettrick.—Mr H. M. Davey, 64 Frederick street, replies:—You give lio particulars of the mature of the ground, nor as to whether you intend to lay down a single or double court. I communicated with the Sports Depot and the manager kindly informed me that they have- a book which they would post to you if you wrote to them and enclosed 5d for the book and postage. Their address is 131 Princes street, Dunedin. The manager also said that Mr Manley, of 557 Castle street, is an expert in that line, and advised that you communicate with him. Mr Manley favours asphalt as against concrete.