NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 35

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions for reply in coming issue to be ret eeiveti not later than SATURDAY night. Questions will NOT be replied to through the post. Sari Bahr. —The wife would be eligible to apply for a pension, but the decision of the claim rests with the War Pensions Board. It depends on a number of circumstances—for instance, the soldier’s financial circumstances. If he is able to support his wife from his income, she would not be granted a pension. Application forms are obtainable at the Registrar’s offices throughout New Zealand. The second question is unanswerable, as it hinges upon the first, and both are matters decided by the War Pensions Board. Manuacturkr. —(1) F. J. Lake, 432 Moray place east, Dunedin, could supply your wants in the matter of tins. (2) Kovnpthorno and Prosser, Stafford street, Dunedin sell Boz dispensing bottles. (3) Airbrushes do not appear to be known here. Inquirer asks how to tan skins with wattle bark.—• —Nail the skin in a shady place, stretching most at (ITc fore part, so they may dry nearly square. When dry, soak in water for two days, but take out and replace them several times when in soak. After two days scrape off all fat and flesh from the pelt with a blunt knife. When the skin is fleshed, pull out as squarely as possible. Make a decoction of wattlebark about the colour of a weak cup of tea, place the- skins therein, lifting them in and out, say, three times the first day, at the end of which time it will he found that the pelts have absorbed the tan liquor and left only dirty water. Add some stronger tan liquor, and leave the skins for two days more, lifting them in and out occasionally. On the fourth day, add some very strong liquor, leaving the skins in for not le=3 than eight days, at the end of which time wash them thoroughly and stretch them square again. When dry, soften them by rubbing with the 1 1 or with a bath brick on the flesh side. The fur is liest cleaned by tumbling them about in sawdust.

K. K. —The address is W ixenm R a tana.-, Rat ail a, Wanganui. Interested, Pine Bush writes in connection with despatch and arrival of several steamers and desires information. Your questions are somewhat indefinite, but the following information may be what you require:—The Corinthic left on April 21, arrived at Southampton; the Ruapehu left on June 4, arrived at Southampton; the Piako left on July 19, arrived at Liverpool; the Mahia left on June 18, arrived at London; the Surrey left on August 24, arrived at London; the Somerset left on August 3, arrived at Panama 3rd inst. Up-Country, Owaka, asks: (1) Whether anyone is carrying on Dr Kirk’s treatment in Dunedin? (2) An estimate for a roughcast house containing one room 16 x 16, one room 14 x 14, one room 10 x 12, with bathroom and scullery. No one, as far as the writer knows. (2) A contractor estimates cost of building about £9OO. "W iiea.t, Waikouro, asks what merchants are entitled to charge for seed wheat (velvet) in Southland. In April dressed velvet wheat was worth 8s lid; add £d per bushel per month—Bs ltd plus 3d equals 8s 4M; add charges allowed for in and out of store lOd per bushel makes September wheat worth 9s 2£d per bushel. R. R. R., Invercargill asks: (1) Whether wool tops were ever sold in London in 1920 at £1 per lb. (2) When? Wool tops realised in March 183 pence, in April ISO pence, but it is doubtful if New Zealand grown wc-ol made better than 168 pence per lb. Anxious, Dannevirke, writes in respect to steps necessary to be taken in order to become an electrician, etc. It would be necessary to be near some centre where facilities exist for training in electrical work. Customary to apprentice one’s self to reputable firm for five years and attend! •classes at, say, Technical School. The payment per week during apprenticeship would about meet any fees required at school, etc., while at end of three years it is possible for smart man to earn £3 .a week. Of course, it is always handy to know motor mechanic work, but this is not essential. Southland, writes regarding unsuccessful attempts to rear motherless lambs. ! Boiled milk is enough to spiflioate any self-respecting lamb. It is quite simple. Keep the lambs warm, and feed small quantities of food at a time, especially in the early stages (half a small cupful). Give the lamb fresh warmed cow’s milk of good quality (but not milk which lias been boiled) every two hours for e, few days, and then at longer intervals, sav, four or five times a day. Notice if the bowels are working, and if doubtful give half a teaspoonful of castor oil, say. 12 hours offer the first drink and following on a fee din /. Use an indiarubber teat (enlarging the hole slightly) on the vessel holding the milk—a small teapot is as good as anything. Be sure and keep everything in use terupulously clean and scadled daily after feed- ( mg. Settler, Hilton, writes in respect to Government section abutting on hmerone country and yet growing moss till further orders, also chewings fescue and couch, etc. ~ ‘Agricola” will reply to various questions raised! in the next issue of the Otago- Witness. J. C. H. asks: (1) If outboard motors are a success. (2) Where could a small one he procured ? (3) Is it necessary for the •owner of a launch plying for hire on a lake to have a certificate (4) What docs an ordinary pack of cards consist of? (5) How did they originate? (1) Outboard motors are quite a success. The chief thing is to get a reliable make, and if purchasing one second-hand to be sure it is in good order. (2) Advertising would probably answer the purpose. (3) It is necessary for the owner of a launch plying for hire to be licensed and have a river ticket. An examination must be passed to secure the ticket. In the case of a small motor % launch plying for hire a. master’s and engineer’s ticket combined can be secured by passing an examination. (4) The ordinary pack of playing cards comprises 52 cards. (5) The positive history of playing cards commences about 500 years ago. Their former origin is merely theories and assertions which have not been proved. Prior to the invention of playing cards there existed a series of emblematic pictures which it is supposed were used for the purposes of divination. Soon after the first quarter of the 15th century cards spread rapidly all over Europe. The pack underwent a. variety of modifications, and the emblematic series dropped out of use. In Spain the pack consists of 52 numerals, the queens being suppressed. The French retained the queen and abolished the chevalier. England adopted foreign cards n.s she found them. The suits of numeral cards have always l>een four, but the signs of the suits have differed among nations. The earliest signs were cups, money, clubs (batons), and swords. The German's employed hearts, bolls, leaves and glands (acorns). During Die second quarter of tl io 15th century the French a diop ted the the signs of spades (pique), hearts, clubs (trefle). and diamonds. A good deal of ingenuity has been expended in explaining the meaning of the modern signs of the suits, but it seems probable they were merely chosen as being well-known -and easily recognised. The 52-card has remained! much ilie same as it now is ever since the middle of iho 15th century. The symbol called in England spade is evidently the German grun, leaf of the wild plum, with the Italian name (spade) of the cot responding suit (swords). Why the French, from whom we received it, called it pique is not known. The English club closely resembles the German acorn (eichel). The French formed it like a trefoil and called it trefle, when we borrowed it, we gave the suit an Anglicised Italian name, dubs (bastion). The German heart survives in French and English cards and corresponds to the Italian and Spanish suit of cup®. How money (Italian and Spanish) or" bells (German) became English diamonds is not known.