Notes and Queries?

Otago Witness, Issue 3743, 8 December 1925, Page 52

Notes and Queries?

Question* for reply to ooming issue to h* i* felred not later than SATURDAY night. Questions will NOT be replied to throng* the poet. Questions must be accompanied by the name nod address of the writer, but a nom de plum* stay be adopted for publication.

“Breeder/’ Woodlands.—Please forward your name and address; letter awaits you. ’Cluthaite,” Clinton.—Communicate with Mrs E. A. Bennett, Mornington, Dunedin ‘A B C,” Waipahi, wishes to know the difference between a mile square and a square mile. A mile square is a square figure of which the perimeter or the whole distance right round the square is found to measure one mile. A square mile is a aquare figure, each side of which measures one mile. Its perimeter is four miles. ‘lnquirer,” Hampden, wants to know which ia the best way to find out the address of anyone, either in the North Island or in Ireland. The directories should be consulted. The electoral rolls are also useful in a search of this kind, especially in New Zealand, where the franchise is wide and the rolls are carefully prepared. A missing friends agency might be tried, and the advertising columns of the press have proved to be valuable in locating persons. In some cases the aid of the police is invoked. “Hydioplane,” Ohakune Junction, asks (1) if there are two machines called hydroplanes. He read in the paper the following m “The submarine disaster to the Ml : “When we dived the motors burned out, causing the hydroplanes to blow out.’ Does this mean hydroplanes that fly, or something else? He also asks (2) how to make square and round watch chains out of horsehair. (1) Hydroplanes of various types -are used, all of which can fly or travel on the surface of the water. In the extract quoted there may have been some mistake. (2) It is impracticable to he r e even outline directions which would enable you to utilise hair in the direction indicated. “Earthquake," 1 Havelock, asks why it that we hear the rumble from an earthquake before we feel the shake, as it i* the opposite to a peal of thunder, which follows a lightning flash. The rumble we hear is the noise the earthquake makes as it travels towards us from a distance like a train approaching, as it were. Thunder is the noise of. the explosion which takes place when two electric currents rush together in the sky and meet with a vivid flash of light. We do not hear it at the moment of the explosion because of the distance between us and it, and have to wait until the sound travels through space io our ears. The two sounds caused from earthquakes and thunder are from two totally different sources and cannot be compared. "Inquisitive,” Cromwell, writes: “As I have heard a number of remarks made about women having their hair cut off, such as shingle and buster, would you let me know how it was started, and who was the first to have it done? Some think it was some vermin which caused the hair to fall out. Others say it was just a fashion craze. History does not record who was the first woman to have her tresses shorn; nor if vermin was the secret cause of her deed. Wo presume, however, that the fashion began when some woman, by chance, discovered that a cropped head suited her. and other women, hoping for a similar effect, followed her example. The craze grew Until it has become almost universal, and the majority of women, whether the style suits them or not, parade with short hair. *Otto,” Owaka, writes: “(1) How- long do shags’ eggs take to hatch? (2) What length of time do they stay in the nest after being hatched? (3) What is the price given for shags' heads and eggs. (4) If any one takes shags’ eggs in the of the laying season, do they lay again in the same place the same season? (5) Where could a person find a violin teacher in Oamaru or Dunedin?” not, so far as we can ascertain, been accurately determined. The shag is a very shv b’rd mid unlikely, one would imagine, to lav again in the same place, or twice in the same season, but they miaht do so in certain circumstances. (3) Three shillings for old birds shot in the neighbourhood of inland rivers in Otago; one shilling for nestlings. (5) A directory will give you the addresses of teachers. "Subscriber,” Timaru, asks how to make a light coat waterproof, and wishes to know if there is anything else done except to oil the coat. What oil should one use? If n light gabardine or similar rain-cloth, try the application, with a stiff brush, of a suitable oil or preparation of which there are several on the market. A home-made recipe, recommended from another source. Is as follows: Dissolve an ounce of alum in a quart of water; boil half an ounce of Russian isinglass in a pint of water until quite dissolved, and dissolve a quarter of an ounce of Castile soap in a pint of hot water. Mix the three solutions together and stir well, then warm it up until it simmers. Apply the solution to the wrong side of the coat with a flat brush. When dry, sponge over with cold water. "Inquirer,” Southland, asks: (1) How manv pounds of butter can I>e made from 101 b of butter-fat, and what is contained in butter besides butter-fat, salt, and water? (2) What proportion of cream should be got from a gallon of milk on separating it, allowing the milk to be a 3.4 test and the cream 34 per cent, teat? (3) Are there any solids in skim milk and, if so, what are they? “Agricola” replies: (1) Undor factory conditions, approximately 12lb of butter, allowing an over-run of 20 per cent. * Butter contains, under similar conditions; Pat 82 per cent., water 15.5, salt 1.5, curd, ash, 1 per cent. (2) A little under lib of oream, some being lost in the skim milk. (3) Yes. Varying, of course. According to Van Slyke, the analysis of skim milk ia as follows: Water 90.80, fat .10. casein and albumen 3.55, milk sugar 5.26, aeh .80. "Reader.” Milton, asks: (1) How do you reoognise manganese ore? (2) What percentage is necessary to make it payable? (3) What is the value of the ore in ths jaw state? Your questions were submitted . to Professor I’ark, who has replied a« follows: (l) Manganese usually occurs in tho lorra of an oxide. All the oxides of this metal are heavy, dark brown mifisrale often with a bluish sheen. A little of the powdered mineral when treated

in a test-tube with hydrochloric acid liberates the gas chlorine, which can be readily recognised by its pungent smell and its ability to bleach a dock leaf or any green vegetable. (2) Commercially valuable, manganese ore must contain not less than 75 per cent, of the oxide. (3) Manganese oxides, as mined, are worth about a shilling per unit. That is, if an ore contains 80 per cent, of the oxide, the market value' will be £4 per ton. v Manganese ores, to be worth mining, must occur in large bodies in places readily accessible to a cheap means of transport. "Bridge,” Gore, writes: “In a game of bridge A deals and calls 2 spades, with a hand composed of ace, king, ten, nine, eight, seven, six of spades, ace, queen, andtwo small clubs, one small diamond, one heart; B calls 3 clubs; C calls 3 hearts, holding 6 to knave, king clubs, and three small ones, ace diamonds and two small ones; D does not call, hearts remain trumps, and C secures the necessary tricks. A complains that C blocked by calling 3 hearts, but C replies that holding the hand he did he could not allow B to •remain the best bidder, and that by calling 3 hearts, A still had the option of calling 3 spades, with the knowledge that C was short in spades. Should C have remained quiet, or did he do right in calling?” A should have overcalled hia partner. Holding the hand he did, he must have gone game in spades. The assumption is that the score was love all. C is not to be blamed for calling 3 hearts. His judgment was confirmed by the result of tne play. The really bad call was that by B, in declaring 3 clubs, with eight of the suit, including the three top honours, against him. It was an inexcusable bid. “Inquirer,” Lumsden, writes: “(1) How does one make concrete for paths, and what proportion of cement and gravel, etc., should be used. (2) Would it need plastering on top, and, if so, how is this done? (3) How aoes one maka hop beer? G) Some of my hens have developed thick, scaly legs. What is the cause and the remedy for this ? (5) What is the best way to stop a hen from eating eggs? (6) How does one whitewash?” (1) Mr H. M. Davey replies: The ground should be carefully graded, and from, say, three to five inches lower than the finished paths; that is, presuming they are footpaths; which information is not given. Any soft places, if any, should be filled and rolled, or beaten to a uniform solidity. You state that you seem to have gravel, but sharp sand also should be added, the amount depending on the size of the gravel. If, therefore, the gravel is uniformly small, probably a fourth part of sand, or even less, would be sufficient; but care should be taken to see that both were clean and sharp. For good paths you may use one of cement to, say, four to five of the gravel and sand mixture. This should all be well mixed dry first, and then with added water, but do not make the result sloppy. The top may be left or may be cemented or plastered as you like, but if you have severe frosts in your localitv, do not make the top too smooth. Probably the rougher finish with a wooden tool would be better than with a steel trowel, but that is as you think best, ■if you could find someone used to plastering, you would be wise to get a hint from mm. (3) To 10 gallons of rain water add £ib hops, and £ib bruised (not ground) ginger; let it come to'the boil, etiring occasionally. Note the time it commences to boil and when 20 minutes have elapsed add 91b sugar (light .brown). Stir till dissolved and take up without boiling again. H is m the long boiling of hops that all inoir delicate aroma escapes, while the •utterness is brought out; boiling the sugar causes muddiness. Strain into an open wooden vessel, and leave until milk warm, then add a quart of yeast, and cover with a thick woollen cloth and let it work for 24 hours. In the meantime loz tartaric acid and loz brewers’ isinglass should be soaked in a quart of cold water, and at the end of the 24 hours should be added to the beer to clear it. It will be ready to botde the next day and should stand for a week. Wash the bottles the day before, and leave upside down to drain, as they must be perfectly dry before being used. Bosk the corks in some of the hop beer, with a weight on them until required. If brswers isinglass cannot be procured, save un eggshells and take the whites and sheila o* two fresh eggs, beat up together and and with the acid. Tie down the coika and store away in a cool place. (4) Ihe cause of scaly legs is a narasite under the scales. The remedy is* to rub with vaßelme and kerosene (mixed). A few applications will cure. For prevention heap litter clean. Dust full of droppings collects under scales, and the parasites breed therein. (5) A broken egg may start this practice, but shortage of lime may also do so. Remedy.—Darken the nests, supply shell making substance, and remove any bird or birds caught in the practice. Fowls supplied with well balanced rations, including some meat, seldom eat their eggs. Fowls on range do not eat their eggs { the grubs and insects they find are substitutes for the meat that must be given to birds in confinement. (6) A disinfectant whitewash can be made by adding about one and a-half ounces of strong carbolic acid to a bucket containing two and a-half gallons of hot lime wash and well mixing same.

LAW QUERIES.

[Answered by a solicitor of the Supreme Court •f New Zealand. Letters and Telegrams must be addressed to "LEX,” o/o Editor. Otsga Wttnoa* Dap sain.] “Perplexed.”—lf the personal earnings of the widow exceed £7B, the pension is reduced. "Chum.”—A farm labourer is not entitled to holidays on full pay unless there is an agreement with the employer to pay for holidays. “Exhibition No. I”—The county council ranger has full power to impound any stock wandering at large in any road or other place of publio resort. “X Y Z” asks: “Is it permissible for a girl under 21 years of age to marry without her father's consent?” The oonsent of the father or a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand muet be obtained. “Backbiooka.”—(l) A relative of the deceaeed can be appointed by the court to adminieter the estate. Failing such appointment, the Publio Trustee can administer the

estate. (2) The brothers and sisters would succeed to the estate. ‘Witness Subscriber” asks: “(1) A man dies intestate, having owned a farm valued at £IOOO or more. He leaves a widow and children surviving him. How is the estate distributed?” One-third to the wife and two-thirds to the children. (2) The award wage is £2 2s 6d per week. The hour of starting is 7 o’clock, and the number of working hours in the week 48 hours.