Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 48

Notes and Queries

Questions for reply in coming issue to be received not later than SATURDAY night. Questions wiH NOT be replied to through the post. Questions must be accompanied by the name and address of the writer, but a nom de plume may be adopted for publication. ..“Otago,” Motueka, wishes to know (1) what the Gordon crest is, and (2) the meaning of the word “ bydand.” (1) A hart’s head cubossed. (2) Remain Or remaining. •“ Naturalist,” Arrowtown, sends two specimens of plants for identification. No. 1 is haresfoot trefoil (Trifolium arvense), and No. 2 is being classified by the Department of Agriculture.' The answer will appear next week. R. M., Lovell's Flat, asks for a definition of a box. A. receptacle (usually lidded, rectangular or cylindrical, and for solids) of wood, cardboard, metal, etc. A description of other “ boxes ” will be found in any modern dictionary. ■“lnquirer,” Tuatapere, asks (1) where are the largest areas of fruit grown in Central Otago? (2) When does the fruit season begin and when does it finish? (1) Miller’s Flat to Roxburgh. (2) Stone fruit season is now on; apple harvesting for export in about six weeks’ time. ■“ Curious,” Hedgehope, asks who is the leading actor and actress of the present - day at Hollywood?—■—This is largely a matter of opinion. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, or Tom Mix and Alice Joyce must be well in the picture when it comes to a final count, but changes occur very frequently in the film world. “Inquirer,” Kaitangata, writes: “ (1) A boy passed the special examination in June- for Public Service. Are the names cancelled when the next lists come in? (2) Can he apply again, and to whom? (3) Where to apply for position on railways (second division) ?’’ (1) No. (2) Yes, to the Public Service Commissioner. (3) To local stationmaster on form provided, or direct to General Manager Railways, Wellington. G. P., Kauru Hill, writes : “ I have an olearia hedge round my garden. It seems to have some disease. The leaves are all drooped- , looking, and some bushes are going black. Could you please tell me what I should do.” “ Agricola ” replies : “ It is practically impossible to state with confidence the cause of the trouble. Your best plan would be to send specimen piece of infected tree. It may be scale, fungus, or root trouble. I cannot say.” •“ Polly” asks for the best treatment for flabbiness. Will massage improve? What is the best treatment for the wrinkles from nose to mouth? Does massage make , them worse? Is there any treatment you can get to improve them? These . questions are so closely allied to state of health, physique, disposition, etc., that . we deem it wisest to advise you to consult your physician. ■“ Engineer," Mosgiel, asks us to furnish the names of the' several gentlemen who have In the past represented in Parliament (1) the Taieri and (2) Chalmers electorate. , (1) Donald Reid, sen., 1866-1878; W. H. Cutten, 1878-79; James Fulton, 1879-1890 ; W. C. Carncross, 1890-1902 ; Donald Reid, jun., 1902-1908; Thomas i Mackenzie, 1908-1911. (2) E. G. Allen, 1902-1908 ; E. H. Clark, 1908-1914; J. M’C. Dickson, 1914 to date. ■“ Subscriber,” Otekaike, sends stalk of blue flower, which he says is getting very pro- , minent in grass paddocks. He wishes to know what it is, and if it is hard to kill. The specimen, says Mr Tennent, of the Department of Agriculture, is known as viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare), a biennial, and not infrequent in river-beds in South Canterbury. In cornfields it is sometimes common, and should not be difficult to control in pasture if cut before seeding. “Constant Reader,” Pembroke wishes (1) for the address of the company which has to do with Bournville cocoa coupons. (2) ..The address of any place in Dunedin where 'hats are re-covered, and the price charged. (1) Cadbury’s, ' Wellington. (2) Any of the drapers advertising in the Otago Witness would undertake to re-cover a hat, but it is necessary to state your exact requirements; and as to cost, this again depends upon the style of hat and the price of material used in re-covering. Write stating exactly what you want done, etc.

Tath Salts,” Lawrence, asks for a recipe for making bath salts at home. Bath salts are not a luxury, for there is nothing more refreshing than a bath to which a preparation of this kind has been added. There are two kinds of bath salts, effervescing and non-effervescing, and it is . quite a simple matter to make your own from the following recipes :—Effervescent . Bath Powder: Mix well together 10 parts., of tartaric acid, nine parts of carbonate of soda, and six parts of rice flour. A few spoonfuls of this may be stirred into the bath, but it is more convenient to prepare as tablets. Damp the mixture with enough methylated spirits to allow it being moulded, mix in a small quantity of oil of lavender, or other suitable scent, , and make it into tablets about the size of a two-shilling piece, storing in an air-' tight tin. Non-effervescent Bath Salts: The basis of all these is powdered soap and borax, which should be well mixed in equal parts. The powder may be scented as desired by mixing in a few drops of perfume. A suitable recipe is given: One dram of oil of lavender, one . dram of oil of rosemary, quarter of an ounce of oil of bergamot, half an ounce . of oil of lemon, seven minims of oil of cloves.

“Inquirer,” Roxburgh, asks (1) for a recipe for hop beer? (2) For a recipe for Chili beer? (3) I have tussore silk with an old mildew on it; could you tell me how I could remove it? (4) Did Dot’s Little Folk always have a nom de plume to the end of their letters? (1) To lOgal of rain water add Jib hops, and Jib ■ bruised (not ground) ginger; let it come to the boil, stirring occasionally. Note the time it commences to boil, and when 20 minutes have elapsed add 91b of sugar (light brown). Stir till dissolved, and take up without boiling again. It is in the long boiling of hops that all their delicate aroma escapes, while the bitter--ness 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 bottle the next day, and should stand for a week. Wash the bottles the day BBfece, and leave upside down to drain.

as they must be perfectly dry before being used. Soak the corks in some of the hop beer, with a weight on them until required. If brewers’ isinglass cannot be procured save up eggshells, and take the whites and shells of two fresh eggs, beat up together, and add with the acid. Tie down the corks and store away in a cool place. (2) Boil 30 chillies in four quarts of water for 20 minutes, allowing the water to boil before putting them in. Strain it over 2oz cream of tartar and 31b sugar. Add eight quarts of cold water, one tablespoonful of essence of lemon, two tablespoonfuls of bakers’ yeast, and the whites of two eggs beaten to a stiff froth. Bottle at once, and use after three days. (3) Spread the article on a table and soak the mildewed parts - thoroughly with the juice of a tomato. It is a good plan to cut a tomato in half, and with it rub the affected spot thoroughly. Allow the article to dry, and then wash it in the usual way. Do this two or three times if necessary. If this fails to remove the stain use some tomato juice, and on top of this butter-milk, and leave on the grass to bleach for some nights, putting on daily a little more butter-milk. (4) Yes.

LAW QUERIES.

[Answered by a solicitor of the Supreme Court ef New Zealand. Letters and Telegrams must be addressed to “LEX,” c/o Editor, Otago Witness, Dunedin.]

“ Ex-Returning Officer.”—Received too late for attention this week. “ Curious.”—(l) The part referring to section A has been repealed. (2) Yes. . “ Elsie.”—You are not legally entitled to a pension, but you should write the registrar of pensions, Wellington, stating your case to him. “ Housekeeper.”—Unless you are working under the provisions of an award there is no general law or regulation dealing with the matter. “Inquirer.”—(l) 15 years of age. (2) It is not essential that witnesses should be present. (3) The boy is not entitled to a fee for attending the_court. “Anxious.”—(l) The council has power to enter on your property and remove the gravel. (2) This is entirely a matter in the discretion of the Police Department. “ Anxious Reader.”—There is provision for enforcing in New Zealand the provisions of maintenance orders made in England. You should see the maintenance officer. Magistrate’s Court, Balclutha or Gore. “ Annoyed.”—The regulation provides that the fowlhouse must not be erected within 20ft from a dwelling or sft from the boundary fence. If this regulation is complied with you are powerless to do anything in the matter. “X Y Z" asks: “(1) Is it permissible for a trustee to lend trust money on the security of stock and chattels? (2) Is the trustee responsible for principal and interest if the money is not repaid ? ” (1) No, unless the instrument creating the trust specially authorises the trustee to lend on such security. (2) Yes, unless the trustee is empowered by the deed of trust to lend money on stock and chattels. “ Farmer ” asks: “ A farmer having given a lien over stock, etc., on a farm instructs the firm to hold a clearing sale, the result of which does not quite cover the amount owing. After -some time the farmer secures another farm, and on it grazes sheep bought jointly by his wife and himself. (1) Does the lien given over the stock on the one farm hold good over the stock on the latter farm? (2) Can the firm claim the proceeds from the sale of these sheep? ” (1) No. (2) No. -

Judging by the number of remits received, motor legislation will prove a live topic of discussion at the approaching conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand at Palmerston North (states the Dominion). The Nelson and Hawera Councils complain of the long delay in issuing the motor regulations, and urge that the Government be requested to issue them to tne local authorities forthwith. Concerning motor buses outside scheduled districts, the Invercargill Council suggests that the buses be required to comply with the provisions of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, 1926, in regard to the inspection of vehicles, insurance, and notification of accidents. In the opinion of the Palmerston North Council, local bodies should be empowered to frame a by-law prescribing a special license fee in respect of motor vehicles domiciled outside the borough, and which ply for hire within the borough on special occasions only, such as race days. etc. During a greater portion of the year, it is pointed out, the Palmerston North taxi drivers find business exceedingly bad, and when the opportunity arises enabling them to recoup themselves for bad times, outsiders obtain a license, and compete against them, the result considerably affecting the local proprietors’ means of livelihood. When Royalty motors along the shore of Taupo Moana next month, it, or they, will have plenty of opportunity to study the exceeding fondness of the dear old English broom and blackberry for oui pumice lands (says the Auckland Star). Taupo township to-day is more of a ragged weedy wilderness than it was half a century ago. The old hands say that the original vegetation of the Taupo plains was chiefly the native, “wi” grass, and that it was possible to ride anywhere over the country between Rotorua and Taupo. But after the Government troops chased Te Kooti around those parts and established military posts, the plains became overgrown with all. sorts of scrub, gradually forming almost impenetrable thickets over great areas of pumice land. T«upo’s broom patch variegated .with blackberry, and backed by the tall manuka, threatens to overrun the township. The marvel is that some careless cigarette smoker in the scores of motor cars that pass through the place daily doesn’t start a fire that will wipe the pakeha settlement off the map. As for lazy, swampy old Tokaanu, it specialises in blackberry, with gorse as a sideline. There are the makings of a wonderfu spa, or whatever you call those hot shops of sizzle and steam, at Takaanu, but at present it looks as if the gorse and blackberry forests are going to choke the “puias” out of existence. Add to all these exotic vegetables an edging of selvedge of chuckedout benzine tins thousands of them, and you’ll know what Royalty is going to see most of at Taupo and Tokaanu next month.

An interesting case involving the question of a husband’s liability for his wife’s debts was heard in the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (states the Southland Times), when Matheson’s, Ltd., (Mr G. Broughton) proceeded against Norman Wesley Varcoe (Mr B. W. Hewat. for £lO 8s 7d. Evidence was given to the effect that owing to a disagreement between the defendant and his wife the' former went away, leaving Mrs Varcoe in possession of . the house. Both parties had been seeing each other frequently while arranging for a separation. Mr Broughton maintained that the defendant was liable for the debt as no notice had been given that he was separated from his wife, The Magistrate (Mr .G. Cruickshank) said that in his opinion the plaintiff company must fail, as the case went against it in all details. Matheson’s (Ltd.) knew nothing about the woman, and took the supplying her with goods. It might have turned out all right for them, and on the other hand it might not. The case was not a normal one, however, and Matheson’s did not know that the wife was separated from the husband. Judgment was given for the defendant, who also agreed to waive his'claim for costs against the plaintiff. His Honor Mr Justice Sim, sitting fn Chambers in the Supreme Court, has granted probate in connection with the' following estates:—Peter Maclaurin, Dunedin (Mr A. A. Finch); Matilda Johnston, Dunedin (Mr A. H. Tonkinson); Allan Fraser, Dunedin (Mr John Wilkinson); John Rentoul, Dunedin (Mr W. Allan); Mary Bowie, Milton (Mr S. C. Marshall); and Murdoch Graham, Hindon (Mr E. Aslin). Letters of administration were granted in connection with the estate of L.'onel Gordon Wright, Roxburgh (Mr W. R. Burgh). Tuesday was the hottest day recorded in Dunedin during this summer season, thermometer registering 81 degrees in the shade. The conditions were very trying in the afternoon, and a light breeze from the north-west added to the heat. The previous hottest day recorded this season was on Sunday last, when the thermometer reading was 79 degrees in the shade. The previous day was also fairly hot, 72 degrees being recorded. Light clouds filmed the sky at periods on Tuesday. Wednesday saw the curtain finally rung down on the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. The company’s office in Rattray street was closed, and the responsibility of the liquidators ceased. Mr H. R. Spence, who has been secretary of the Exhibition Company for three years now, intends to leave Dunedin on a trip to the Old Country towards the’end of the month.

Since the New Year there has been a marked increase in the number of unemployed registered at the local office of the Labour Department, and when the roll was last purged at the beginning of the week there were 223 names Upon it. The great bulk of the applicants are general labourers, and it is estimated that about half, of them are Scottish immigrants. The Public Works Department has recently put off a lot of men, and there are very few applications for workmen from private employers, with the result that the department is able to do very little indeed in the way of placing men in employment.