Notes and Queries?

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 48

Notes and Queries?

Questions for reply in coming Issue to be received not later than SATURDAY night. Questions will NOT be replied to through 3h* post. Questions must be accompanied by the name •nd address -of the writer, but a nom de plume day be adopted for publication. * Inquirer,” South Canterbury, asks if Lake Waihoia has ever been known to be,dry, and it so at what date? We have no regard of such an occurrence. “ Boots,” Milton.—Mr G. V. Edge, of Bluff, has sent the following advice about “ Re-sol-it,” for which you were inquiring in a recent Otago Witness: —“ Pamphlet issued at the Exhibition gave the address as follows : D. A. S. Ross, sole agent for New Zealand, G.P.0., Auckland.” M. G. M., Hakataramea, ask (1) on which side are war ribbons worn with civilian clothes? (2) Of the three ribbons—namely, 1914-15, victory and war medal—which is worn on the inside or furthest from the shoulder, and which one comes next to it? (1) On the left side, about 2tn above the top pocket. (2) 1914-15 star on inside, then. British war medal and victory medal nearest shoulder. “Crosscut,” Dipton, writes: “(1) Has a square foot of flawless broadleaf wood ever been procured in New Zealand? (2) What was the reward offered by the Exhibition for such? ” (1) Have never seen a flawless piece of broadleaf 12in by 12in. Broadleaf is not a marketable timber except when split into fencing posts. (2) We have no knowledge of any Exhibition reward. * Cider,” Gore, asks for a recipe for apple cider. Use fully ripe apples, and store on a shelf for a fortnight to grow mellow. Crush them to a pulp. Put this into a coarse, strong bag, and with a heavy weight press out the juice into a large open tub, and keep it in a heat of 60deg. As soon as the sediment has subsided rack » off into a clean cask and stand in a cool place till the following spring, when it may be reracked for use. "Subscriber,” Oamaru, wishes to know (1) if there is any age limit for probationers for maternity nursing; (2) what training hospitals there are in the South Island and Auckland? (1) The age limit is 22 to 45'. (2) There are St. Helens (Government training) hospitals in each of the four centres, and Invercargill, Wanganui, and Gisborne ; and independent of the Government, the Bachelor Maternity Hospital, Dunedin, the M’Hardy Home, Napier, and the Stratford Hospital. Further particulars may be had from application to the Health Department, Wellington. ••Dora,” Timaru, asks which is the purest soap of all, and best to use for the skin? The question of determining which is " the purest soap of all ” is quite impossible. Your purpose will be served by asking the advice of a reliable chemist. ••Midway,” Southland, asks "(1) Are negatives or prints of photographs required when readers of the Otago Witness send camera studies to the illustrated section? (2) Are negatives or prints returned to the sender if such are unsuitable for insertion in same?" (1) Glossy prints, as long as they are as perfectly developed from the negative as is possible. (2) Yes.

S. C., Southland, wishes to know (1) the address of the New Zealand Tourist Department in the United States of America and also in Canada. (2) If inventors of patents send their patents to America, or if there are'agents in New Zealand? (3) If the Hon. J. G. Coates travels through New Zealand with the Duke and Duchess of York. (1) Pacific Tours (Ltd.), 230 California street, San Francisco ; and New Zealand Government agent, 1017 Metropolitan Buildings, Vancouver, Canada. (2) There are agents in the Dominion who wilf protect patents throughout the world. Several advertise in the Otago Witness. (3) The Minister in charge of the tour is Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, and he travels continuously with the royal visitors. Mr Coates is only present at some of the functions. Timaru, writes: “(1) What can be done to renovate a mirror which is gone cloudy in patches? (2) Can any reader supply me with the verses of the second part of the ‘ May Queen ’ as in the school books of 50 years ago? (3) What is the best thing to do for persistent pleurisy? (4) What is the cause of this season’s jam going mouldy?" (1) Clean off the old silver and have it resilvered. (2) Any copy of Tennyson's poems will give you the verses, which are too many to print in these columns. (Si We do not give medical advice. You V'Ould be wise to consult a doctor at once. (4) Insufficient boiling is one of the chief rea'/nas why jams go mouldy. Fruit "££u?d boil in water until tender, when sugar should be added. When the mixture recommences to boil it should be let to boil for a good half-hour. Be sure that the bottles are thoroughly dry, aad that no damp comes in contact with ttai covers. If kept on dry shelves the jam should not mildew any more. We suggest that you reboil this season’s jam, taking the special precautions here advised. Fruit should never be picked when wet with rain or dew, and in cases where there are two crops, such as rhubarb, the second crop will be found better than the first for conserving purposes. 8. H. M., Southland.—Your inquiry in last week’s Otago Witness has elicited the following replies:—(l) From F. A. C.. Timaru: “ With regard to the year of the ‘ Old Man ’ flood at the Arrow, I can speak of Clyde and Cromwell, where I arrived from London in May, 1867. It came to my knowledge by hearing the common talk of the late ‘ Old Man ’ flood, which took place in October, 1866. I believe that the flood was general all through the Molyneux and Clutha Valleys. Now, the next big flood, which came under my personal experience, was in September, 1878. 1 was at that time in Vincent County, which suffered great losses by bridges and roads being carried away. Now this flood is by many persons called the ‘ Old Man ’ flood, which is not correct. The rivers down about the Clutha township were 6ft higher than that reached during the ‘ Old Man ’ flood of 1866.” (2) From Richard Norman, Lawrence: “ This was in June, 1863, and it was confined to the Wakatipu district. There were several miners camped on the bank of the Shotover River. The bank was undermined and fell into the river, and many were drowned. Many, or perhaps all, of the bodies were recovered, and buried, but I have no particulars. The tall end of this flood only reached Wanaka, when the Cardrona and Luggate strea'ms were in very high flood. I have the whole of the Albert'Town ferry returns for 1863. which would indicate that the Upper Clutha was normal. Then there was a .flood in 1866, but there are no local newspapers available to give details. There

were three very disastrous floods during September and October, 1878, which, among other damages, washed away the Clyde and Roxburgh bridges, and left high and dry the new pile bridge opposite Mount Pisa Station.”

“ Builder,” Southland.—Your inquiry with regard to the borer has elicited the following reply from Mr Richard Norman, Lawrence : —“ I have studied this matter somewhat during the last year or two. The grub works with the grain of the wood, -and very often will eat out one board of wainscotting before going elsewhere. I have often seen a stumpy, small brown beetle flying about the house in January. This I take to be the parent beetle, and the borer grub from this is white. There is a gifey grub also, and in infested timber I noticed also a small black beetle about Jin long and very narrow. When I see any borer dust I at once apply a liberal quantity of kerosene, and then there is no more dust, and I conclude the borer is settled. In a year or two, when the kerosene dries up, another dose will be necessary. If there is an odd hole on a wall the fine point of an oilcan can be inserted to let the oil run in. It would be a good Idea to fill ■ with kerosene a short length of motor tubing, and put a spout in it so as to force the oil in Yesterday I was told that turpentine and methylated spirits are better than kerosene, as they are more volatile, and penetrate the wood better. This is a very important matter, and the end is not yet. It would be a good idea in borer-infested buildings to fill up between the outside boards and inside lining boards with either ashes, soil, or sawdust. This would restrict the activities of the parent beetle. Then finely powdered arsenic mixed with the paint would poison the newly-hatched grub. The coating of paint would prevent the arsenic from being injurious.”

“ Gems,” Awahura, asks for a recipe formaking gems. (1) These can be made only with gem irons, which are easily procurable. Required: One tablespoon each melted butter and sugar, one teaspoon baking soda, two teaspoons cream of tartar, two cups white flower, one egg, quarter-teaspoon salt, milk. Mix all the dry ingredients, add egg and butter, and gradually sufficient milk to make a medium batter, as for drop scones. Have ready the gem irons, very hot and well greased. Pour in enough of the batter to half fill them. Bake quickly in a hot oven. (2) Wheat flour gems: Three cups best wheat flour, half pint milk, two cups cold water. Make a batter. Heat gem irons very hot, and fill evenly with the batter. Have the oven very hot, and place in the hottest part for 10 minutes. Then bake 30 minutes longer in the bottom of the oven. (3) White flour gems: Flour, milk, whites of two eggs. Stir briskly into new milk enough flour to make a batter, not too stiff to drop from a spoon. Add the whites whipped stiff, and mix thoroughly; a very little cream may be added last. Bake in hot gem irons in a quick oven. (4) One tablespoon each sugar and butter, two heaped teaspoons baking powder, two cups flour, one egg, one cup, or a little more, milk. Beat butter and sugar, add beaten egg, then milk, and, lastly, flour with baking powder, all beaten with a fork. Put in very hot greased tins. Bake in a quick oven.

“Argument,” Hawea, asks: "(1) Are cooking pots or kettles better for boiling when clean or when soot is on them? (2) If so, why is it? (3) If soot is better, as someone here says, should it be all over the kettles or not?” Mr H. M. Davey replies: "Replies to your questions are perhaps better given from a work on science in question and answer form. Q.: Why does a kettle boil faster on a fire when the bottom and back are covered with soot? A.: Because the black soot absorbs heat very quickly from the fire, and the metal conducts it to the water.— Q.: Why will a new kettle take longer to boil than an old one? A.: Because the bottom and sides of a new kettle are clean and bright, but in an old kettle they are covered with soot.—Q.: Why does, a kettle boil more slowly when the bottom and back are clean and bright? A.: Because bright metal does not absorb heat, but reflects it (as the heat is thrown off from the surface of bright metal by reflection), therefore a clean, bright kettle takes longer to boil. —Q.: W'hy is it said that a Saturday’s kettle boils the fastest? A.: Because on Saturday the front and top of the kettle .are generally cleaned and polished, but the bottom and back are (or should be) never cleaned. — Q.: Why should not the bottom and back of a kettle be cleaned and polished? A.: Because they come in contact with the fire, and (if or while they are covered with black soot) absorb heat freely from the burning coals.—Q.: Why should the front and top of a kfettle always be clean and well polished A.: Because polished metal will not radiate heat, and therefore (if and while the front and top are well polished), the heat is kept in, and not suffered to escape by radiation. The same advice is also given in regard to other vessels placed on a fire to heat, and it is further said that any dents or scratches on the polished parts allow a considerable part of the heat to Escape as compared with the parts when having a good polish.” “Best Man,” Woodlands, wishes to know what duties a best man has at a wedding. The best man’s position may be cither boring or amusing, but it need never be terrible. His first job is to obtain instructions from the groom. For instance, a conveyance will be needed to take the groom to the church, the same being used afterwards to carry the newly-wedded pair to the reception. The best man arranges for the conveyance in accordance with the instructions he receives. On the wedding day he must Unsure that the wedding ring is not forgotten. This done, he brings the groom to church in good time, where both await the bride near the chancel steps. The briue arrives, takes her father’s arm, and. Preceded by the choir, if it is a choral wedding, walks to the chancel steps, followed by the paired bridesmaids. Here rr',® ber place on groom’s left. During the ceremony the best man stands at „ the ? room s r'Sht rear, and at the correct' moment passes the ring to him. After the ceremony he follows the couple into the vestry, where usually he signs the register as a witness. The bride now * a cas her husband’s left arm, and the two, followed by the bridesmaids, walk to the uoor of the church. The best man should be there already, for it is his duty to have the conveyance in readiness for the newly-weds. Following the couple will come the bride’s mother with the groom’s father, and then the bridegroom’s mother a " d . V‘ e pride’s father. Waiting to atnmn ftjT, important people, the best the rhitf /?V OWS to tbe reception with get hnwo brl(,camaifL He must not forget, however, that he is responsible for

paying th’e various fees—the clergyman’s and the organist’s, for example. He also distributes any gratuities authorised by the groom. When the reception and leave-takings are over, the best man may introduce some fun into the proceedings by throwing a slipper after the happy pair as they drive away, for this is a « tbe , best man ’ s privilege. any iu SKage that has been left behind. His duties finished, he ™ ay . n S °> and mourn the loss of ihnrn s °?. d . or begin t 0 tbink bridesmaid ’ wording to