Notes and Queries?

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 48

Notes and Queries?

for reply in eoming nene to be r»eerred net later than SATURDAY night.

\ Qneetioue win NOT be replied to through tit* poet. Question* must be accompanied by the name •nd address of the writer, but a nom de plume stay be adopted for publication.

“ Dannevirko ” writes : “ Mary is 24. Mary is twice as old as Ann was when Mary was as old as Ann is now. How old is Ann?” Ann is 18.

“ Coin,” Dunedin.—lt is not possible to determine from the coin impressions whether it is a token or a spade guinea. See reply to “ Anxious,” Tokarahi. •' Unemployed ” asks if “ Fallen Fortunes " —an article by Will Hope in the issue of the Otago Witness for July 19—is truth or fiction. We cannot definitely say, but doubtless it is a little of both.

"Anxious,” Tokarahi, wishes to know of anyone who collects used stamps in Dunedin. Messrs Wilcox Smith and Co., Dunedin, handle used stamps and coins, and possibly might be able to meet your wishes.

" Camper,” Nightcaps, asks where it is possible to buy a 12ft bell tent complete, and asks what the cost would be. Write Alex. Thompson, 253 Princes street, Dunedin, who can supply a new 13ft bell tent for £lO, or a second-hand one for about £5.

“ Catlins ” asks: “ (1) How long ago is it since the tramway was opened in Dunedin? (2) On what street it was, and what motive power was used?” (1) It was opened in Dunedin on July G, 1879. (2) Princes-George street, then Civersham, South Dunedin, and St. Kilda, the motive power being in the first instance steam, which soon gave way to horse haulage. K. H. K. asks: “ (1) Was Scotland ever conquered? If so, b£ whom, and in what year? (2) Was England ever conquered? If so, by whom, and in what year? (3) Was Wales ever conquered? If so, by whom, and in what year? (4) Who is heir to the Scottish Crown at present? " (1) No. (2) Yes. by William the Conqueror in 1066. (3) Yes, by Edward lof England in 1277. (4) The Prince of Wales.

" Drover,” Waiwera South, would like to know (1) the best recipe for oiling an ordinary canvas coat so as to make it thoroughly waterproof. (2) He has an old book of Robert Burns's poems and songs. Could we let him know if it is of any value (Sherra-muir, Battle of Sheriff-muir, a.d. 1715—Mars’s year). (1) In the hands of a novice even the best of home remedies are not always successful. You would be wiser, perhaps, to use a preparation on sale at 3s 6d per quart bottle. The dressing is obtainable from Thompson and Sons, Princes street, Dunedin. (2) We could not let you know definitely without seeing the book. "Newly-wed,” Drummond, asks (1) if one can prune rhododendrons, and asks what time of the year it should be done. (2) “ Please for a receipt for raisin chutney.” (1) The proper time to prune is immediately after flowering. The growth made after has then time to mature for flowering next season. It is too late now. (2) IJlb apples, lib sugar, 11b stoned raisins, Jib salt, Joz cayenne, .’,lb whole ginger well bruised and put In a muslin bag, Jib lemon peel, Jib citron peel, Goz shallots, 2oz garlic, half a teacup gooseberry or plum jam, one quart vinegar. Chop or mince ingredients, cover, and simmer or cook in an oven very slowly for a long time until quite reduced to a pulp. Do not let the mixture boil. If too thick add more vinegar. This will be ready for use in three weeks. The ginger must be removed before the chutney is bottled.

"Passenger.”—Your inquiry with respect to name of the captain of the Wild Deer, wnich landed at Port Chalmers 50 odd years ago in January, has elicited the following reply from E. G., Port Chalmers : —“ The Wild Deer arrived in Port Chalmers in March, 1874. with' Captain Cowan in command, and left Port Chalmers about July 5. When it arrived in London Captain Cowan informed the crew that he was going to-command a new ship called the Wellington, and that Captain Malcolm would take charge. We left London about October 29, and arrived in Port Chalmers on January 19, 1875, after a smart passage. The round trip, after we had lain a month in London, was six months and 20 days. The chief officer was Mr Killgour. The late Captain Ramsay, late harbour master of Oamaru, was third mate. After Captain Malcolm left Mr Killgour took command, but some little time after was lost about the coast of Ireland.” “ Pipes,” Central Otago, writes : “ What size pipes will require to be used at the intake to give the best results with a jin pipe at 150 yards with 15ft fall—2oo yards with a 20ft fall, 370 yards with 35ft fall (approximately). I understand that it is necessary to start with a given size, and reduce as work proceeds. What I want to do is to put a tap at 150 yards, one at 200 yards, and probably two or more at or about 370 yards. These can be either fed direct from the pipeline or from a tank which will be kept full with a ball cock.” Mr H. M. Davey replies : It is not understood w’hether these pipes are separate ones or one continuous pipe. Anyhow, you might begin with a length or two of 2in following a length of IJin, and then another of lin to your gin line, and have a grating to prevent matter choking your pipes. Your first line and the second one should deliver nearly 2’,gal per minute, and the third 2Jgal "per minute. You had better have taps on the pipeline unless the tank is nearer. Never make water travel more than necessary.”

Constant Reader,” Southland, wishes to know what is the best way to cure a sheepskin. There are several methods oi curing skins, the usual treatment being the wattle bark process. The wattle bark should be cut up pretty finely, and boiled in a vessel—a kerosene tin will do. After an hour take out as much bark as you can easily, and put in fresh. Fill up with water, and boil again. Do this about half a dozen times, then put in a tub. Be sure all the fat and flesh are off the skins, and put them in the tan, letting them lie as flat as possible. Change the liquor once a week. The same liquor will do if boiled again and skimmed. The skin will be properly tanned in about a month. After tanning the skins wash them in clean water, and dry well, but slowly, working them in order to make pliable. The following are two other methods :— First, trim all ragged edges and remove as much flesh, fat, etc., as possible without damaging the pelt. Next place the

skin on the floor or other flat surface, and wash the hair with warm water and soap and then clear water; remove all surplus water from the hair by scraping or squeezing with a smooth board. Take up the skin and shake it well, then place it, hair down, on a clean surface, and take a good handful of alum, to which a little salt may be added, proceeding to rub it well into the pelt with a rotary motion over all the surface equally ; next fold up the skin, hair outward, and let it stand for three days. Open and hang the skin for a while, and then commence to scrape the pelt with a furrier’s knife, always scraping in the same direction. These scrapings are needed to properly finish the pelt. With different skins discretion must be used in treating strong or weakfibred pelts. The second method is to soak the skin in water to cleanse and soften, and afterwards scrape to remove fat or flesh. Place for three or four days in a bath made by mixing 21b bran in a gallon of water. Make a paste of 11b alum and 3oz common salt moistened with water and worked together. Spread this on the inside of the skin and leave for IS hours, after which hang up to dry with hair outermost. After drying, the inside is smoothed with pumice, and sometimes a warm iron is passed over the skin. Brush the outside, and the operation is complete.