Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 48

Notes and Queries

Qaaakiens for raply tn coining issue to b« ro •si-rod no* Inter than SAI'UHUAY night. Qaaitiens will NOT be replied to through Aho post. Qaoetiens mast be accompanied by the name •ad Kldreee of the writer, but a uom de plume mey be adopted for publication.

T. O’B., Haldane.—Received too late for attention thia week. ** Cherry Plum," Timaru, writes: “ I have a cherry plum hedge that bears a lot of fruit. (1) If I sold the fruit will I have to register it? (2) If so. where will I apply?" (1) Any seller of fruit must register, the fee being Cd per acre, or a minimum of 2s Gd. (2) Apply for application form at nearest office of Department of Agriculture.

"Interested,” Invercargill, asks: "(1) Can one become a registered architect by working for an architect and passing the necessary examinations? (2) Is it compulsory to attend a college? (3) Is Auckland the only town in New Zealand with a college of architecture? " (1) Yes. (2) No; but if you wish to obtain a degree attendance is compulsory. (3) Yes.

W. J. T., Willowbridge, asks: “ (1) Where is the largest electric traction plant in New Zealand situated? (2) What is the name and address of the chief engineer in charge of that plant? (3) W'hat are the wages paid in such a plant to an assistant to an engineer? ” (1) Auckland. (2) Mr D. E. Guerrier, tramways engineer, Auckland. (3) Second engineer, £7 8s; senior shift engineer, £6 18s ; junior shift engineer, £6 13s. “ Naturalist," Greenvale, writes : “ I am enclosing an insect which I would be pleased to have information upon. (1) It was found in a sheep’s wool, and was declared by one or two people here to be a locust, but I jio not recollect myself hearing of there being any locusts in New Zealand. Others declare it to be a cricket, so we would be grateful if you would settle the matter for us. (2) Will you also let us know whether or not there are New Zealand locusts?” (1) Officers of the Department of Agriculture, Dunedin, identified toe insect as the common field cricket of Australia, introduced into New Zealand, by name Gryllus serviellei. ('2) Yes. “ Brass,” Manuka Creek, writes: “ "Would you kindly let me know if it is safe to use food that has been cooked in a brass preserving pan when vinegar is used with it? For example, black currant vinegar; the vinegar and bruised currants and sugar were boiled together. I have also cooked green gooseberries with vinegar In the brass pan. I am not using them till I get your reply in the Otago Witness." We are professionally advised that there is considerable doubt as to whether such food would be safe for human consumption. The food should be analysed before being used. “ Duckling,” Southland, writes : “ Could you inform me where I could get some good Indian runner ducks from a high-laying strain. I would prefer to get them from a Government poultry farm if there is one near, failing that from some private breeder who trap nests his stock. I do not mind a good price if I get the right stuff.” “ Agricola ” replies : “ I suggest that you read the report of the Papanui egg-laying competition in the Otago Witness, published weekly in ‘ Fanciers’ Page,’ by ‘ Terror.’ The secretary of the competition, Christchurch, would supply you with the addresses of the competitors.”

“Inquirer,” Southland, wishes to know (1) where water lilies could be got, and if they will grow in a concrete basin. (2) What salary does the Governor of New Zealand get yearly; also, what is the salary of a member of an electorate? (3) Who is considered the wealthiest runholder in the whole of Australasia ? (1) Any of the Dunedin seedsmen will be pleased to secure them for you, and they could be grown in a concrete basin. (2) Governor’s salary, £5OOO, and £2500 allowances. Member of the House of Representatives, £450 per annum. (3) Mr James Tyson certainly was at one time, but he died in 1898. Mr Sidney Kidman may now hold the record. •‘ Pikoikoi,” South Dunedin, writes: “In a prescription for rheumatism, copied from a newspaper, one of the ingredients is liquid ‘ Barkola compound.’ After an extensive search I have failed to find any mention of it. (1) Can you tell me what it is? (2) Can it be obtained in Dunedin, and what is the price per ounce? (3) What is the English translation of the following Latin sentences : —‘ Homo sum; humani nihil a me alienum puto ’ (vide ‘The Simple Life,’ by Charles Wagner, p. 39 ; Isaac Pitman and Sons, London). (4) ‘Nihil utile quod non

honestum ’ (vide Press beading, Christchurch).” (1) Liquid Barkola compound, according to a leaflet issued by Old Fort Chemical Co., London, is made up of tincture gentian compound (loz), syrup rhubarb aromatic (loz), liquid Barkola compound (loz), syrup of ginger (soz), and is the discovery of a very eminent physician. (2) Yes; price 4s per oz. (3) “ I am a man who thinks nothing human alien to me.” (4) “ Nothing is useful which is not honourable (trute).”

“ Argument," Christchurch.—ln our issue of January 10, in reply to your inquiry, we gave some particulars with regard to shearing records. J. J. W., Roxburgh, forwards a reprint from “ Wolseley ” Pastoralists and Shearers’ Companion stating that the holder of the world’s record sheep tallies is W. Higgins, with 372, 383, and 406 sheep. Where and when these performances were put up Is not stated, nor the class of sheep on which he operated, nor the hours worked. In further reply to “ Argument” it may be stated that in hand shearing the record of Jack Howe at Alice Downs Station, Queensland, some years ago of 321 sheep in Bhr 40min is not likely now to be beaten. J. Power, of Bareyna Station (Q.), has a tally of 315 sheep by machine in Bhr 15min. In September, 1910, at Bundoran, on the Lower Flinders (Q.) D. Cooper sheared by machine 316 sheep in an ordinary working day. In a match on Boxing Day, 1911, D. Cooper sheared 50 sheep in lhr 46Jmin, and won on workmanship. W. Day was 3Jmin faster, but lost by one point. J. J. Larkins, of Glensneath, Lansdale, claims that at Walgar Grove Station, near Tullamore, he broke the Australian shearing record by shearing 331 sheep. In New Zealand, at W. and F. Franklin’s shed. Mangatuna, the following records are claimed :—W. Vella 361, G. Stewart 335, S. Cope 316 lambs, with proportion of ewes. Vella in 1919 sheared 347 Romneys in nine hours. Riahaeua, a Maori, in 1906, sheared 332’Romneys in one day. Another New Zealand record was reported on a station near Dannevirke, Hawke’s Bay. Four shearers sheared 1296 ewes and lambs in Bhr 54min. The individual figures were : —J. Hope, 378 ; R. T. Patterson, 311 ; K. Hotereni, 309 ; A. R. Chase, 303. In Western Australia 12 shearers cut out a flock of 59,606 sheep in a total of 2291 working hours, the highest tally for one day of seven hours being 2954 sheep. The ringer, a man named Sawallish, put through 321 sheep, which equals Jack Howe’s record, the actual working time being seven hours. LAW QUERIES. [Answered by a lolieiter »f the Supreme Ceesft e! New Zealand. Letters and Telegrams must be eddreeeed te “LEX,” e/e Editor, Otago Witaeog, Denedia.J “ Concerned.”—A claim can be made against the father for the girl's board and wages. “Anxious,” Temuka, asks: “A married couple engaged on a- farm at 50s weekly and found. In the event of dismissal how much notice must the employer give them? The wages are not paid weekly, sometimes they are paid monthly, sometimes at longer intervals.” One week’s notice. “ Burgie ” asks: “In the case of a man leading a horse meeting or being passed by traffic should he be on the right side of the road (the side on his right), or should he obey the ordinary rule of the road and keep to the left? It appears that it is the custom to go to the right, but what is the exact position if the matter comes to law? ” —■—The rule of the road is that you must keep to the left. “ Death Duty," Southland. — (1) You should only pay duty on the value of the estate at the date of the death of the testator. Your best plan is to instruct the solicitor to the estate to get the values reduced. (2) Before the Stamp Department would allow a claim for nursing there would need to be a bona fide claim. (3) The estate duty on an estate of £30,000 is £3OOO. “ Anxious ” asks : “ I rented a piece of land from two separate Natives, paying a year’s rent in. advance. The land was in one block, no dividing fence between the two owners. Six months after I rented the place one Native sold his portion to a white man. The sale went through the Native Land Court. (1) Can this new owner take possession before my time expires? (2) The new owner wants to put up a fence, which w'ill be a boundary one. Who pays half-cost with the new owner—my landlord or myself?” If you have not a written lease a new owner can take possession of the land. In that case you will have your remedy against the Native who let the land to you.