Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 52

Notes and Queries

te- reply » coming issue to be rec- d &o« later than night. will HOT bo replied to through the poet.

Questions tone* be aeeotnpaniad by the name end address of the writer, but a nom de phune »ay be adopted lor publication.

“ A B C,” Invercargill, wishes to know the meaning of the word “ rawhiti.” “ East,” literally “ sun-rising.” “ Anxious to Know,” Dunedin, wishes to know the names of the first, second, and third horses which ran In the Geelong Cup, run at Geelong, Victoria, Australia, on March 7, 1928. Anan Louise, 1; Ograb, 2 ; Spentall, 3. " Inquirer," Temuka, wishes to know what copper, lead, and brass would be per lb, or how they are sold. The cost of copper, lead, or brass depends upon the article and its use to the trade. Lead is worth 6d per lb , copper ingots, Is 3d lb; copper rods, Is 9d; brass rods, Is 6d to 2s 9d ; brass tubes, 4s 6d per lb. “ X Y Z,” Southland, asks if a Southland man named David Stewart ever won the five-mile Australian championship. At the moment we cannot state definitely whether David Stewart was a champion. You do not say if the sport engaged in was swimming, running or cycling. A further reply will be given next week. “ An Old Reader,” Patea, writes : “ Recently we have come to live where there are many frogs. We find them under wood, etc., in the daytime, but at night they are hopping all over the garden. Can you tell me what is their diet? Do they eat insects or pests of any kind, or do they eat vegetation? The colour of some of them is very beautiful. Frogs feed on insects, beetles, slugs, small Crustacea, etc. “Ruby," Timaru, writes: “ (1) When should I plant spring bulbs to have them flowering in early spring? (2) When should I plant pansy seed so that tJe plants will flower in summer? (3) Will you tell me the name of (a) a pure yellow pansy ; (b) a pure blue one? ” (1) Now. (2) Sow in boxes, and plant out in the spring. (3) (a) Lemon Queen. There is a viola named Bullion which is hard to beat; (b) Fashion Queen, or you might plant the viola named Royal Blue. “ Card Player,” Tokarahi, wishes to know (1) In the game of 45’s is the ace of diamonds 'the lowest card in the pack when diamonds are not trumps, or does it count high or low? (2) Are euchre tournaments allowed to be played for prises except money or open orders? (1) The game is not known to us by the name given. Can any reader inform us on this subject? (2) See Legal Queries.

“ Post,” Glenomaru, writes: “ Your answer to my last query did not give me the information that I want most. What I want to know is what is 'he strain on the wire when it is strained fairly tight and has a post on it. The wire is of special make, and is oval sized, 10 by 12 gauge. On the maker's label the breaking strain is shown as 20001 b. There will be no carriages for each individual post, as it would be too slow to take it back up with a winch. Each post will be fastened on with staples.”' Mr H. M. Davey replies: “ Assuming your post to weigh 501 b the strain on the wire will be approximately 1001 b, and much more if the wire is loose.” “ Hard Up,” Gore, writes: “ I have several . old New Zealand stamps with no date visible, but with the figure of Queen Victoria in early girlhood, probably 1840 or thereabouts. (1) Are they of any value? (2) When were the first stamps of New Zealand issued? The colour of these is Prussian blue, and one is brown. (3) Can you put me in touch with any philatelist regarding them?” (1) It is not possible to reply definitely. The stamps’ values depend in large measure upon their condition and value or denomination when issued, and may range from pence to many pounds. (2) July 18, 1855. (3) We will forward any letters sent to us on the subject.

White Wings,” Glenavy, asks for a recipe for “melting moments.”— (1) Half a pound of butter, 3Joz sugar, Jib maizena, Jib flour, one saltspoon salt. Method: Beat butter, sugar, and salt to a cream. Then add flour and maizena. Put one teaspoonful on a cold tray and bake about Bmin in a moderate oven. (2) One full tablespoon flour, three tablespoons cornflour, 2oz sugar, 2oz butter, one teaspoon baking powder, one egg, small quantity milk, any flavouring. Beat butter and sugar to a cream, sift dry ingredients, add egg well beaten; bake in patty tins. (3) One pound butter, Jib flour, Jib cornflour, Jib icing sugar. Beat butter and sugar to a cream, add flour and corn-

flour. Put in spoonfuls on a cold tray, and bake In a slow oven (electric oven 2deg).

“ Inquirer,” North Otago, writes: I sowed an area with lucerne in December and cut it in February. On stacking it I found it contained a large quantity of nightshade, a weed I do not know very much about. What effect will it have on stock? Several men seem to think it is not good for stock." “Agricola replies: “ There are several nightshades, more or less dangerous at certain periods of growth. For instance, deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), a perennial, is very poisonous. Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is known as white nightshade, also by various other names, including wonder berry, mother of thousands, black tomato, black potato, and at times, in error, deadly nightshade. This plant is an annual, and grows about a foot high ; the flowers are white, and its berries blackish and the size of peas. The berries are said to be poisonous, but cases are rare. Many plants of this family are dangerous at times, but need not necessarily be condemned. Potatoes, tomatoes, etc., belong to this group. The plant you refer to is probably the annual, which has of late been making headway In Otago."

“ Dip,” Omakau, wishes to know (1) if old rams (well fed) are as good as young ones for breeding; (2) if the wool gets thin or only short with age: (3) if the lime offered by the old Post Office is any good for agricultural purposes, such as top-dress-ing. “Agricola” replies: "(1) One cannot with confidence reply to a question of this nature directly by saying that an old ram is better than a young one or vice vvrsa. The progeny of a tried ram you probably know something about, but possibly nothing in regard to a young one. The old ram tuned up with artificial feed, etc., and having the desired conformation and vigour might well outshine a- young ram bred indifferently. Some rams transmit their most desirable visible characteristics to their progeny; others do not, but stamp their worst features upon their descendants. If the question Involves but the mere getting of lambs Regardless of merit, generally speaking (in the absence of good shepherding, etc.) one would favour the young ram. Yet an old ram of good lineage and known prepotency (the power to transmit his good or bad characteristics, as the case may be) is a better proposition than, say, a doubtful two-tooth of unknown merit, so that in determining a question of this nature one has to consider the local circumstances, which, of course, are unknown to the writer. Finally, a young ram of similar breeding to the old ram would on account of its age gain favour, but it is a mistake to discard a good ram unless sound reasons can be advanced for the change, but rather tend him well and give him less work. (2) Both. (3) I do not know what lime you refer to in this question. No doubt any limey substance has a certain value, but if the reference is to the debris resulting from the old plastered bricks, etc., I should say its value is very questionable, seeing that pure limestone or carbonate is available at small cost and its percentage of ‘lime’ known, whereas tire lime content of the product in question is, I imagine, very problematical.”

LAW QUERIES.

(iMwer«d by a Boliciter ef th» Supreme CootS •f Mow Zealand. Letters and Telegrams moot bo eddreesed to "LEX,” e/s Editor, Otago Da&edln.J

“ Fairplay.’’—A notice or document will have the name of the court from which it is issued on the face of the document. " Constant Subscriber.”—As the fruit should have been of good quality you are quite entitled to refuse to pay for it and defend any action brought against you in the matter. “ Card Player," Tokarahi, asks : " Are euchre tournaments allowed to be played for prizes except money or open orders? " No. Mr A.—You have no legal standing to compel the council in the matter. The best course is for those affected to come to an arrangement with B in the matter, and have the right-of-way vested in the present owners of the lands abutting on the right-of-way. "Inquirer” asks: “(1) Can the trustees of a deceased estate demand a fee for the discharge of an account on which interest at the rate of 8 per cent, is charged? (2) Do the legal conditions in regard to the settlement of such an account differ from those in regard to an ordinary tradesman’s bill?” (1) No, not unless a mortgage or other document has to be discharged. (2) No.