Notes and Queries?

Otago Witness, Issue 3897, 20 November 1928, Page 48

Notes and Queries?

Questions for reply tn the coming Issue of the Otago Witness must bs received not later than SATURDAY Night. Questions will 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.

Otapiri would like to know the name of a weed plant forwarded for identification. The specimen sent was very incomplete, but it may be possible to identify same. See next week's issue. “ Curious,” Palmerston, wishes to know something about splints on horses’ legs, and the reason why they should occur, etc- See .note in this issue of the Otago Witness under Rural Topics. W. 8., Katca.—Either you must draw your piece of bush exactly to scale or else supply us with the length of as many diagonals a.; possible. We cannot answer your question until you do so. “ Correct Form,” Winton, asks: “ (1) At a ‘gift’ afternoon or evening to a prospective bride is it correct to open and display the gifts, or to leave the parcels unopened until after the function? (2) If the former procedure is correct, who should open them? ” (1) It is usual to display the gifts during the function. (2) Surely it is the privilege of the bride-to-be. “Amateur,” Edendale, asks: “Now that the flowers are off the narcissus the plants look very untidy. Would it do any harm to cut the plant down level with the ground, or what would you •advise me to do? ” Do not cut the plant down, but double the leaves (foliage) in half, tying them neatly together, and leave the bulbs in their present position until such time as they are lifted. ■‘Mac,” Lochiel, wishes to know (I) if a skylark breaks its eggs after being handled; (2) if it kills its young after being touched by hand. (1) We cannot find one authority who states that the skylark acts in the manner stated, but i. is likely she will 'eave the nest if badly frightened, and will not return. (2) If the nest is disarranged in the slightest the bird will possibly neglect the nestlings, but we have no knowledge of actual killing. “ Otapiri,” Southland would be glad to know what is wrong with a slip of plum tree enclosed. The tree was covered with blossom both last year and this, but no fruit appeared. The tree was sprayed in the winter time. The tree is affected with the disease known as bladder-plum, and should be swayed with lime-sulnhur (1 in 15) in August; again with lime-sulphur (1 in 50) just before blossoming, -and again when the petals commence to fall with lime-sulphur (1 in 120). “Histrion,” New Plymouth, asks: “ (1) In what year did Miss Rosa Towers appear . in Dunedin or elsewhere in juvenile dramatic scenes. (2) Who was (in French history) Julie de Mortimer, who is represented in the play of ‘ Richelieu.’ in which many years ago the late William Hoskins and Miss Colville appeared in New Zealand? Miss Colville played Julie de Mortimer, who was a ward of the cardinal’s.” (1) On November 1, 1873, Rosa Towers appeared at the Queen’s Theatre with Jullian’s Variety Troupe: April 16. 1874, appeared at the Queen’s Theatre with a stock company in “ A Waif of the Streets.” (2) Can any reader oblige with this information? “Elector,” Auckland, writes: “(1) A Reform candidate delivered an address

at the end of which a motion of thanks and confidence was moved. Another man moved as an amendment that he had no confidence in the candidate or the Government, and the chairman would not accept it. Was the chairman right in doing so? Should he not have accepted the amendment —even called for one? ” (1) The chairman’s action was wrong. The duty of a chairman is to keep order and allow a meeting to express its opinion. The chairman may have ruled that those opposed to tendering a vote of confidence to the candidate could vote against the motion, but the question of thanks was coupled with confidence. The best method would have been, to test the meeting on the ouestion of confidence. That disposed of the question of thanks remained. The meeting might, for instance, be divided on the question of confidence in the candidate, but might be unanimous in its desire to tender him a vote of thanks. (2) We will endeavour to give you the information next week.