Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 44

Notes and Queries

Questions for reply in the coming issue of the Otago Witness must be 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.

* Miner,” Kyeburn, wishes to know the price of gelignite in large quantity, say about- scwt. 78s ex magazine per case of 501 b in 10-case lots. “ Orchardist,” Nelson, writes : “An employee on an orchard is receiving 20s a week and his board. Under the Emergency Unemployment Act has he to pay the levy on the value of his board ? What is board usually valued at per week for a farm or orchard employee ? ”- (1) No. "Board will vary from 15s to 20s per week. “ Constant Reader,” Waimate. —Messrs Mason, Struthers, and Co., of Christchurch, announce in our Farm | and Station page that they undertake the work of "rinding combs and cutters for horse clippers and sheep-shearing machines. This firm can be relied on to give satisfaction in the work it undertakes. S. O. L., Otago, wishes to know (1) the best reapers in Nelson to advertise in for shearing so as to reach most of the runholders in Nelson, and the addresses of such papers; also (2) the best paper to advertise in for shearing in Marlborough and the address of same. The Evening Mail is the only paper published in Nelson. (2) The Marlborough Express, published at Blenheim. “Inquisitive,” Cardrona, asks : “(1) What do the symbols on the back of the Bank of New Zealand notes represent ? (2) Was the King’s head ever on them ? If so. why was it removed ? ” (1) The medallion on the centre of the back is the seal of the Dominion of New Zealand. (2) We are not aware that the portrait of the King ever appeared on notes of the Bank of New Zealand. “Adventuress,” Southland, asks: ‘‘(1) What are the duties of a stewardess on a liner ? (2) Must an applicant be over 21 ? (3) Where would one apply for a position ? (4) Does one have to sign on for any length of time ? (5) What are the wages ? ” (1) Domestic duties. (2) Not necessarily. (3) Apply to the Providore Department, "Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd.. Wellington. (4) Engagement can be terminated on giving 24 hours’ notice. (5) £9 to £lO per month. “Inquirer,” Bannockburn, writes: “I have a large walnut tree, very old. It had not had any water for years. The last three years we cut it down at the top, chopped about the trunk, and gave it plenty of water, yet each year it yields fewer nuts, although the tree itself looks very flourishing. Why is this ? ” Walnut trees are not infrequently shy producers, and resent drastic treatment as indicated, the fruiting wood having probably been cut away, as the walnuts are usually at the tips and on ends of branches. The tree may be one of poor strain and may have lacked adequate pollen fertilisation owing to there being no other trees in close proximity. “Subscriber,” Otaina, writes: “I have a few potatoes of which I should like to get the correct name. The name I got was Aberbrochy or Aberbrochie. (11 What is the correct spelling ? (2) | Who imported them from the Old | Country ? They are supposed to have j been at the Taieri for three years. (3) Who was the breeder of them ? We had 14 plants with a yield of 1121 b.” (1) Aberbrothock. (2) and (3) Inquire from Arthur Yates, Auckland, who catalogued them at Us to 12s per cwt. Should “ Subscriber ” care to submit seven good seed to the Fields Institute, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin, arrangements would be made for the sample to be grown by the plant breeder attached to the Plant Research Station, who would submit a report. It is practically impossible definitely to identify varieties solely by an examination of the tuber. “Oak,” Timaru, -writes: “(1) I have some fretwork frames made of birch three-plywood, also other things of oak plywood. I would like to stain or varnish these so that the grain in the oak wood is brought out. I want to finish wnth french polish. I have tried different stains, etc., but cannot get a smooth hard surface. Could you tell me what to use to obtain this before using the polish ? (2) Is mahogany stain the darkest stain procurable ? ” (1) If a dark stain is required use Vandyke .crystals, procurable from any colour merchant; if an oak stain is wanted use Manders oak water stain, or mix an oil stain with a little burnt umber, yellow ochre, raw linseed oil, and some terebene. Colour desired is determined by quantity of colours used. . When dry french - polish in the ordinary way. (2) No, walnut is darker.

* Seaweed,” Otago.—On analysis seaweed contains about as much nitrogen as farmyard manure. The nitrogen, however, is all present as slow-acting organic nitrogen, while in dung a certain proportion is present in the active and available form of soluble ammonia compounds. The nitrogen in average seaweed therefore is scarcely so valuable as that in average dung. At the same time seaweed decays rapidly in the soil, so that some of its nitrogen soon begins to become available. The phosphate in seaweed is only about half or one-third that of dung. On the other hand seaweed on the average is richer in potash. Valued by the constituents it contains, seaweed on the average has

a value similar to that of dung. As howeyer, it is not such a well-balanced manure and is not suitable for such a variety of purposes, practical men generally hold that three tong of seaweed arc about equal in value to two tons of farmyard manure. Seaweed is most suitable for crops which require potash manure. In other parts of the world it is commonly applied to the potato crop, alone or mixed with farmyard manure, sometimes supplemented by chemical fertilisers. Generally it is recommended, where seaweed is employed, also to apply superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia. It is good for mangels. ‘‘Jumbo,” Gore, asks; “(1) How much is a license for selling coal which is mined on the farm ? (2) How many tons coal are there in one acre at 12ft deep, assuming that one square yard weighs one ton ? (3) What are the names and addresses of the various petrol distributing companies operating in New Zealand ? (4) Does the yolk which comes out of the wool in scouring have any lubricating properties ? (5) Where can darts such as are used by showmen be procured ? ” (1) No license is required for selling coal if a freeholder with the right to all minerals is in possession; but if a leaseholder of Crown land it is necessary that the lessee should get permission from the warden in the district or from the Commissioner of Crown Lands. In the case of a freeholder a mining right is not granted unless to a certificated man. (2) Assuming that one square yard four yards deep is equal to one ton, then one acre would equal 4840 tons. (3) The head offices of the undermentioned companies are as follows:— The Shell, Custom House quay, Wellington; Big Tree, agents A. S. Paterson, 44 Cuba street, Wellington; Vacuum Oil, T. and G. Buildings, Wellington; Texas Oil, 144 Featherston street, Wellington; Atlantic and Union, Mercer street, Wellington. (4) Comparatively little in its natural state. (5) Write to Messrs A. and W. M'Carthy, 144 Stuart street, Dunedin. “Inquirer,” Invercargill, wishes to know whether there is a province of Southland or whether the whole territory south of the Waitaki is all the province of Otago. He heard it stated that in the ’seventies Southland was separated from Otago, but after a few years the Southland province was so hopelessly in debt that Southland was abolished and again became part of the Otago province. The country south of the Waitaki River was originally known as Otago, and in 1861 Southland was established, but in 1870 the province of Southland wag reunited with Otago—that is to say, by agreement Southland ceased to exist, the whole united province being known as Otago. In 1875 by the Abolition of Provinces Act all provinces were abolished. Clause 3 of the Abolition of Provinces Act, 18.75, reads as follows:—“The second section of the Constitution Act is hereby abolished, and the provinces of Auckland. Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago are abolished.” Clause 4 : “ The portion of the colony included within any province abolished hereunder shall, on and after the date of the abolition thereof, be called a provincial district and bear the same name as the abolished province which it comprised.” It would appear, therefore, that Southland is still within the provincial district of Otago. Some years ago -an historical writer, under the caption “ Southland : Separated and Reunited,” summarised the position thus : “Dr Hocken wittily remarks in his ‘ Contributions to the Early History of New Zealand ’ that the history of Southland has points of resemblance to the story of the prodigal son. Smarting under the disabilities which handicapped them at such a distance from Dunedin, unfair treatment in the expenditure of revenue, and other grievances, the people of Murihiku i n March, 1857, petitioned the Governor praying for separation and for inquiry into the proceedings of the Waste Land Board. Dr Menzies was the prime mover, and, aided by the New Provinces Act of 1857, the electors of Murihiku secured their ‘portion’ on April 1. 1861, when the population of Invercargill numbered about 400 souls and that of the new province about 1500. The population of Otago then numbered 15,000. The career _ of the new province was meteoric, and serious embarrassments ensued. The council complained of reckless expenditure on public works, and within four years after its secession the province was prostrate under a debt of £400,000. A return to the parent provinces pointed the way to a solution of difficulties. The only other alternative was direct taxation, which, considering the sparseness of population, depleted by the rush to the West Coast goldfields, could not be entertained. Reunion was advocated _by a large majority, and Southland ‘ came back ’ on November 8, 1870.”