Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 4074, 12 April 1932, Page 44

Notes and Queries

Questions for reply In the coming issue of the Otago Witness must bo 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 do plume may bo adopted for publication.

Medical. “Sidcupian.”—We regret your case involves medical advice, and we do not answer such questions. * * * Bed Socks. “Knitter,” Oajnaru, asks for directions for knitting a pair of bed socks. — Perhaps some reader will kindly oblige us with this information. ¥ * * My Father’s Son. “Inquisitor,” Waianakarua. wishes to know the answer to the riddle, " Sisters and brothers have I none, but that man's father is my father's son. Who is the person in the picture? The son of the man looking at the picture. Shooting the Train. “Curious.” Wellington, writes: “An engine driver has a gun which tires a bullet at 100 m p.h. From his engine he fires at the guard in Ids van while the train i s doing 100 m.p.h. Will the bullet hit the guard? ” If the engine driver aimed straight it WOIII4I. ¥ ¥ ¥ To Clean Marble. “Cora.’’ Taihape, wishes to know how to ''lean marble. Marble. if very dirty, •an be cleaned by making a paste of two parts crushed washing soda ami one each of powdered pumice stone and fine salt sifted together and mixed with water. Rub it all over the marble, and scrub with a medium brush. Wash off with clear, cold water, dry thoroughly, and polish with milk. Electric Light Plant. “Constant Reader,” Arrowtown, writes: “ For generating light we have a threeinch main, Jin jet, 681 b pressure. We want about 17 lights. Will that power generate same? ” Messrs A. and T. Burt, Ltd., Stuart street, Dunedin, are of opinion that you have ample power available for generating the requisite power. Dates. “ Westlander.” Brunnerton, wishes to know: “ (1) The year in which Dr Hammond’s ‘The Whole Duty of Man’ was first published. (2) How many editions of James Harvey's ‘ Meditations Among the Tombs,’ together with eulogistic poems and other works, in two volumes, were published in 1803? ’’ (1) 1684. (2) Innumerable. ¥ ¥ ¥ Cow Hides. “Ancient Reader,” Oamaru, would like to know where to have a cow hide tanned, and what would be the cost of same. Messrs Parker and Lawson, tanners, North-East Valley, Dunedin, say that the cost will depend upon the weight of the hide, but an ordinary cow hide, say, 401 b weight, will cost £1 15s if made into harness leather. It would do only for light straps, unless a particularly good substance hide was used. Peach Trese. “Farmer.” Nelson, asks: “Is it advisable to plant the following peach trees in Ne’son district on flat land, well drained, and soil of fair quality, with a view to supplying the Wellington and West Coast markets: —Hale’s Early and Hale’s Late, and in nectarines, Gold Mine? If you know of better kinds, please let me know.” In the circumstances, your best plan would be to consult with the orchardist in your district, Mr J. H. Thorp, who is conversant with the commercial requirements of the markets mentioned.

Argentine and the Sea. “Reader,” Fairlie, asks: “(1) Where does one apply to obtain correspondence with a boy about 16 or 17 in the Argentine where there are cow ranches? (2) What is a cowboy’s wages in America? (3) Are revolvers used for self-defence on the ranches? (4) 'Where would one obtain information as to getting on to the mercantile marine as an apprentice?” (1), (2), and (3) Get in touch with Mr J. A. Johnstone, 88 High street,' Dunedin, who is the Vice-consul for the Argentine. (4) Write to the manager of the shipping company in which service is required.

Twins in Sheep. “ Sheep Owner,” Otago, wishes to know whether a ram (one of twins) would be more likely to beget more lambs than a single ram, and if this propensity pertains to twin ewe lambs. Twins are apt to run in families in the human species, and the same is true of sheep. High or low fertility is inherited, as is proved by the rpere existence of differences between breeds in respect of fertility. Studies of flock records by several workers have shown that the degree of fertility tends to be passed on from mother to daughter, and there are cases on record of the building up of fertile strains within a breed by a continued selection of ewes prone to have twins. ¥ ¥ .. ¥ Rowan Tree Ber\ps.

A. B. C„ Mossburn, -vishe s to know why his rowan trees havo no berries. They

are quite big trees, and about 12 years old. We are at a loss to account for your 12-year-old trees failing to berry, and are left to imagine that they have never flowered, or is it only this season that there has been no crop? The rowan tree has an extraordinarily wide range of distribution and habitat. It likes a moist, cool situation, but is aptto scorch in hot summers. Rowan trees in Otago frequently flower at three and four years old. and this season most of the trees are bearing immense crops.

Sovereigns and Eggs. “ Country,” asks: “ (1) What is the value of sovereigns now, and where can they be sold? (2) What is the remedy for duck eggs which taste of the waterglass preservative strongly?” (1) The value of the Sovereign is a fluctuating quantity. The official value is, of course, 20s, but buyers are giving more. Some gold buyers are purchasing sovereigns at £1 Is 6d. There are speculators in sovereigns as in other things, but we are unable to indicate how business can be done with them. (2) If the eggs are badly tainted by the preservative there is probably no remedy. They might be used for certain cooking purposes, but that could only be determined after trial. Some of our readers may have had similar experiences. and be able to help our correspondent. Forestry. “Plantation.” Invercargill, asks: “ (1) What is the correct time of the year to collect pine, larch, and blue gum seeds? (2) When is the correct time to sow them? (3) Where can one get any information or books concerning forestry matters? (4) Are Canadian fir trees grown in New Zealand? ” (1) April. May, and June. Cones of Pinus insignus can be gathered at any season and kept dry. The eucalypti family can be collected at the end of the year, and stored in cotton bags suspended to the ceiling of a dry outhouse until the following spring, when most of the seed cases will have cast their contents. (2) Spring time. (3) Any of the leading booksellers would supply you with books on forestry. One of the best is Matthews’s “ Tree Culture in New Zealand.” (4) We are at a loss to know to what tree you refer to under the name of Canadian fir tree. It is probably grown here, but under some other name, as w e can find no reference to a tree of that name in any of the books on forestry consulted. •r Music and Flying. R. M.. Southland, asks: “ (1) Where can the pianoforte music of two Maori songs—“ Te Arawa ” and “ Nga Pihi ” (I am not sure of the spelling of the latter) be obtained? Failing pianoforte music, can you tell me where one can obtain a recording of the latter one? (2) Who is the world's leading aviator, and where does Air-commodore Kingsford Smith come on the list of presentday aviators?” (1) Neither of the two pieces of music is obtainable in Dunedin, but Messrs Charles Begg and Co., Ltd., 21-25 Princes street, Dunedin, have records of “ Ngahihiote Ra.” a song which is probably the correct name of one of w the numbers required. (2) There have been so many notable flights and aviation records made recently throughout the world that one is loath to designate any particular airman as the world's lender in aviation, but there is no doubt that Air-commodore Kingsford Smith ranks among the first halfdozen flyers. • ¥ ¥ ¥

Garden Arrangement. “ Reader.” Milton, wishes to know the best arrangement for a piece of garden 13yds by 10yds. There is a path on one side, and buildings at one end, with flowers and shrubs at the other. Presuming that the house is at the south end of the plot, arrange to have an herbaceous border, say, 6ft or 7ft wide, from the right side of house to the gate, as per plan posted to you. bow the balance of the area in lawn grasses, Cut out the present straight Path and make a path as per sketch. 11 ant flower-bed as shown with small plants, violas, arabis, Ruth Fisher torget-me-nots, alyssum, ete.. in front, Y l . . tall plants, hollyhocks, Michaelmas daisies, tritoma (pokers), gaillardias, at back, intermixed with carnations, penstemons chiffon daisies—with bed of roses and chrysanthemums faced with say, violas near gate. On one side of house plant climbing roses, and at the other sweet peas You will understand the difficulty of advising lay-out without knowledge of the location. The Trousseau.

“Thrifty” Milton, asks for a detailed account of the requirements for a trousseau, including household linen It depends upon how much a girl can afford -to spend. There i s no use in giving a list unless one knows what money a girl has in hand—and, not only that, but on how she is going to live, whether in a house, or only in a couple oi rooms Besides this you must remember that often relatives and friends make useful presents of tablecloths and other articles for household use, and until you know what you are likely to get in that way it is much better not to spend any money you have in hand If you are asked what you would like,’and it is a near friend or relative who asks you, then you can ask for what you think is most useful. It is a mistake to Jay m a quantity of sheets, towels, etc., unless you are going to have a house with a good cupboard or linen press in which to keep them. We suggest that you plan to allow three changes of linen for each bed (six sheets, six pillow-cases, three bolstercases apiece). Half a dozen Turkish

towels, . a dozen huckaback towels, a couple of round towels for the kitchen. Three breakfast cloths, three sets of dinner mats (or dinner table cloths), a dozen table napkins, half a dozen tray cloths, three or four afternoon tea cloths, and as many oddments like carving cloths, d'oyleys, tea cloths, and dusters as you can collect. We have not mentioned runners for dressing tables and bedroom bureaux, as these depend so much upon your personal requirements.

Obesity. “ Country Subscriber ” wishes to know if there are any exercises one can do, or anything to exclude in diet to get rid of obesity in the abdomen.In order to avoid any risk to your health you might seek the . advice of a medical man. The avoidance of starchy foods, potatoes, rice, etc., and sweets or puddings at meal times, the drinking of a glass of hot water early morning and on retiring, brisk walking exercises, and such like are simple methods by which superfluous flesh may be kept within reasonable bounds. No liquids should be taken with meals, and. these same meals, no doubt, might well be cut down in the interests of slenderness. It is also necessary to see that the bowels move freely every day. Any form of exertion which induces perspiration and stretches muscles not generally in uso i.s good as long as it is not overdone. The following exercises are especially good for the abdominal and hip muscles:—(l) Touching the toes with the finger-tips, keeping the knees straight. (2) Lying on the floor with arms above the head, and bringing (a) the feet over to touch the hands, (b) the hands over to touch the toes. (3) Standing with feet apart, straight knees and arms, and alternately touching the right foot with the left hand and the left foot with the right hand. (4) Lying on the back, with the feet together and the arms outstretched at right angles to the body, and alternately swinging the left foot over the body’ to touch the right hand, and the right foot over to touch the left hand. (5) Lying on the side, with the underneath arm stretched above the head and the other supporting itself on the floor in front, and swinging the upper leg back and forth without shifting the position of the body. (6) Lying on the face and rolling the abdomen on the floor. None of these exercises should be done to excess, or until the unused muscles are ready for them, a little exercise every day being better than much exercise done once a week. You will find it easier to do these exercises if you perform them to the rhythmic music of a dance record on the gramophone.

LAW QUERIES.

[Answered by a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Letters and Telegrams must be addressed to “ LEX,” c/o Editor. Otago Witness, Dunedin.] J. L. asks: “I wish to lease for a term on a purchasing clause a piece of ground valued at £3OO. (1) What would be the legal costs of the lease? (2) What stamp duty would be payable?”—(l) £3 3s. (2) £4 7s. 000 “Concession Coupon” asks: “ (1) Do concession coupons for photographs, come under the same heading as other coupons? (2) Do they cease when the others do? (3) Is it right that I should still carry on canvassing for them? ” (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) No.

000 Lover ” asks: “ (1) What is the youngest age a youth (of independent means) and a maiden can be lawfully married ■with the full consent of both their parents? (2) When was the law passed?” (1) 14 in the case of males, and 12 in the case of females. (2) The law is in accordance with the English common law. 000

“Income Tax” asks: “Two men are joint owners in equal shares in a farm, the unimproved value of which is £3870. Do they have to pay income tax because the farm is valued at over £3OOO, or does each man consider the value of his share of the farm separately as £1935?” Yes, they’ have to pay income tax.

“Hard Hit” asks: “After paying 8s per week rent for a house for eight years, I now find that I cannot pay more than 5s without getting into arrears. I have had to bring up a family of five children On my own, as my husband left me destitute ten years ago, and has in no way supported us. Can my landlord put me out and put in another tenant? ” Yes.

“Inquirer.” (1) B is entitled to the foal. (2) B is responsible for the damages. (3) A cannot demand a refund for the unexpired portion of the week. (4) He can legally demand a refund. (5) The trustees are liable. (6) Apply to the trustees for redress. (7) If he can prove the loan, he can sue. (8) The stamp duty on an agreement is Is 3d. (9) This is entirely IT matter of arrangement between the parties.