CORRESPONDENCE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 54, 5 July 1940, Page 21

CORRESPONDENCE

A. W. T. Hyde (Katikati), objects to the inclusion of the name of a novel by Evelyn Waugh in the crossword, on the grounds that he has never read a novel by Evelyn Waugh. We can only say how sorry we are that the correspondent was unable to get that clue, and hope that he will make the best of a bad job by consoling himself with the thought that he now knows maugh about Evelyn Waugh than he did befaugh. Our official constructor of crosswords has been informed of the situation and informed that we do not like clues that make correspondents so saugh. R.G. (Waihi): This correspondent deserves our best thanks. He raises no trouble, asks no questions, but patiently sends in fresh puzzles and correct answers. In gratitude we award him the Honourable Order of the Asparagus Roll. P.J.Q. (Motueka), joins battle with H.G.L. He says that H.G.L.’s answer to Paddy the Pup was wrong. The men would meet at the end of two hours-five miles from Sadly’s and seven miles from Sunley’s. He also disagrees about the problem of feeding the pigs. He says the distance would be 585 yards. The PP, who has now learnt wisdom, will remain neutral in these matters (although he reserves the right, like some other people, to join what seems to be the winning side when he thinks he sees which it is). F. Lovell (Warkworth): We shall first have to make sure that your problem does not affect the international situation. F.D.B. (Riccarton) sent some problems. We are using those which have not appeared previously on The Page. He reminds us that we have never given the answer to the Proverb problem (May 10). It was: "The watched pot never boils." D.J.M. (Christchurch): Hope they all crossed safely. H.H. (Eltham): Thank you for your suggestion, but we don’t think it quite suitable. _E. B. Reade (Napier) and C. Kellahan (Runanga) write about shunting trains. C. Kellahan demonstrates the problem’ we have used previously about shunting trucks round a loop with a dead end. E. B. Reade poses a

problem about passing two trains, each longer than the loop line. By almost the same mail came C, Kellahan’s letter on the same subject. The Runanga correspondent has two trains to pass, each pulling 100 trucks. The loop will only hold 60 trucks. However, it can be done, and the correspondent says it has been done, although the manoeuvre took the best part of an hour. The method was: Train A goes on the loop, but leaves 40 waggons on the main line. Train B goes forward on the main line and carries on past the loop points, pushing A’s 40 extra trucks in front of it. A-then proceeds out of the loop well clear of the points. B comes back through the loop, but leaves A’s 40 trucks’ on the loop before going on past the points. B then goes back. and travels through the main line on its journey, A shunts back and picks up the 40 trucks and proceeds.