Wit and Humour.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 5, 8 December 1869, Page 3

Wit and Humour.

Ip you wish for “ Heart’s Ense,” neve “ Marry Gold." “SiuiiAH,” says a justice to one bn fore him, “you are an arrant kuavo." 5 prisoner, “Just as your worship sp The resiclcntA'of Cornish Town, on thq opposite, aide (Of, tile Kawaimv-Javea; Imin, Grom-, wolr, fiSWess (^S^xdSuentf' ri Va nco for con-i veying 'themselves, as well as their supplies, across the “ raging torrent” that separates their pleasant little hamlet from tho town of Cromwell. A stout wire rope is stretched across tliq Vor, at a height of about thirty feet from tlyj •w^ter,. and is firmly, secured to rocks omj&a baAk at either side. Tho ropo spans a (HsfetnSj of about 300 feet, and the necessary degree of' , tension is secured by means of a Spanish wind! lass, which is worked from the south side of. the river. Attached to the ropo is a “chair,” op oblong box, open at the top, and secured to two, iron pulleys, which are kept well supplied with grease, in order to prevent undue friction. The intending passenger takes his seat in the “ clia»r,i|f .and the “dip” of tho wire rope, aided by the 1 weight of the chair and its occupant, aerial velocipede half across the river, when, it becomes necessary for the person sitting in theehair to propel the machine the remainder of. thq distance by the aid of a rope securely fastened to the bank towards which he is proceeding. The sensation experienced by any one crq|jij|jfe jthe river for the first time by this novel method 'la far from disagreeable, and were it not fotpilijq, ’oscillating motion created by hauling in the' rope, would be exceedingly pleasant. of these useful contrivances is situated Molvneux river, about .two miles above Grom-. welL 'mm ■ Wo learn thaUSnTCaHrona people "reT. ceutly placed themselves in communication with the Education Board with a viewto the establish-' ment of a school in their district. A reply was received from Mr Hislop stating that £l2O would be granted them to assist in the erection of a school; but as a suitable building, at present unoccupied, can be procured, this expense may be avoided in the meantime. As there are a considerable number of children in the Cardrona who have hitherto been unprovided for in the matter of education, we trust that no time will be lost in the establishment of a school. The extreme dryness of tho season is beginning to assume a serious aspect in this neighbourhood. The sluicers on the banks of the Kawarau are already complaining of the scarcity of water,_ and unless a heavv rainfall occurs very sooh, some of tho dams will be completely dry, aViftthe claim-tioAfors consequeiufycompelled to stipend operations for a time. The growing crops in the district will also suffer to some extent for want of moisture, although fortunately, in most cases, the patches of land under cultivation are situated in proximity to water-races, the owners of which are always willing to grant the use of the water for the purpose of irrigation when they do not require it themselves.