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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 28, 9 January 1862, Page 3

The Athenamm in an amusing and clever article on the subject of the Pneumatic Despatch Company, with the objects of which our readers are familiar, says : —“ What says the ladies living in the far west, at Kensington or Not tin j Hill, to a scheme for enabling them to blow letters to the other side of London, and get an answer to their sweet epistles borne through space by the same poetic agency ? Here is a startling proposition ! for zephyrs trained to fetch and carry like dogs of the choicest fancy, or pigeons of matchless breed ! To go yet further in the regions of the wonderful—what think they of an apparatus which will send kid gloves and millinery, three volume novels and bottles of eau-de-Cologne flying through the air from any given point to another point within the limits of the ‘ Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855 ?’ There is fascination in the thought. And yet, if reasonable hopes be fulfilled, all this and much more will shortly be matter of everyday experience. A few months hence the lady regnant of a villa at the foot of Primrose Hill will say to her husband starting for the City, ‘My dear, blow me a quarter of lamb, a turbot, and a few lobsters from Cheapside !’ And the brave captain of her dreams will give utterance to no expression of astonishment, but answer with promptitude, ‘Certainly, my dear—and shan't I blow you anything else ?’ In duo course the articles will be purchased, and then—with a heigh ! presto ! puff!—they will alight. lamb, turbot, lobsters and till, safe at the foot of Primrose Hill.”

A great rifle contest has being arranged between English and Scotch volunteers, Licut-Colonel Viscount Bury and Captain Horatio Ross being engaged in settling the preliminary details. TV appears that the project is proceeding favorably, and it seems very desirable that this should be the case, as such an annual contest would, to use Lord Bury s own words, contribute its share promoting the permanence and stability of th j volunteer movement by creating a noble and honorable emulation between the two countries.” A man up town says he has a little machine in lus house which has acquired perpetual motion. It is a very simple contrivance, requires no weights, lines, or springs to make it go, but go it does, and not only will not stop, but to save his life he cannot stop it. It is his wife’s tongue ! “ Mary is your master at home ?”— <s No, sir, he’s oat.”—“ I don’t believe it.”—“ Well then, he’ll come down and tell you so himself. Perhaps you’ll believe him.”

Why are hoops like church towers ?—The surround the bells (belles). A poor fellow who pawned his watch said that he raked money with a lever. “ Bob, how is your sweetheart, getting along ?” “ Pretty well; she says I needn’t call anv more.”