AN AERIAL VEHICLE.
A correspondent writes from Carrathool: — An ingenious young man named Richard Rowe, of Whitton, has constructed an aerial machine which bids fair to become an unparalleled success and to entitle his name to be recorded with those of great inventors of past and present ages. It is the outcome of two and a half years of hard study and indomitable perseverance. At times he would abandon the task as being impossible to accomplish, but would again resume it with renewed energy and greater determination to succeed, believing that such a vehicle could be made which would enable people to travel through the atmosphere with speed and safety. It is said that perseverance, combined with keen perception, will overcome all difficulties which at first appear insuperable; and it is amazing to see what success he has so far brought his invention. The machine is constructed of with marvellous mechanism, but finding that wood was not sufficiently strong to withstand the great pressure and work which would have to be sustained and performed by it, he is now engaged in making one with improvements composed mostly of steel. He has made some very successful ascent or trials, reaching a height of 150 feet, and proposes ere long to give exhibitions in the art of aerial navigation. The machine which can be manipulated by either the hands or feet — and in two ways or methods by the hands— rises from the ground, there being no necessity to place it on an elevated position; and one great feature in it is that the occupant has complete guiding control over it, and is enabled to ascend and descend at will, and to propel himself through the air with astonishing rapidity, about 10 miles an hour. The inventor smiled when he heard that Blondin was to get 1000 dols. for walking on the tight-rope from the top of Eiffel Tower to the Exhibition building in Paris, and said he would undertake "to fly" the distance from the same elevation "free gratis" and show the world that Australians had the pluck and ability to accomplish anything what man could do under the sun. Sceptical was the condition of our mind when we read the above communication, for we did not find it easy to believe that place like Whitton could furnish an environment favorable for the development of a mechanical genius. We consequently referred the item back from whence it came, only to receive by return post a re-iterated assurance that it was correct in every detail. In reply our correspondent wrote :— I can quite understand your inclination to doubt the truth of, my par re "aerial vehicle.'' The thing seems almost' incredible and misleading. I have seen the machine, also an ascent, and I do not hesitate to say that the success of the machine is really marvellous. I was desired to ask you to publish the par which I sent last week, otherwise I would not have sent it, as he is very reticent as to it's manufacture. Personally speaking, I was sceptical myself and laughed heartily at the lunacy of the man. I fully anticipated a fearful death for the aeronaut."