BALLOONING IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3894, 15 January 1878, Page 3

BALLOONING IN AUSTRALIA.

The most successful balloon ascent ever made in the colonies was made at the Eastern Oval, Ballarat, on New Tear's Day by Professor Emanuel Jackeon, under engagement to Mr Allison. The Professor, says the "Star," has just arrived from Derby, in England, and possesses no less than five balloons. The aerial conveyance he has brought out Bere is capable of containing 20,000 cubic feet of gas, and of carrying from three to four hundredweight. The car will hold four persons at a pinch, although on New Year's Day only one daring young man accompanied the aeronaut. The gasbag is constructed of a material composed of eilk and flax, well varnished, and covered with strong netting. A pipe kid to the Oval from the gas main supplied the buoyant gas, and by five o'clock the vast bag was inflated, and looked like a great pear that had sprung from the ground by magic. The car was strongly secured, and then the last preparations for ascent were made. This is the 278 th ascent made by Professor Jacksoa, co that nothing wae likely to be forgotten. A Mr Drew, hairdresser, of Bridge-street, who has before this ventured his life in situations that most men would ehrink from, had arranged to accompany the aeronaut, and now stepped into the car. A brisk wind was blowing towards the north, and the word being given to let go, the band struck up "Up in a Balloon," and the vset conveyance glided from the ground like a bird taking wing. It was feared that the car would strike the pavilion, bat the loss of some balkst evaded this, and the ballon glided over safely. Messrs Jackson and Drewwaved their hate, somebody cheered, and growißg rapidly more distant, and ascending elowly, the balloon was visible a conple of miles from earth. It then teemed to descend slowly, and faded from eight. Professor Jackson informs us that never in all the 278 ascents he has made has he bad a better journey than on New Year's day, and never a more useful companion. Ascending gradually, they reached a height of two and a half miles, and travelling at the rate of about twenty-fire miles an hour, saw at a glance the whole of the Ballarat district. Pulling tbe valve they drank the Queen's health, and descended until wben over Creswick they were about a mile from earth. Here the people caw them, and the streets were filled with gazer*. At » quarter to cix the aeronants began to descend, and, sweeping gently down, struck, whea about fifty yards from earth, * rather strong current of air, which swayed the car about a good de&L The flying grapnel ttrook the earth and gripped, and the swaying balloon was brought to a standstill at a spot about four miles this side of Clones, near the waterworks bridge. The travellers stepped out, opened the valves, and the hnge bag sighed, wrinkled np, and eoßapsed iDfc> a confused heap of netting and silk. > It was packed into the car safely, and s, couple I of farmers, wiio rode furiously np to *cc what the Strang e object wee, were aeked what they at iirefc thought the billoon m One said " a crow," and the other "» >eagle," but both agreed that ihey couldn't think of lending a eartfe o take it to the railway nation. A party of pickxickerj, howerer, did this, and. balloon and aeronaut* attired in Ballarat

safely and without a scratch shortly after ten o'clock, baring travelled about eighteen nrilee through the air. Mr Drew informs tw that he never felt at ell frightened. When the balloon rose the earth seemed to slip away and sink beneath him, but be felt no motion. He cheered vociferously, and lost hisr hat,which is probably cherished by some family in the vicinity of Creswiok as a relic of an aeronaut. When over Creswick the people seemed to be running about like ante, and from that spot Ballarat could be seen, and the Eastern Oval plainly discerned. The scenery was magnificent as far as the eye could reach, and the air very warm indeed. Both travellers seem to have enjoyed themselves. Mr Jackson is highly pleased with the ascent, the most successful, in fact the only thoroughly successful one, ever made in the colony, and Mr Drew declares he would like nothing so much as another trip. On descending the motion was imperceptible, but the earth seemed to rush up to meet the balloon, and the professor, too, lost hie hat. He leaves again for England in a fortnight, and only came to the colony for private reasons, ac he hue more business in England than he can manage.