Biilloonists aro causing wiine little stir. A few weeks ago I mentioned Hie feat of Mr Williams, n Sydney watchmaker, who ascended several thou sand feet in a balloon and then dropped safely ti> earth, with tlio help of a para chute. Since, then the colony lim been visited by mi American performer, in the same, line—a Professor Baldwin, who proclaims to eclipse anything that has yet been doiiß in the way of plunging into apace. His particular specialty is that of being able in some, measure to guide his descent. He nlso drops some distance like a stunts before expauuing his parachute, and when it is expanded lie perforins acro batic feats in thi) air. He lias already ex hibited iu Melbourne, and has twice been announced to do so in Sydney. For some reason or other, whether it is that there were too great a proportion of "outside' , tickets or not, 1 do not, know, he declined to make the ascent in Sydney, but he hns now beeii challenged by the friends of Wil liams to a contest in his peculiar art. I need hardly say that tho j'cJph of competition brings iu a fiesh danprer tu a peculiarly hazardous extent. Unless the authorities interfere it seems only too evident that tho feats will increase iu foolhardiness until one of the performers loses his life. One does not envy the feelings of those who can take do light in such spectacles. But it cannot Lβ denied that they are very popular especially among those who seek to enjoy them on th.: " cheap." A CUKIOL'S CASK. A curious case is reported from Murine, where the head gaoler, one .John Dictyhas been committed for trial foi shooting a gaoler, who was severely wounded, the bullet striking his chin. The prisoner is also clr.iigi'd with embezzling moneys handed him to pay the prison siihines. It would of course be out of place to say any t'ning rospecliufr this particular case, fur ther than that lons-continued indulgence in drinking - habits is said to be at the bot tom of the trouble. 