CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 143, 15 January 1868, Page 3

CHARLESTON NEWS.

A preliminary stir has been made in our little "local-political" in respect to the forthcoming election. On Friday, two requisitions were being carried round for signature, one addressed to Mr Harry Kennedy, the other to Mr Duncan Keir ; and an attempt was made to get up a large public meeting on Saturday afternoon, which, however, was not very successful. It was to have been held in the open air, but some time after the hour appointed a move was made to the Casino, where some twenty or thirty assembled, and Mr Conolly having been voted to the chair, several gentlemen addressed the meeting. Mr Harry Kennedy, in tho course of a speech, referred to the requisition

which had been addressed to him, and stated that though highly sensible of the compliment and honor offered, his business engagements would not admit of his allowing himself to be placed in nomination, independent of the feeling of doubt he could not but entertain of his capability of doing justice to so responsible a position. Several present called upon Mr Duncan Keir to make a speech, but that gentleman declined, the discussion on this point occupying a long time, one gentleman proposing that a public meeting be called for Tuesday next, and Mr Keir be requested to attend. This was objected to by others, and after a good deal of rambling talk, intermixed with a few personalities, the meeting broke up. On Monday evening there was a meeting of . the Miners' Protection Association, Mr Evans occupying the chair. The only business transacted was receiving the petition which had been drawn up for the appointment of a Mining Board, and the appointment of a deputation, consisting of Messrs Clarke, Lenchan, D. M'Carthy and Murray, to wait upon- Mr Dutton with the petition, and request him to transmit same to his Excellency the Governor. "We understand the petition has been very numerously signed already. The Empire Bijou Theatre was opened on Saturday evening, and a considerable audience attended to witness the first appearance of the Comedy Troupe in Charleston.. The new prosenium and stage looked very pretty, and its increased size evidently to the ease and comfort of the actors. The curtain drew up to the little comedy of " Delicate Ground," which was recently played here at Mr Singer's benefit. On the present occasion the part of Pauline was taken by Miss Annie Merton, Mons. Sangfroid by Mr Newton, and Alphonso by Mr Ki'ngsley. After this, Mr J. W. Black sang one of his humorous songs, followed by other two ; then came a brilliant solo on the violin, performed by Mons. J. Schmidt, accompanied on the piano-forte by Mr Singer ; afterwards a hornpipe was danced by Mr Lloyd, followed by a Scotch song from Mr Black — -encored, of course, the encore itself being encored. The whole concluded (to use the ordinary playgoing phraseology) with the very laughable farce of " Nan the Good-for-nothing," Miss Annie Merton's Nan the Good-for-nothing, or, as it turned out at the end, the good-for-something, was really a clever piece of acting, and Mr Newton's Tom was quite an original character, and admirably played. The other father, Harry, was well represented by Mr Kiugsley, and Mr J. W. Black did the moral carpenter and lower business with comical propriety. To a lover of music, the most pleasing feature of the eveniug's entertainment, must have been the various pieces played by Mons. Schmidt and Mr Singer, with violin and piano, the overture to " Semiramide " being particularly well rendered. Judging from the unstinted applause throughout, the audience seemed well pleased with the efforts of all, and in a short speech of thanks, Mr Newton stated there would be an entire change of programme every evening.

The performances at the Empire Bijou Theatre on Monday evening, c nsisted of " The Swiss Cottage" and " Nan, the Good for Nothing" with numerous songs by Miss Annie Merton and Mr J. AV. Black, dancing by Mr Lloyd, and musical selections on the violin and pianoforte hy M. Schmidt and Mr Singer. Any of our readers who want a really pleasant evening's amusement cannot do better than pay the Comedy Troupe a visit. i?On Thursday evening, Mr W. H. Newton proposes to give selections from Shakspeare, choosing the play of " Hamlet," and on Friday night " The Honeymoon". A requisition is in course of signature, asking Mr Hennelly to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate, to represent this district at the forthcoming election.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CHARLESTON. Monday, January 13. (Before J. R. Dtjtton, Esq., R.M.) John Bohinson was brought up charged with an attempt to stab Herbert Vorley, Darkie's Terrace Road. It appeared the prisoner was very drunk at the time, and incapable of doing serious injury. He was discharged with a reprimand, upon his own recognizance for £SO, and two sureties for £25 each, as security for his good conduct in future. JohnMillswas charged with vagrancy, but dischargftd with a caution, and on condition of his quitting the district within 24 hours.