CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 188, 7 March 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

A miner, named Edward Grallagherj died in the hospital on Thursday morning, lie had only been in about three days, and when admitted was found to be suffering from inflammation of the bowels but not acutely, bad symptoms only setting in a few hours before his death. Owing to the unexpected suddenness of the event a post mortem examination was made by Drs. Bennett and Morton, and the cause was made apparent, the intestines being found to be in a remarkably diseased condition.

There is no blinking the fact that the Queensland fever has reached this district, though the sysmptoms have; not assumed any virulent character. Still a good many miners are on the move, and there appears to bo considerable business going on in the way of shares changing hands. "We doubt very much; however, whether the movement will continue to any extent that would materially affect the population.

The steam-engine which Mr Maec had out on the Darkie's Terrace lias been removed to some ground on the Buller road, where it will bo used, wo understand, to work machinery about to be erected for the purpose of crushing cement for the public.

The law which came into force with the present year, doing away with arrest for debt under £lO, is every day making itself more palpably mischievous in its action. The relief from any fear of arrest operates as an encouragement for men of loose character to incur debts. So long as he takes care to keep within the prescribed amount ho may run up a hundred small accounts without having the slightest intention of paying. When asked for payment he can be quite independent, and be civilly evasive or insultingly curt, as suits his purpose or humour; like a certain musical party we heard of the other day, who when asked for the payment of an account, shrugged his shoulders and said j he had no money—he was afraid the gentleman would have to go on asking. It was advanced that this change in the law would prevent any one giving small credit. This may be very well in theory, but in practice it " won't wash," as it is practically impossible to get the money paid down in very little business transactions and between people who sec each other a dozen times a day, or previous to the execution of an order. Of course there are a few persons no one would trust with five shillings, but there is a pretty numerous class to whom trust —we won't say credit —is given on the right supposition that they have property, but when it comes to the point this property is nowhere, or more often claimed by some one else. An'instance of this, amongst many, came under our notice a few days ago, in which, failing payment of a trilling amount, an execution was put into a well-known public-house in the main street, but though the individual had his name over the door, and had been in possession for many months, the warrant was returned marked " no effects." A meeting of a few interested in the noble game of cricket took place at the

'City Hotel on Thursday evening, when tho preliminaries were settled for tho formation of a club, but the choice of rules and all other matters of detail were left to bo decided at tho first general club meeting. Tho entrance ice is half a sovereign. "\Vc wish success to tho 0. C. C.