CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 197, 18 March 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

The occasion of St. Patrick's eve was made use of by Mr Charles O'Brien who having secured the assistance of a number of talented amateurs, took a Benefit at the Theatre Eoyal. The sensational drama ©f " The Colleen Bawn" was the piece chosen, and really, the very large audience which pretty well filled the house, appeared highly entertauied with the performance. Grrcat care had evidently been taken in the getting up of the play, and some of the scenes were very good. In particular we must mention the cave scene as being very effective. When Danny Mann, (Mi' Morgan) threwEily O'Connor, (Lady amateur,)

into the Lake the display of action was ao good as to call down rounds of applause, which was only ended when Miles, (Mr O'Brien,) shot Danny and took a tremendous ' header ' after the Colleen Bawn, whom he succeeded in bringing up to the surface of the water. Surveys of special sites are not now, it seems, required, so that in future applicants for sites for machinery, or other purposes will be saved a heavy 'expense. A little scene of an amusing •character took place inside the court house immediately after the police business was disposed of. As the belief seemed to be pretty general that the arrest of Mr E. A. Druryon Sunday was merely a trumpeiy business to secure his subsequent arrest for debt <on the Monday. The large crowd who were in Court during the trial for .'assault, poured outside to see the ■capture. Mr Drury, however, seemed 'in no hurry to leave his sanctuary, and (stood for some time enjoying (the irn-, patience of'.the bailiff and constables who stood a little distance off, like so many wicket-keepers waiting to catch •a ball. Notwithstanding a request imade by some that a fair start should ; bc allowed, there was evidently too little chance, and the gentleman stepping over the treshold, quietly x'esigned liimself to fate and the bailiff. The 'extraordinary zeal manifested by the police to secure the arrest of this debtor, as to say the least of it,very remarkable. ■On opening the Hospital Donation Box placed in the Court-house, the sum sf £5 12s in notes and silver was found therein, being doubtless 'deposits made at various times by lucky and openhearted suitors. Two gentlemen are now in the field as candidates to represent this constituency in the Assembly, namely, Mr Home and Mr Donne, both of whom are members of the Provincial Council. ■Both of them also are men of some 'education and practised ability, yet for ■our own part we should prefer a representative from any other class than the -one to which both the above named gentlemen belong. Our personal experience has but confirmed that old fashioned mistrust of lawyers, as a ■body, which seems to come natural to 'everyone. They are too much accustomed to advocate the side which pays hest, to encourage much faith in the goodness of their gratuitous services. Besides it is their interest to be bad •legislators. The spirit of a Legislative Assembly would be like that of a Board of Bakers appointed to determine the price of flour and bread. These remarks are of course entirely 'ofa general nature. The candidates before us are doubtless men in whom <every confidence may be placed. Mr Donne, as member of Council, has already proved his character, as a public servant, and to him w r e owe the present poscssion of what may be termed the thin end of the wedge, namely, the exlextension of the representation.