CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 210, 2 April 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

PUBLIC MEETING- AT CHARLESTON. A very large meeting was held in the Casino de Venise, on Tuesday evening. Mr Home, on being called to the chair, said the object of the meeting, he understood, was to consider what steps should be taken to commemorate Thursday, the day set apart for rejoicing at the escape from assassination of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. He

accepted with pleasure the honorable position on two conditions—first, that his authority as chairman should be duly supported ; and, second, that no political allusions should bo made use of by the speakers. (Hear, hear.) He believed all classes and races joined alike in expressing abhorrence of the crime committed. It would now be for the meeting to consider how the proposed demonstration had best be carried out.

Mr Johnston proposed the first resolution which was as follows—

" That this meeting viows with detestation and regret the attempt to assassinate 11.K.11. the Duko of Edinburgh, and desire to express their heartfelt thanks to God for his providential escape" Seconded by Mr Doyle and carried unanimously. Mr Hennelly, before proposing the next resolution, wished to remark that it was reported the base act had been committed by an Irishman. He, himself, as an Irishman could not believe it. It must have been done by some coward not worthy of the name of Irishman. He believed the Irish as a body were as loyal a race as any in the British dominions. He begged to propose the second resolution—- " That Thursday, the 2nd April, be kept as a general holiday for rejoicing and thanl sgiving at the prospect of the speedy recovery of H.J&.H. the Duke of Edinburgh." Seconded by Mr Thos. Keenan and unanimously carried. Mr Beveridge proposed and Mr Johnson seconded the next resolution—- " That a committee be selected to carry out the objects of this meeting, to comprise the following gentlemen, with power to add to their number."

Mr Keen an observed an omission had been made in naming the committee, there being but one or two Irishmen down. Fie believed that no race of men regretted this act of shooting more than the Irish. If it was done by Fenians it would be an everlasting disgrace to them, for such a base action could confer no benefit at all io Ireland or the cause they had at heart, but the contrary, and he thought it was the work of a maniac. He concluded by suggesting several names which were added to the list of the committee, and then stood as under— Messrs Lightband, Horn, Beveridge, Nicholson, Hennelly, Collings, Black', Cameron, Macdonnell, Henderson, Broadbeut, Savage, Bain, Jackson! Broad, Hehii-, Booney, Allen, M'Grath. Dwan.

Mr. Johnston said before the meeh. ing closed he wished to propose a vote of thanks. Mr Home was a candidate for their votes and—(Cries of " Oh !") The Chairman asked the committee to meet together immediately after the meeting had dispersed. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, three cheers for the Queen, as many more for the Prince, and the National Anthem.

Immediately after the public meeting in the Casino, the Demonstration Committee met together at Jolliffe's Hotel, and decided that there should be a general procession of all who liked to join, the assemblage to take place at half-past eleven o'clock on the beach, and to march from Constant Bay up Princes-street, along Rotten-row to the fluming, turn back the main road to Harry Mann's Brewery, returning to the camp and there dispersing. Mr Hennelly and Mr . Dwan were appointed to marshal the procession and perform other duties, with power to appoint sub-officers for the occasion.

On the motion of Mr Horn it was resolved that the business portion of the community be requested to observe Thursday as a Sunday, publicans to be allowed to open after the procession was over.

A deputation from the butchers of Charleston was received who presented the following address—- " We the undersigned butchers of Charleston, viewing with feelings of indignation the recent diabolical attempt to assassinate H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, and as a proof of our loyalty to the Queen and Constitution, hereby subscribe towards providing a bullock to be roasted whole on Thursday next, the 2nd April, on the occasion of the public rejoicing. Perrett and Brownlie. John Buckland. Robert Shepherd. Richard Warn. G-eorge Aytoun &Co." A vote of thanks to the butchers, and also to Mr Rich, the carter, who tendered his services, was cordially passed, and certain of the committee were deputed to see the roasting arrangements and other matters properly carried out.

E. GALLAGHER'S MEETING, There was a large meeting at the Shamrock Hotel, ou Monday evening, to listen to an address from Mr Gallagher, of Addison's Plat. Mr Cameron occupied the chair. After the Chairman had made some introductory remarks, Mr Gallagher said he had not come down expressly to address them that night, but being in Charleston, ho thought the present a good opportunity of meeting the electors, though he was not so well prepared as he should have wished ; and at the commencement ho might say that it was not through pride, or of his own accord, that he came before them to solicit their suffrages, but at the earnest solicitations of the miners, aided by the business people. He then said he would briefly explain his views on several matters which concerned the welfare of the mining community. He would confine himself to these as the only essential topics. He came forward specially as a representative of miners, not as an advocate for business people, farmers, or agriculturalists. The first subject he would speak of Was the Government. He thought the present state of things very unhealthy, there being nine provinces and ten Governments in New Zealand. If elected as their representative in the General Assembly, he would make it his business to endeavour to do away with the Provincial governments, and substitute one general united Government. The more complicated the machinery of government Avas, the greater chance there" was of its going wrong, and therefore he thought the simpler the form, the better. He considered the establishment of County Councils would be productive of much good. "With regard to Mining Boards hen would certainly advocate their exten- . sion; and he gave from personal experience an instance of the great want of such an institution at Addison's Flat. He did not think anything of the late efforts to revise the mining laws. They could not expect that experienced and capable men would attend for stich a purpose, without being paid, and it was a shame to expect it. He was in favor of there being a general miner's right for the whole colony, and that would be one advantage which would follow sweeping away of Provincialism. Such an alteration would, in practice, be equal to reducing the price of a miner's right. There was another and very important subject to which he should allude, and that was education. Education he considered as the foundation of a country, and he was an advocate for making it compulsory. He alluded to the present imperfect system at work, and advocated a system of State education, so that poverty would be no bar to children being sent to school ; and, in addition to the common schools, he would have a colonial university—one that could turn out lawyers that would be a credit to the country, and not like the wretched specimens that we had around us. With such an institution at work to bring forth the connected talent of the hour, there would be no such necessity as at present, for a man like himself to have to come forward as a representative. He concluded by saying that it was not his intention to contest the election with Mr Doyle, but if he was elected he would, as an honest man, perform his duty faithfully. In reply to questions put, he said he was in favor of a reduction of the gold duty ; he was also in favor of extending the size of claims on wet ground, or deep sinking. He should oppose any separation of the Islands. He was not prepared to say whether he would advocate Charleston being made a port of entry or not. He was favorable to the appointment of an Inspector of weights and measures; and considered that Charleston, having the greatest population, was the most proper place for a District Court.

The Chairman said he did not want to compound two meetings, but he understood Mr Doyle wished to address the present] meeting, and they might thus have an opportunity of picking the best man. Mr DoYiiE, who was well received, then made a very telling speech, full of strong points and happy allusions, which were well appreciated by his auditors. After running down in full measured language the system of government pursued on the goldfields, and suggesting that the whole pack of intolerant and incapable officialdom should be swept off the face of the country, and to be substituted by Mining Boards, and "Wardens chosen annually by the miners, he satirised, •with considerable humor, Mr Home's pretensions as a candidate, and concluded, as ho began, by stating his intention to retire from the field in favor of Mr Gallagher—a gentleman whom he believed was well qualified in every respect to represent them.