CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 277, 20 June 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting of those interested in the establishment of another church in Charleston, was held in Jolliffe's Hotel on Monday night. Mr Warden Lightband occupied the chair and introduced the Bishop of Nelson. After a short prayer, His Lordship said it afforded him great pleasure to be there that evening, having found both Charleston and it's inhabitants improved on acquaintance. "When last there in October, it did not appear that any arrangements could be made for establishing another place of worship, in addition to the two then existing, but since that time a turn seemed to have taken place, and he had reason to believe there were many who desired to see another church erected in Charleston. He spoke not only of townspeople but of persons in the outlying district, and not merely members of the Church of England but of different persuasions, who wo.uld gladly welcome an opportunity of attending the church, and receiving the ministrations of a minister of the go3pel. After briefly describing the purpose of his present tour of inspection, and the route he had taken through the diocese his Lordship explained that Mr Harvey had been unable to visit Charleston oftener on account of having so much to attend to in Westport. He proceeded to observe that it was a common complaint that religion now-a-days was a matter confined to Sundays only, and that it was very necessary by every means in our power, to render the complaint a groundless one. He had great faith in the movement about to be initiated. There were two things required, a place of worship and a residence for the clergyman. If asked for his opinion he would say have both, but if that could not be all at once accomplished, the residence should be the first object. It was of the greatest consequence that the minister should be resident in the place in order that -he might labor, not only on Sunday, "but throughout the week in the outside districts, therefore he hoped the resolution to be put to the meeting would include the erection of a parsonage as well as a church. He could not at the moment tell them whom he would appoint to the district, but had little doubt but that some arrangements could be made whereby the duty would be efficiently performed. He would very much like himself to come and spend a month or two in the locality, and might perhaps be able to do so; at any rate they could rest assured he would do all in his power to secure to them proper spiritual administration. After explaining the constitution of the church relating to the formation of a Synod, his Lordship went on to say he hoped the laity of the "West Coast would be well represented at the next sittings of the Synod. They could not pay such representatives, as did the Provincial Council its members, but the representatives would find the people of Nelson not the least hospitable in the world. He concluded by expressing some favorable remarks about the Rev. Mr White, and his sense of his kindness and that of the Church Committee, in not only giving up the use of the church on Sunday evening, but tendering the whole of the collection made on that occasion towards the building fund of the new church. The following resolutions were then put to the meeting, and unanimously carried : " That the inhabitants of this district <leem it advisable to take immediate steps for the erection of a place of worship in connection with the Church of England in Charleston." Moved by Mr Gasqoine, and seconded by Mr M'Coy. " That a Committee be appointed for the purpose of securing a site, canvassing for subscriptions, and erecting a suitable Church and Parsonage." Moved by Mr Kennedy, and seconded by Mr A. B. Bain. Mr Neale moved the third resolution :—" That such Committee shall consist of the following gentlemen with power to add to their number—Messrs C. Broad, R.M., G. W. Lightband, J.P., Gasqoine. M'Coy, Kennedy, A. B. Bain, and Pullen, and six miners to be chosen by this meeting." Mr R. P. Bain, in seconding the resolution, pointed out that Mr Neale had omitted some of the names that had been set down. Mr Neale replied that he had done so purposely, being in favor of a working committee rather than having one composed of a large number of names Mr Broad suggested that the Committee should be empowered to appoint sub-committees on the various diggings, and being of opinion that too many persons could not be got to act on a committee ol this kind, he moved, as an amendment to Mr Neale's mo-

tion, that the resolution as originally written should stand, thus adding the names of the following gentlemen to the list:—Messrs R. G. Neale, It. P. Bain, Bowman, R. M'Ovvcn, H. Jones, and 11. Mace. On the amendment being put to the meeting, it was declared carried. The following miners were then named to be added to the committee : Messrs J. Muir, Joshua Greenwood, Charles Jenkins, James Connolly, W. Fox, and Richard Steele. The next resolution, to the following effect, was proposed by Mr Broad, seconded by Mr P. Allen, and carried: —" That a subscription list be immediately opened." This was accordingly done, and resulted in the amount of £9l 18s being subscribed, which, considering there were only about 40 persons in the room, was very satisfactory. Mr Connolly apologised on behalf of the miners for their scanty attendance, no intimation of the meeting having been advertised. The Bishop explained the hurried nature of the meeting was unavoidable under the circumstances. He congratulated the meeting on so favorable an initiation of the movement. A vote of thanks to his Lordship and to the Chairman concluded the proceedings. It was announced that the committee would hold their first meeting on Tuesday evening, at 8 o'clock, the Melbourne Hotel.

Despite the very singular and (to speak mildly,) eccentric, behaviour of Mr George Donne, M.P.C., which appears to have reached a climax, during his last visit to Nelson, he somehow contrives to get more done for the district, than is even attempted by the other representatives. In this respect he seems honestly disposed, not alone to fulfil any pledges he gave before the Council sat, but to carry out as far as possible the expressed wishes of his constituents. Passing over, for the present, tha long asked for, though much sneered at point about making Charleston a port of entry, which is now in a fair way of being accomplished, we must congratulate the honorable member on the success which attended his motion for cutting tracks inland at intervals along the coast line from the Razorback, to Mokihinui. It is but a short while since, when speaking of the discovery of some coarse gold in the ranges at the back of Candlelight, we suggested the propriety of an exploring track being cut into the back country, in order to give prospectors a fair chance of pursuing their investigations, and we are very glad to think there is a probability of this being done. A considerable degree of judgement will of course be required to select the the particular lines to be cut, so that the money voted may not be uselessly expended or thrown away; at the same time we venture to suggest to our mining friends the desirability of their meeting and discus, sing the subject and when they have made up their minds as to the best site of thejproposed track or tracks, to convey their views and wishes, in a memorial to the Commissioner, who will doubtless give the matter due attention. There is no portion of the country indicated which offers a better field to the inland gold explorer, or promises better results, than the district at the the rear of Charleston and Mount Faraday, and we fully believe that coarse gold, in payable quantities will be found in that region. "We wonder whether any thing is being done towards brenging out the revised Mining Regulations. It was urged in recomendation of the peculiar plan adopted for obtaining revision that no delay would be experienced, but some time has now elapsed since the labours of the congress were completed, and there is yet no sign of any authorisation or publication. Can any ono explain the fact of, mineral leases takiug, say two years to draw out, for that seems to be the usual period which elapses between the date of application and the receipt of the formal document. The only application which has gone forward from this district for such a grant, seems to be in a fair way of receiving the custoinery leisurely treatment, for we understand, more than half a year has passed since the application was but notwithstanding a well sustained fire of letterwriting to all kinds of officials, the applicants, who are anxious to commence operations on a large scale, can obtain no satisfactory information.

ADDISON'S. (fbom ouu own correspondent). 13 th June, 1868. I visited Addison's on the 4tli inst. and found the track in a bad condition but observed some men repairing it. The track to the Shamrock Lead is in an impassable state, several houses are waiting to be removed and cannot even be carried in pieces in consequence of the condition of the ground. No track has been constructed by the Government over here, and the sooner one is commenced the better, as the want of it is retarding business considerably. Kelly and party struck payable gold in their claim yesterday which makes an addition to the number now bottomed on gold in the Shamrock Lead. In the third township twenty claims remain flooded, so as the tunnel party demand £2OO for relieving them of water, and the occupiers offer £l2O, and so the matter rests. Certainly £2OO is not an overcharge for twenty claims, when we think of the time and labor which was required some time since in bailing water from those very claims. The Mechanics' Institute have altered their designation and now style themselves the Addison's Flat Reading Room. The following are the committee :—Mr Daniel Garvey, president; Dr Donovan, vice-president; Tobias Glennon, treasurer; Win. O'Connell, secretary. A sum of £l6 10s was handed the treasurer in a short space of time. At a meeting the other evening the Committee proposed taking in the principal papers, viz., the Westport Times and Charleston Argus, the Westland Observer, the Celt, with Melbourne, Sydney, and Home papers, magazines, &c. The rate of subscription for the present will be 5s per month. A code of rules has been sent for to Hokitika, and when final arrangements are made they will be published. The principal men in the townships are subscribing to this laudable undertaking, and the promoters of it deserve great credit. There is, I was informed, great dissatisfaction, owing to the Celtic Committee giving no account of the money received at the ball which took place some weeks ago at the Casino, in aid, as then stated, of the Celt newspaper. It was currently reported a large sum of money had been collected at this ball, which was stated to have been a perfect success. On Kynnersley's Terrace mining operations are going on satisfactorily. The flat is holding on the same way, and yielding a fair return to those engaged on it. The storekeepers are still complaining of the scarcity of money; this is the more strange when more gold has been recently sold from Addison's than at any previous period.