CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 295, 11 July 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

At the Church of England committee mooting on Friday evexnng, a discussion arose as to whether the financial position of the movement warranted the immediate erection of a Parsonage as well as a church. There were no two opinions as to the desirability of the two objects being united as far as possible. Some of the gentlemen present thought that should there be a lack of funds, the building of a parsonage should precede that of a church, as being really the most important object of the two. Mr Broad said he did not anticipate any serious difficulty about money, imd he proposed that in addition to the call for plans for a church, plans and specifications be invited for a parsonage, the cost not to exceed £l5O. Mr Neale suggested that the number of rooms, say three or four, be mentioned, but after some discussion the resolution as proposed by Mr Broad was carried, it being deemed preferable to leave all details of design, number of rooms, size &c. to the architect, the committee deciding when the plans were received as to which, ceteris paribus, gave most accomodation for the money. The time for receiving plans for the church and parsonage was extended to Wednesday evening next at seven o'clock. It was mentioned by the honorary treasurer that the amount of cash in hand was £l5O, and there was another £IOO signed for which had yet to be collected. The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Wednesday evening next at seven o'clock.

Mr John S. Johnston, barrister, was on Saturday arrested on a charge of being of unsound mind. For the last day or two his manner and behaviour have been very extraordinary, and he appears to be, we won't say suffering under, but enjoying strange hallucinations as to the extent of his property and pecuniary means. We understand Mr Johnston, a few days ago, received news from home of the death of his father, Mr William Johnston, Ex-Provost of Dundee, and of his uncle, J. S. Johnston, W.S., Edinburgh. This intelligence, combined with other has probably had a prejudicial effect on the mind of the learned gentleman. We are glad to hear Mace and party are making good, progress in the work of conveying their large boiler to the Four Mile, although by an accident, which happened about a mile out of town, the boiler carriage and some of the horses were capsized off the road. A change of plan was then determined on, the boiler being taken from the carriage and rolled bodily along the track by means of parbuckling. On ■Saturday it had been thus taken as far as Deep Creek, and when the difficulties presented by the steep pinch there are got over, the rest of the way will be easier.

The first meeting of the new committee of management of the hospital was held at the Melbourne hotel on Friday Evening, all the members present except one. The chairman expressed a hope that the punctuality and good attendance shown on this occasion would be evinced at all subsequent meetings, and that the new committee would work as well together for the good cause as the old one had done. TII3 first business was the election of an honorary treasurer, and Mr Gasqoine was proposed. That gentleman begged to be excused on the ground of having already held the office for some time, but ou being pressed he consented to act. The question of the appointment of secretary was next brought forward. It appeared to be the unammous opinion of the committee that that officer should receive some enumeration. It being mentioned, however, that two gentlemen in the town had offered to do the work gratuitously a deputation was appointed to wait upon them, and ascertain the fact. In the meantime Mr Bain was requested to act as secretary, and consented. Some conversation ensued as to improvements, but eventually it was arranged that the new members of the committee should first pay a visit of inspection to the hospital in order to obtain, eachfor himself, the best information as to the present condition of the institution, and the feasibility of any improvements. With regard .to a visiting committee, it was proposed by Mr Neale " That a committee of four be appointed for such purpose every month." An amendment, however, by Mr Grasquoine—- " That the present system of a visiting committee appointed by rotation every week be retained," was by preference adopted The chairman and honorary treasurer were authorised to sign cheques as hitherto, and the time of the weekly meetings was altered to Thursday evening in place of Friday, at the same hour of seven.

Tenders for the construction of the road to Brown's terrace were opened

<on Saturday, and Courtney's tenders 'were accepted for all the three sections, the prices being considerably under £3 per chain. According to contract the work has to be finished in a month.

The Members of the recent Mining •Conference received on Saturday the trifling honorarium awarded to them by vote of Council, and the same evening they entertained their Chairman, Mr Broad R.M., and Mr G-eo. Donne M.P.C. at a very elegant and sumptuous supper prepared by Mr Slattery. Another melancholy instance <af the baneful effects of drink occurred here •on Sunday last. A middle aged woman named Mary Perman, who has been living for a considerable time: past in a hut near the Bank of New South Wales, was found on Sunday evening by some of her neighbors lying on the floor in a fit, and it was supposed she had been in that condition for two days. Dr. Dakers attended to her, but she expired a few hours after. A post mortem examination satisfied Dr. Dakers that the cause of death was compression of the brain immediately caused by a fit, but the brain had been much softened by intemperance. The poor woman's hands were much blackened, as if with trying to extinguish fire, and it is supposed she had accidentally set fire to the bed clothes, as they were partly burned, and afterwards fallen down in a fit.