CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 331, 22 August 1868, Page 7

CHARLESTON.

The second and concluding sale under the auspices of the Gift Auction Committee was held on Saturday evening, when the whole of the gifts were cleared, some of them of course, ht a tremendous sacrifice. Hats of all descriptions appeared a drug in the market, and had at the last to be sold off at a shilling a piece. The celebrated uniform hat of the 01 Regiment, excepted, that realising over a pound in knock-downs of half-a-crown each. The sheep " Billy" also was again put up, and resold two or three times, eventually we believe, finding its way back to his old master, Mr Shepherd. There was a very fair attendance of buyers whose bidding was Well kept up to the proper concert pitch by the auctioneers, Mr Dwan and Mr Isaacs, who again rendered good service. Amongst the novelties of the collection we noticed a box of delicious fresh butter given by the maker, the proprietor of the dairy farm at the Totara River. This we believe, is the first sample of butter that has been made in the district. The sales on Saturday altogether amounted to about £67, which added to the sum received on the first night, will be a very welcome increase to the English Church Building Fund. The usual weekly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held on Thursday evening, Mr Broad presiding.

A letter was received from Mr Alexander, tendering his resignation as a member of the committee, an account of other duties preventing his attendance. The resignation was accepted with regret. The Sub-Committee reported that the contractor had failed to commence the erection of the dispensary and bath-room, and they were instructed to make arrangements with the next lowest tenderer. Erom the Visiting Committee's report it appeared there were six patients in the ward, including one that was recovering from what the doctor stated to be, an attack of English cholera. A complaint about the quality of the bread was ordered to be enquired into by the nex Visiting Committee ; and this concluded the business of the evening. On Saturday the telegraph wire was brought into Charleston, and carried into the office which is adjacent to the Post office. The batteries and appliances have been received some days, and the line will be ready for work on Monday or Tuesday. About a dozen of the leading hotel keepers in the town were summoned before the Bench on Friday for petty breaches of the Licensing Ordinance, and were severally fined in sums varying from ten shillings to ten pounds. These raids upon publicans appear tt> be periodical, though it seems impossible to calculate the time when they become due; for the matter Of that however, were the letter of the Ordinance strictly enforced, every night there are few of the better sort of licensed victuallers who could steer clear of penalties. Another feature of these, what may be termed revenue scrapings, is, that it generally falls to the lot of the better class of publicans to be summoned. "VVe hear that it is the intention of Messrs Edwards and Co. to place the Lyttelton steamer in the Charleston trade. Eor a paddle steamer, she is admirably adapted to work this harbor, being handy and of light draught. We hope the report is correct, for since the Waipara has deserted us for the north, our business men and others have suffered a good deal of inconvenience through want of a steamer trading to this port.