CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 370, 7 October 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

The usual weekly naoeting of the Committee of the Church of England was held on Monday evening at the Melbourne Hotel. Mr Broad in the chair, and a full attendance. A letter was read from the Eev. Mr Harvey, which stated that he had been authorised by the Bishop to open the new Church. The committee then resolved to open it on Sunday next, the llt.i inst. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Gasquoine, Neale, and M'Coy, was appointed to make the necessary arrangements relative thereto.

A meeting of the Prospecting Association Committee was held on Monrlay evening, at the Melbourne Hotel. Mr Allen in the chair, and a

full attendance present. The minutes of the last meeting being read and confirmed, a letter was read from Mr Connolly, tendering bis resignation as a member of the Committee, owing to his intended departure from the district. The resignation was accepted, and Messrs Greenwood, Steele, and Simpson, was added to the committee. The collectors appointed to canvass the town, submitted the result, Which by no means realised the sum anticipated. Notwithstanding that the canvass was pursued with vigor, only the paltry sum of £7O was subscribed. There is sufficient evidence here to show that our town's folk at least, are not over sanguine about the project. In consequence of the report being so very unflattering, it was proposed by Mr Hennelly that, "Considering the lukewarmncss manifested by the people relative to the prospecting scheme, the Committee be dissolved." An amendment however, was proposed by Mr M 'Parland and carried," that still further exertions be pursued." A proposition by Mr Savage was carried, " That the secretary communicate with the Government relative to the advisabi'ity of their cutting tracks through the outlying parts of the district. There is little doubt but if this were done expeditiously, little occasion would exist for public prospectors. The Ottawa, from Hobart Town, arrived on Monday afternoon laden with a general cargo Having dutiable goods on board, s ime arose relative to her entry into a harbour which is not a port of entry, and which necessitated the captaius departure for the Buller on the same evening. It is thought that considerable trouble will attach to the matter. Mr Howard's benefit came off at the Casino, on Monday evening, a fair number were present and, the performances announced to take place on the occasion were good and elicited much applause, but especially those of Messrs. Howard, Dear, Sampson, and Thomas, on the horizontal bar. In the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, there was an unusually light list—merely a case or two of a civil nature being disposed of.