CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 682, 9 July 1870, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

(from our own correspondent.) July 7. Mining; matters in this district have shown considerable improvement, consequent upon the plentiful supply of water available, which has kept the population constantly employed. The Maori Chief Company, the accident to which by the floods some months back your readers will be familiar with, have had some excellent returns; the first scraping up, I am given to understand, more than reimbursed the large outlay the shareholders had been put to in the reconstruction of their shoot and wheel, and at the present time the plates show remarkably well. The dam, or what may be more properly termed reservoir, belonging to Haines and party, is now full. This party have also had some excellent returns from their claim, situate at Argyle Terrace. The construction of this work has already greatly reduced the price of water in some localities, several parties being supplied for about half the rates previously paid. I believe it is intended to carry the water along the higher terraces, and with that view a number of leases have been taken up, and the ground is expected to pay handsomely, although it has been impossible hitherto to work it remuneratively in the absence of a permanent and plentiful water supply. A very considerable amount has been collected for the defence of the men committed to take their trial, charged with blowing up the machinery of the Southern Cross Gold Mining Company. The Social Institute have purchased, for the purpose of lectures and entertainments, the commodious and convenient premises recently known as the Morning Star Hotel, iu Camp street, for the very reasonable sum of ,£27. The weekly entertainments given by the Institute continue to receive large support. A lecture upon Geology, combined with Astronomy, formed a portion of the progrnmme of Monday evening, and the subject was ably treated. Much credit is also due to the lecturer for the considerable trouble he had taken to render the subject more intelligible to his audi-

Tory by the production of maps and diagrams Madame Giraudon arrived with her ballet troupe on Tuesday, aud will reopen the Casino de Veuise. A somewhat serious charge of assault came before the Bench on Monday, in which both complainant and defendant were carters, named Webster and M'Keo. M'Kee, it appeared, had recently imported from Nelson several very fine draught horses, and the complainant took occasion to pass some observations, not altogether complimentary touching the merits of the animals. It was clearly shown, however, that an unjustifiable, and certainly violent, assault had been committed, and M'Kee was fined £5 and costs. The fine, though heavy, was possibly considered none too much by the defendant for the pleasant relief afforded his aggrieved feelings by the mode of treatment adopted. A rather important case, as affecting importers and owners of vessels, was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court here, to-day. Messrs Hehir and Molloy, merchants, sued Mr Pascoe, owner of the ketch Constant, for amount of goods, £25, short dedelivered by that vessel, as per bill of lading. Mr Home, who appeared for the defence, showed that the goods, along with others, had been thrown overboard to save the vessel and remainder of cargo, and contended that the defendant was not liable. Judgment was given for the defendant.