CHARLESTON.

Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 37, 22 February 1878, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

TO THE EI3ITOB OP THE TIMRs!

Sin,— ln compliance with promiso to keep yon posted on matters of public im* portanco transpiring in this isolated por» tion of tho West Coast, I take the earliest opportunity of oommunioating some of tho most interesting topios whioh have como under my notice sin,c° my departure from the romantic nnd picturesque regions of tho Inangahun, for othpr and perhaps less fnvored j,urts. I ncod sonrcoly inform your renders that tho roiid between Iteoftou nnd EuUer was, through tho timely notion of tho Bailer County Council in conjunction with tho Inangahua, all but in a thorough Htate of repair, and muoh of tho effects of tho Into disastrous floods had disappeared —though many traces of desfruction along tho basin of thj IJullcr are still visiblo, which will take time, labour and oonsidcrablo cxponso to offuce. It, is needloss to occupy your valuablo spaco or to trouble your numerous readers with ft graphic description of tho Uullor Valley, its variety of soil find natural bonuties, its stupendous nnd procipitous rocks nnd beetling nnd awe- inspiring clifl's »ho guy nnd lovoiy plutnago of tho birds* thoir sweet and melodious song which not unfrequently rings forth from tho sequestered shado, changing tho peculiar still, ties* of bush nnd forost with joy nnd animation— the sublimity of oascado nnd catoract as thoy rush with irrcsistablo mpotu,osity till ongulpod in tho rapid riror beneath, as all tkeso things miwt bo genernlly known to the touri9t and traveller. 1 shall, therefore, content myself I with saying that the journey was a plonsnnt ono — milking allowance for tho aspect of tttto son»i?d, a la Jolm Oilpin, on one of Job Lines noblest chargers fortified with sundry " nips," of that world ronowncd humanitarian, J^mtoy flennessy. whoso acquaintance, whothor for weal or woo, your correspondent had formod, and whoso stimulating infyuenco was highly ap« predated on this ocousion on \\h arrival a Iho halfwa • house minus his uhnpoaitt nnd stirrup leather under tho burning mys of a midsummer noon day sun. Arriving in VVestport long after bright 80l had sunk below tho horizon ft continuance of tho kindly friendship of Mr J. Hughes wus not by any moans unaoeps table, nnd a good stout decoction of th«t gentleman's invigorating fluid gotten up in tho inimitablo stylo of tho amiablo nnd fmwinnting barmaid of tho Post Osee Hotol, tended much to assuogo tho wearisomenoss of tho day's travel. Aftor having restod a fow days in this lively and nttractivo little seaport, during which one partakes of tho hospitality, sooiability, and conviviality of former friends and old nnd valued acquaintances, your correspondent resumed his journey which terminates for tho present at Charleston, tho scene of his futuro avocations — at lenst for n time. And you will bo glad to kuow that his snfo arrival hero after somo years' absence was hailed with a " Cend millo failtho " — for tho gonorosity and liberality for whioh tho people of Charloston havo boon proverbial — have nothing aba tod cither by tho changes of timo or ciroumstancos. A sti iking instanco of this is given in tho bnnqucts nnd presentations recently tondorod some of her worthy citizens. Amongst tho many worthy recipients of those expressions of popular sontimont may bo mentioned tho njune of Dr Honry, M.H.R., who was ontortainod nt a sumptuous banquet on his return from tho Into session of Parliament by his constituents as n mark of roapoot and, ostcom for tho manner in whioh ho had, brought tho wants of tho distriot boforo that august Assombly ; nnd his successful efforts in inducing tho Govern,* m.ont to, pluco on tho Estimates tho munifloienlj Bu,m of JCH.OOO for oxpondituro on works 0/ public utility in this district. W. St. Goorgo Douglas, Esq.., lato postmaster, w,as prosontod boforo hit departure fop Aslibiyrton, Canterbury, by tho residents., whose corteousness in, his, oflico thoy had nil nlik.o shared, with nn address nnd purs.o of sovereigns in testimony 0 fjho estimation, in whioh ho had beon hold ijot only in his official capacity bu,t for othpr meritorious acts ; nnd last, though jjot loas,t, W. J t . Elliot, Esq., wn« enters tnined, at n banquet by his frionda. and ndmirers (at whioh your lato townsman It. Doluuoy, did tho honors of tho chair and enlivened tho company with ninny felicitous anecdotes and tolling speeches in his ua.unl fertile and humorous style) in token

their appreciation for the manner in which ho during several years onrriod on tho agency of the R;in,k of New Zealand hen 1 . Hcneo it will bo gratifying now.s to many of your readers to learn thnt, Mn\ old spirit has not yet died out, and flint tho place tbouch represented by outsiders as tailing into decay, is gradually recuperating and is destined to outljvo some of tho njost thriving pianos on tho West Oonst. Of tliis there is manifest proof in. tho recent success of tho " Bench Combers, 1 ' tha result of whose industry gives indications of an i- exhaustible supply of tho precious metal in our iiumoditto proximity which only requires tiovnlapin nnt. Moro anqn, and thanking yen for fileV of the, •' Times " rv'ceive.d by last mail, \ rem,a\u, lIOTA. Charleston, .Tnnniry 26'h, 1878.