CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 138, 9 January 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

The late heavy rains have played the mischief with most of the dams, those on the Back Lead especially have suffered more or less injury. Situated mostly in gullies, these dams have been eitirely overflowed by tailings brought down by the rush of water from the workings above on Sardine Terrace, and it will be a heavy job for all hands to restore matters to a proper working condition. The Back Lead will ■ soon occupy a prominent position in the district in regard to machinery— several machines being in course of erection, designed on new principles, concurring which we intend giving detailed infor" mation on some future occasion, when they get into active work. AVe regret to report a serious accident which befel a miner on Darkie's Terrace, Pat Byrne, on Tuesday morning. He was carrying a block of cement along the top edge of an open paddock, when the ground gave way beneath, and he was precipitated into the bottom along with the falling cement, and was se°

I verely injured. He was at once con- ■ veyed to the hospital and attended to g by Dr M'Mullin, who found the left leg I fractured near the thigh, and the latter slightly dislocated, also severe injury to the right thigh. It appears to be quite certain now that the sometime talked of change in the magistracy here is to take place, and that almost immediately. Mr Lightband, of Cobden, and Mr Dutton are to change places. The reason of this we understand to be the want of a Resident-Magistrate in the district, presided over by Mr Lightband, who is not an R.M. The news was oidy known for certain on Tuesday night, and next day a petition to the Superintendent against Mr Button's removal was drawn up, and in the course of pignature by the inhabitants. Cob Jen may want a Resident-Magistrate, but that is hardly a reason for Charleston being deprived of one, and the amount of business done in the Court here will probably bear comparison with any other on the coast, and we believe is much nurj than what passes through the Magistrate's Court at Nelson.