CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 349, 12 September 1868, Page 7

CHARLESTON NEWS.

A special meeting of the Committee of the Hospital took place on Monday evening, at Kennedy's Melbourne Hotel for the purpose of enquiring into the large amount of expenses incurred for rations, drugs and extras, supplied to that institution for a short time past. There in attendance Messrs Broad (in chair) Beaumont, Bowen, Kennedy, M'Cay, and M-Carthy. The Surgeon and Warden were also in attendance and examined, respecting these matters and satisfactorily accounted for what at first sight Would savour of extravagance. Enquiry was a'sO made respecting the recent admsssion of two individuals into the Hospital—the one while in a state of intoxication —the other, as circumstances subsequently partly established the fact, a pseudo invalid. To this also a satis-, factory explanation was given. The extras furnished being of an especially larjye character, it was decided that the Warden should procure no more extras except upon written instructions from the doctor. A letter was subsequently read from Mr. Kempthorne in Dunedin offering to supply the Charleston and Brighton Hospital with drugs at moderate charges. The offer was accepted, but allowed to stand over till Doctor Dakers should make out a list of what would be required. Meeting then adjourned. In the E. M. Court on Tuesday, James Derbyshire was brought up on remand from Westport, charged with embezzling the monies of John Lewis, dairyman; and was further remanded until Tuesday for production of evidence. Owing to a defection, the amateur concert which was to have been held on Tuesday evening at the Four Mile, in aid of the new Church of England, did not come off. It appears that the vocalists as well as those who had the conduct of the affair, were singularly indisposed on the occasion, and could hot attend—some with colds, others, I am inclined to think, with imaginary complaints. "Well might our neighbors of the Four Mile exclaim "ye gods, ye gods ! how can we endure all this." The old favorite p.s. Waipara, arrived on Tuesday afternoon, and sailed in half an hour afterwards. CHARLESTON PROGRESS COMMITTEE MEETING. Pursuant to advertisement the Progress Committee held a meeting on Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock at the Melbourne Hotel. There were present Messrs Kennedy, Neale, Isaacs, Allen end Eussell.

Mr. Hennelly in the chair. The minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr. A. B. Bain tendering his resignation as secretary to the Committee in consequence of his removing to Westport. Proposed by Mr. Isaacs and seconded by Mr. Kennedy and carried that the resignation be accepted. Another letter was read, from Mr. Thomas Dwan resigning his position as chairman of the Committee on the grounds of personal dislike to sit with a certain member of the body. The document itself bore the impress of hasty execution. Some members were of opinion that personal animosity should not interfere with public duties. The tender, however, was not accepted; it being proposed by Mr Hennelly, and seconded by Mr Isaacs and carried, that it be allowed to stand (over for one week.

It was proposed by Mr Kennedy, seconded by Mr Eussell and carried. That a letter be written to Mr Kynnersley, requesting him to give instructions to Mr Lowe, to enquire into the probable expenditure that would attach to the removal of a certain rock within the port, and which considerably endangers the small vessels entering therein. It was proposed by Mr Isaacs, and seconded by Mr Neale: —"That the proper authorities be written to with respect to the advisability of posting outside the telegraph office, the arrival &c, of vessels along the Coast. After some remarks about the advantages that would accrue in consequence, the motion,was carried. It was proposed by Mr Kennedy, seconded by Mr Isaacs and carried : " That a letter be written to the Colonial Secretary, urging upon him the

necessity of carrying out the intention of the Provincial Council in relation to the advisability of declaring Charleston harbour, a port of entry. After a short discussion about the advisability of appointing a paid secretary, a vote of thanks to the chair was proposed by Mr Neale and seconded by Mr Isaacs. The Committee then adjourned.

We observe by the Government " Gazette" that His Excellency she Governor, has been pleased to appoitffc William Sydney Muuday, Esq., Collector of Customs, to be Emigration Officer at the port of "Westport. The latest advices from the Queensland diggings (says the " Ballarat Star) give accounts of robberies and numerous cases of stickmg-tip in the neighborhood of the principal rttsbj The markets ate said to be glutted with goods, and although the prospects are good, there are a good many diggers returning. A rich quartz reefs says the Oeelong Advertiser,h&sbeen discovered atßutherglen, and the manner in which it was found was rather singular. A man wanting some quartz to build a 'chimney, saw gold in some of the pieces. This was quite enough for him, operations were soon commenced, and the reef is now down 300 feet. The " Grey River Argus" of Saturday says:—" "We are informed that another explosion of fire damp took place at the Brunner Coal Mine yesterday, by which a miner named Lind say was injured. The accident Open caused by Lindsay carrying an was light although he knew the mine was badly ventilated and fire-damp was about. The injuries he sustained are not serious."

Wild pigs appear to flourish in some parts of Australia as well as they do in New Zealand. The "Ararat Advertiser " says : —" In the neighbourhood of Mount Aripiles the mob of wild pigs are increasing very fast, and some of the boars are becoming very fierce as well as bold. The sport of running these animals down and killing them appears to offer quite an exciting amusement as their chase doea in other countries At one place where wild pigs are not uncommon, a private hunt was arranged about a week back, which gave quite as much excitement as is said to be enjoyed at these hunts in Germany. An old boar was treed or ' stuck up,' and about half-a-dozen large kangaroos dogs and a mastiff gathered round the game. By the tim e two of the horsemen rode up one of the mastiffs and the oldest kangaroo dog were bleeding from terrable wounds. The dogs would not repeat the struggle at close quarters; and although a couple of shots from a revolver were fired, they seemed to have no effect. One of the men decided upon the very dangerous plan of dismounting and attacking the animal in rear, under cover of the tree, which was a large one; luckily for himself he got fair aim at <the ear, which so disabled or bewildered the boar that it became an easy matter to plant a couple of balls behind the shoulder. Some adventurous spirits are "talking of passing a day or two at Moun}. William, and trying a chace wi.h some that are known to infest that place." The Wellington "Evening Post" says that "Mr Vogel made 'a most able and telling speech when speaking in defence of the "Libel Bill," then under discussion. In refuting several statements made by some hon. -members against the press of the Colony, he had occasion to refer to what he called scurrilous articles, which had been written in a miserable paper, the circulation of which was only some 150 copies ; and, turning to Mr J. 0. Richmond, he said, " Did the hon gentleman say I alluded to him ?" A roar of prolonged laughter greeted the question, and, shaking his head in the negative, the Commissioner of Customs looked rather foolish. [There was an article containing a most violent attack on Mr Fitzgerald, the Comptroller of Eevenue, in the ministerial paper, the "Advertiser," believed to have been written by a Minister.] A portion of the royal stock bred by her Majesty the Queen on the Flam sh farm, Windsor-park, under the supervision of Mr Brebner, was forwarded on June 30 to the East India Docks, en route for New Zealand. The consignment consists of a fine Hereford bull-calf about nine months old, named the Duke of Edinburgh, out of compliment to the recent Royal Visitor to the southern hemisphere, and a boar and sow of the pure black Berkshire breed.' The animals were shipped in the Siam, which leftthe East India Docks on July 1, for New Zealand. The stock has been purchased from the royal farm by a gentleman in that colony for breeding purposes.