CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 353, 17 September 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

Cobb's coach on Tuesday came in with a team of six horses, there being rather an unusual number of passengers on board owing to the Odd-Pel lows' Ball taking place the same evening. The grand opening ball advertised to take place at the Bank Hotel, on Friday night the 18th inst., presented a very inviting complexion on account of the circumstances connected with it.

The proprietors, Messrs Behan andj Kelly, have lately gone to considerable' expense in enlarging and improving the original hotel, and apart from any personal consideration, were it only for the sake of giving an impetus to others to go and do likewise, and exhibit something worthy of our young township, it should receive unqualified patronage. " A thing of beauty" as poor Keats says "is a joy for ever ;" and though this can hardly be called an illustrative incident of the poet's meaning, the structure nevertheless is fairly entitled to comparative excellence.

A lecture on Ireland's " Past, Present, and Future" was delivered by Mr John Manning, late editor of the nonextinct " Celt" on Monday evening last, in the Belle de Union Concert Hall. Owing, it is supposed, to the large fee for admission, comparatively few attended on the occasion. It may be a question for solution, which is the more difficult art, i.e., the writing? or the delivery of a lecture ; in my own opinion, the latter is the more difficult to be acquired, and in this, Mr Manning is not so felicitous as in the former.

PROGRESS COMMITTEE MEETING. The Progress Committee held their usual weekly meeting on Tuesday evening, at the Melbourne Hotel There were present, Messrs Gasquoine, (in chair), Neale, Kennedy, Isaacs, and Russell.

The minutes of last meeting being read and confirmed, a letter was read from the Superintendent, acknowledging receipt of a letter respecting the formation of a Progress Committee in Charleston. A

letter was also read from the Post-master-General in respect to a daily postal communication between Charleston and Westport, which for reasons of economy was not approved of, and another letter relative to subsidising the National School of the town, was received from the secretary of the Board of Education at Nelson; the latter project was also not entertained. It was then proposed by Mr Russell and seconded by Mr Isaacs —" That the resignation of Mr Dwan, held over from last meeting be accepted," which was accordingly carried. In consideration of two members having: left the body, it was proposed by Mr Isaacs, and seconded by Mr Neale—" That a public meeting be called on Tuesday next, at 7 o'clock p.m. for the purpose of electing two candidates to supply their place." Carried,

On the motion of Mr Neale seconded by Mr Kennedy, it was resolved—- " That Mr (xasquoine's name be added to the list of those (Messrs Isaacs and Russell) who were appointed to collect funds to defray Progress Committee expenses. The Committee then adjourned.

THE ODD-FELLOWS' BALL The above long-looked for entertainment in celebration of the anniversary of the Odd-Eellows Society, took place on Tuesday evening, and was by far the best ball ever given in Charleston. The Casino de Venice was entirely taken over by the Committee for the night, and the large room, which is admirably adapted for an affair of this sort, was tastefully decorated with ferns emblems, and a large silk banner of beautiful workmanship. The company began to arrive at eleven o'clock, and by midnight there were between 150 and 200 persons present, including a large number of ladies. A wise step was taken in securing the excellent instrumental band of the house under the able leadership of Mr Moss, for a ball without good music is like an empty crinoline, flat and inanimate, aud lacking the only charm that can give it grace. And this reminds us that an account of the present ball would be sadly deficient, without a full description of the ladies' toilettes. But what can be expected in that line from a gumhuffiug bachelor? A female pen could alone do justice to the subject. The writer could pourtray with more confidence the beauty of the fair wearers, were he not fearful of raising a modest blush by particularising the varied charms which everywhere met his delighted view. Suffice it to say there was aud abundance of pretty women and lovers of dresses, and the toute ensemble ofthe ball room was brilliant and effective. About two o'clock the whole cempany sat down to supper, laid on three tables horse shoe fashon, and really if supper tables ever " do groan," those referred to might well have given forth a grunt, considering the wealth of good things they had to support. The supper arrangements had been given in charge to Mr JoliifFe of the Oddfellows' Hotel, and the result was a

capital spread. The inevitable speechifying was cut very short indeed, and beyond a few pointed remarks from the worthy chairman, Jas. Henderson, N. G., and the vice chairman W. G. Collins, P. G-. and Jas. Hennelly, Sec. only a few of the usual toasts were given, and responded to. Dancing was then resumed, and maintained with spirit till long past day-light, when the gay company lingeringly dispersed well pleased with their night's amusement. We have much pleasure in adding that not a hitch or disturbance of any kind occurred to mar the full success of the entertainment. In conclusion, we may perhaps be allowed to make one suggestion, which might be acted upon at future ball, and that is, the doing away with the sit-down suppera, substituting in its stead a continually replenished side board. When there is only one room available, the preparations for the regular supper necessarily takes up a long time, and dancers, in which class must be reckoned all the|fair sex, natur r ally demur to losing two or three precious hours, just too in the witching time of the night.