CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 355, 19 September 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

Cobb's coacb 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 evenThe 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 and 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 weekfv meeting on Tuesday even- |

ing, 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 entertain^ It was thon 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 Gasquoine'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.