THE ODD-FELLOWS' BALL

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

THE ODD-FELLOWS' BALL

The above long-looked for entertainment in celebration of the anniversary of the Odd-Fellows 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 v.' this sort, was tastefully decorated wit :i 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, and 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 gumhuffing bachelor? A female pen could alone do justice to the subject. The writer could pour tray 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 and abundance of pretty women and lovers of dresses, and the toute ensemble of the ball room was brilliant and effective. About two o'clock the whole company sat 1 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 Jolliffe 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. Gh, and the vice chairman W. Gh Collins, P. Gh. 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 suppers, 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 ja long time, and dancers, in which clasb must be reckoned all the fair sex, naturally demur to losing two or three precious hours, just too in the witching time of the night. CHARLESTON MINING INTELLIGENCE. , On the terraces contiguous to Candlelight, on the Mount Pleasant one especially, which I recently visited,

miniug matters bear evidence of the most satisfactory results. The Eureka claim of Halligan, Clarke, and party, which I may designate by the familiar epithet of " pile claim" is the most auriferous block of cement in the locality. The party, however, have not been crushing for the last month, owing to the fact of their erecting a waterwheel, making a tail-race &c, and what, with the delay incidental to getting up the improved and more expeditious method of slaughtering the cement, (the previous mode having been a horse battery) it need scarcely be added that the new institution will be a very desirable one. By this arrangement (the whole of which will hf» completed in a few <J«vr o ) it is expected fkat tUo yield will be something handsome, and will realise for each shareholder, if water in sufficient quantity can be obtained, at least £SO a week. I little doubt of such a result since, for the last ten months, and with only eight hours work, this claim has averaged between £2O and £3O a week for each man. lam strongly inclined to think that it is one of the best claims in the district of Charleston.

The Mount Pleasant claim of Tiller, M'Grath and party adjoins the Eureka, aud though not so auriferous as the latter, it still holds no ignoble second place. On this claim a water-wheel driving four heads of stampers, has been for some time erected. The present weekly average yield for each shareholder is about £2O. At the foot of the back range and some short distance from the claims just alluded to, there is a small waterwheel claim, (on Owen's Terrace), but owing to the scarcity of water the yield can hardly be said to be remunerative ; the party however may make respectable wages when water is abundant. The Royal Standard and the Frenchman's claim, on the south side of a gully that intervenes, also deserve mention ,in a survey of this locality. The former is a horse machine, and yields about £lO a-week for each shareholder; the latter, however, a water-wheel distant 600 yards from Royal Standard, drives four heads of stampers, and pays £2O a-week. The Star Hotel, Princes street, was sold by auction on Thursday last, Maginu Brothers being declared purchasers, at £195.

Considerable merriment was occasioned on Sunday afternoon by a police chase. The pursued parly turned out to be a fellow townsman, who had been in the house of durance while laboring under a fit of delirium tremens, and who escaped thence. A short time however, restored him to his prior situation. It would be well if some charitably disposed individual were to impress upon his mind, when he recovers, the necessity of reserving the order of EalstafFs mixim, " eschew the sack and addict himself to thin potations." Plus cold water and lemonade and minus grog, equals health, wealth, and happiness. It is thought that the Odd-Eellows' Anniversary Ball, which is to be held in the Casino this (Tuesday) evening, will be a great affair. Every endeavour indeed, is made to secure the success which is anticipater l . A mining share in Moore's claim Back Lead, was sold on Thursday last, for the sum of £4OO cash. The last washing of this claim realised £I7OO, and it is expected that the next result will even exceed that handsome sum.