CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 385, 24 October 1868, Page 4

CHARLESTON NEWS.

A meeting of the Prospecting Association, was held on Thursday Evening at the Melbourne Hotel. There were present Messrs Hennelly (in chair), Behan,Neale, Bain, M'Parland, and M'Carthy. The minutes of last meeting, having been read and confirmed, a letter was read from Mr Allen, tendering his resignation as member, and one of the honorary Treasurers of the association, in consequence of his temporary absence from Charleston. The resignation was accepted. Another letter was read from Mr Percival Bain, to the effect that the Histrionic Club volunteered a dramatic entertainment in aid of the Association; consideration of this matter was deferred till next meeting. On the motion of Mr Neale, seconded by Mr Bain, Mr M'Carthy w r as elected a member of the association, and subsepuently was requested to act as one of the joint Treasurer's. From a reply to a question put by Mr 8.. P. Bain, it appeared that £6O were to the credit of the association in the Bank, and that little difficulty would attach to raising that amount to <£loo. The Secretary in reply to a question, stated that no answer to the recent communication to the G-overnment, requesting aid towards the movement had as yet been received. It was finally resolved that the town should be canvassed for subscriptions, before an application could be made to persons in the outlying portions of the district. A vote of thanks to the chair, terminated the proceedings. N.8.1t is rather sad

that the above movement is not entered into with more spirit, botn by tha committee and the people generally. From the fact that no meeting has been held for some few weeks past, I infer a lukewarmness in the whole scheme, and a want of that enthusiasm without which nothing truly great, has ever been achieved.

The Hospital Committee met on Thursday evening at the Melbourne Hotel. There were present, Messrs Broad, (in chair) Bowman, Neale, M'Coy, Masters, and M'Donald. The minutes of last meeting being read and confirmed, the Visiting Committee reported having inspected the institution during the week. There are at present five patients in the hospital, two of whom wtre admitted since period of last visit. A letter was then read from the surgeon, stating that owing to the height of the door step,a certain patient under his treatment was unable to obtain admission ito the hospital, and also that he required the service of a man for a day to put it in such a position as would admit of no difficulty in that respect. The letter further stated that other improvements were required about the hospital. After some remarks it was resolved that the warder, with "the assistance of a convalescent patient, should perform what was required to be done. On the motion of Mr Neale, seconded by Mr Bowman, it ■was resolved—" That the Committee meet fortnightly instead of weekly, i.e. on the second and last Thursdays in each month. A warm discussion then followed in consequence of a complaint made by the secretary against the surgeon for refusing to forward a certain return required by Mr Harris. The surgeon in not forwarding the report, had acted under instructions from the Chairman of the Committee, who saw no necessity for it, as a copy had been already forwarded to the Provincial Secretary. It was resolved however, —" That the surgeon receive instructions in future from the secretary." In the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, there was no case of importance. In the Warden's Court, however, a large number of applications were made for damshead-races, &c, and registrations in nearly all cases were granted. The Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Camp-street, was sold on Thursday last, for £42.