CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 392, 2 November 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON NEWS.

The Hospital Committee met on Thursday evening, at the Melbourne Hotel. There were present—Messrs M'Oarthy (in the chair), Bowman, Bowen, Behan, M'Coy, and Masters. Tenders being called for supply of the institution from November Ist, 1868, to March 31st, 18G9, the following were accepted, subject however to the proviso that those who specified three months in their tenders should enlarge the period to five months:—Grasquoine, for groceries, &c. ; Maginn, bread ; Proffit and Humphrey, meat; John Lewis, milk; Behan and Kelly, coal and fuel; and Bain and Tyrrell, printing, advertising, &c. After a few matters of a minor nature were discussed, the Committee adjourned for a fortnight. Wednesday, October 28th, was by no means a red letter day in the calendar of our juveniles. One youth, by name of Osborne, was drowned in

a waterhole while playing; another, by name of Grilbert, died from excessive vouiitiug; a third was bitten and well nigh worried by a ferocious dog ; a fourth, the favourite son of Mr M'Carthy, of Candlelight, had his arm dislocated and fractured. Of the two former, it needs but be said that the poor mother in either case is quite inconsolable. The death of the young is always sad, but especially so when attended by harsh circumstances. It is ouly to be hoped that there is some truth in that saying which has obtained credit on account of its antiquity that " those whom the gods love die young." A. moonlight ball was held on Thursday evening at the Race Hotel, Nine Mile Beach, with what success I do not know. If the serpentine manner however, in which some parties returned thence in the early morning be taken as an evidence of it, it must be concluded that the '• rosy" was imbibed pretty freely, no matter at whose expense. The disgraceful conduct of one party of " roughs" deserves to be recorded. These individuals could not navigate their way to their chambers by the ordinary mode of the King's high-way without deviating from their course, and paving a matutinal visit to a number of houses. This was done for the purpose of sounding the reveille with an instrument which resembled a superanuated cornopean. Of course it was all for sport, and excessive boisterous laughter accompanied each sound of the instrument. Lord Byron says that the " devil is in the moon for mischief," and if there is any truth in the observation, those persons must have been, if not Bacchus-afflicted, at least moon-stricken.

The mining population are again crying oat for water, many claims being already at a stand-still owing to the want of that productive element.

The Kynnersley Banquet, at Brighton, an Monday evening, was it appears a succes's. About 60 sat down to table and after the banquet dancing was indulged in till a protracted hour of the morning.

In the Resident Magistrates Court on Thursday, Thomas Cassidy on remand, charged with being of unsound mind was ordered to be delivered over to his mates.

Assault:—Eliza Laverty, v John Lewis, William Hall, and John Brown. Dismissed. Another case of this nature was adjourned until Friday. In the civil list there were only two cases : —Crumpton v Nelson. Claim £26 17s. Id. for goods supplied. Settled out of Court. Storch v Dalton. Claim £25 9s 7d. for gouds supplied. Verdict was entered for piaintitF, by default in full amount. Renewals of publicans license were granted to Timothy Cadigan, Martha M'Donald, James Fenton, and William Hunter. Transfer of license granted from Hewitt to M'Naughton, and from Hayes to Jenkins. Case of Ryan v M'lvor, an interpleader summons,relative to a claim in Southern Cross Co. and seized under process from the Court, was adjourned till Friday. In the Warden's Court:—Laflour v Thomas Hay, for refusing to pay complainant the sum of £33 for wages. No appearance. I the case ofThomaa Davis v John Strachen, for refusing to pay complainant the sum of £26 ss. for work and labour done as wages man, from 27th August 1868, to 21th October, a verdict was entered for £23 55., aud 15s. costs. Two extended claims, and several water applications were granted.

JNQUEST. At an inquest heW at tne Melbourne Hotel, on Thursday last, regarding the death of the child William Osborne, who was drowned in a shaft at the Darkie's Terrace, the following depositions were taken:—

Bobert Speer deposed—l am a book-keeper in the employ of Parker and Grarside. About two o'clock yesterday I heard a woman scream. I opened the door and ran out. Saw the mother of the child whose body has been shown to the jury near a waterhole. I ran over to her, and when I got close to her she screamed out, " My child is drowned !" I looked into the water and saw the child lying near the surface of the water. I stooped down and took it out. It was quite dead.

Ellen Osborne—l am the wife of William Osborne. I last saw my child William alive about two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, playing in front of the door with a little boat. I went to look for him to come to his dinner. I passed by the waterhole and saw "his hat floating in the water. I looked again and saw his head. I screamed for assistance, and he was taken out of the water quite dead. He was four years aud one month old. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence.