NOTES FROM CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 507, 22 May 1869, Page 2

NOTES FROM CHARLESTON.

(FROM A COBRKSrOXDEXT.)

It is some time now since I wrote to you, but I shall endeavour to make up for lost time, by giving you as brief and conseise an account as possible, of bow our different interests, business, mining, professional, &c., are getting along. In the first place, I will touch upon the trade of tins town and district. " New blood " is arriving and being infused (or, say rather, distributed) amongst us slowly, but many of our inhabitants think seasonably, and as the new-comers seem to have resolved to domesticate themselves in the district, they arc welcome. Ey improving and properly cultivating land , and thereby securing for themselves and their posterity good homesteads and farms, they will not only add largely to the colonial revenue, but secure for themselves and those dearest to them many substantial comforts and enjoyments. This is, to say the least of it, " a good poor man's diggings" and a capital opportunitv is offered for an industrious, sober, head of a family to settle. There are many spots of ground in our midst which will be found capable of growing all the principal necessaries of life at least, and not a few of them located by the side of a fine flowing " burn" or stream or river, and he might have his sluice-boxes placed in the flowing water, and by means of his collections thereon or therefrom alone, earn a comfortable maintenance for him and his. The merchants and storekeepers are doing a very fair amount of business, if we are justified in judging of the same by the amount of provisions, timber, machinery, &c, imported into our harbor; and there is no mistake but they " cut things very fine," barring the bakers and the butchers occasionally. I have travelled in many lands, but I never saw " doughies " stick better to one another than they do in Charleston. The price of bread here was originally 3s the 41b loaf, and it was a sad business when it was reduced to 2s Gd. For nearly two years thereafter, it kept at 2s, and now it is at a standard price of Is Gd, making us folks who endeavor to pay cash "pay t!ie_ piper" for the deficiencies or shortcomings of others. This makes the caterers for our wants rather bold and independent, though, as a rule, they are not unready to give "unlimited tick" to the mining community. If the claim pays, so much so good. If not the cash payer makes up for all deficiences. In fact, I heard the other day that some of our " doughies " can count " four figures to their names " in the bank, and " more power to their elbow," and good reason they should when flour is at £2l per tou and bread as low as eighteenpence per loaf! Regarding our hotel-keepers, or publicans, to take them " on a face," they are generally what our digging community call " a lot of duffers." They are always going to do great things, but their boasting eventuates in nothing but "blow." The majority of publicans in the town are young women, and perhaps this may account "for the milk in the cocoa-nut." Regarding our illustrious merchants, I will only say they seem extremely deficient in loyalty, and can't or wont even subscribe, or head a subscription, properly to commemorate the birthday of Her Most Illustrous Majesty the Queen, &c. I am glad to observe in a recent issue of your journal, that you have got "Christians" in "Westport, who are possessed of both faith and works. I observe also, that you had a concert for the benefit of your local hospital, and noticed an announcement that your worthy Magistrate was to lecture

for the benefit of the Athenaeum. This is good. We have got our local hospital here, but I suppose we have got friends enough without asking for extraneous aid, though I sadly doubt it. This would also be a good thing or report, if true. There is another matter or movement I may allude to, and that is the English Episcopalian Church. The Lord Bishop of Nelson visited us some twelve months ago, and, by all appearance, some of our worthy citizens were taken by storm. At the first public meeting called by his Lordship £IOO wns willingly then and there subscribed for the erection of a church and parsonage. His Lordship at tbat meeting remarked that " he knew a young man at Home, and if you wanted him to send for liim to 'come and preach to you, you must pay him, and also have a dwelling-house ready for him." About that time it was currently reported in town that gentlemen here would guarantee the clergyman £3OO per annum. If that .statement was true, it says little for the exertions of some of those who have not aided to liquidate the debt on the church, &c, let alone paying their clergyman the £3OO per annum promised, and held out as an inducement to him to locate himself amongst us. It must be said, however, and to their credit, that a few gentlemen amongst us have been indefatigable in their exertions, and extremely anxious to forward the cause of our common Christianity. In conclusion, I will only remark that during the past week perhaps rather more than the usual amount of business has been transacted in our Resident Magistrate and Warden's Courts, owing to the breaking away of dams, &c., through the recent rains. Mr Downe, who has been officiating hero for a few days as clerk of court, has left for Westport, and Mr Harris is officiating in room of our clerk of court, Mr 13owen, who is away on leave of absence. I have no more to add at present, but will take an early opportunity of apprising you of what happens here. I may only state further, that on Monday first, being a public holiday, claims, &c, are protected on that day, as well as on the previous one, it being a dies non. Doubtless the usual amount of loyalty will bo exhibited on the Queen's Birthday, and a few have to be mulcted in the usual mitigated penalty on the following morning.