MEETINGS AT CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 512, 3 June 1869, Page 2

MEETINGS AT CHARLESTON.

SEPARATION. There was a numerously attended meeting in the Oddfellows' Hotel, Charleston, on Monday evening;. It was called by Mr Lightband, who had previously held a meeting at Brighton. The object was to elicit or excite publio feeling against the Separation movement. We have received from our correspondent a very full report of the meeting, but we regret that it is utterly impossible to give it in this number. "We can give only the result —which was an entire defeat of Mr Lightband's object, and the unanimous approval of the Separation petition. Mr Bain was in the chair, and Mr Lightband, introduced by him, addressed the meeting. He was followed by Mr Gillespie, who moved:—" That the petition for Separation ia a trnfl document, embodying the sentiment? of the people of this district." Mr Dwan seconded the motion, and he was succeeded, as a speaker, by Mr O'Conor, of Westport. Mr Button, of Hokitika, who was present, was also called upon to speak, and did so, on the County Question and its illustration in Westland. Mr E. Whyte, of Westport, afterwards addressed the meeting, and Mr Gillespie's motion, when put, was carried unanimously.

Mr Lightband has, we understand, eince been canvassing for signatures to the petition of which he is the bearer. Complaints have been forwarded to us that, in doing so, he is making an extensive and indiscriminate use of the names of women and children.

THE COUET HOUSE. A public and indignation meeting, of which we have also received a report, was held on Tuesday evening. Its object was to express the feeling as to the manner in which the Court House had been erected. Mr Dwan, who was in the chair, referred to the work in question as an architectural monstrosity, which disfigured the town and depreciated the value of property. He had endeavored to discover its originator, but could not. He inferred, however, that it was the joint and precious productien of Messrs Blackett and Lowe. Several other gentlemen addressed the meeting, Borne of whom asserted that they had seen better-looking stables erected for three months' use. It was resolved to apply to the General Government for a removal of the building, and a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs Penton, Hunter, Behan, Strike, Nahr, Carr, and Mirfin. WATEE EACE COMPANY.

The Provisional Directors of the Charleston Water-Pace Company met at Gilmer's Melbourne Hotel on Tuesday evening. There were present Mr M'Carthy (in the chair,) Messrs Parker, P. M'Carthy, M'Owen, Bain, Hemes, and Bullen. The chairman stated that no communication had been received from Mr Jackson. Mr "Walker, the manager, stated that about 500 scrip had already been taken up in the district of Charleston, and that the object of Mr Jackson's visit to Nelson was to obtain a grant and £250 from the Provincial Government for expenses of survey, &c. The prospectus, he stated, will be published in a few days. The only expenses incurred up to the present have been inconsiderable, and chiefly in connection with the preliminary survey, in all amounting to £25. _ The race would be available for the highest workings in Charleston, and a return would be received when the undertaking reached "Whisky Terrace. A great deal of ground that ks not been worked for want of water would be taken up were this completed, besides old diggings which would be worked over again. The meeting then adjourned until Mr Jackson's return from Nelson, or the receipt of a telegram from that gentleman.