CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 702, 25 August 1870, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

(FROM A COEEESrOIfDEIfT.) August 24. The usual weekly entertainment in connection with the Literary Institute, took place on Monday evening last, C. Broad, Esq., K.M., in the chair. The entertainment was well attended, and passed off with its usual spirit. The feature of the evening was a selection, by Mr Donne, from Artemus Ward. A case of some interest was heard in the R.M. Court, Charleston, on Tuesday, in which Weitzell, of the European Hotel, was plaintiff and L. Davis defendant. Davis had been summoned from the Ahaura, and the fact of his appearing from such a distance to defend the action caused greater interest to attach to the case than its circumstances warranted. The claim was for £l7 16s, and not only was the liability disputed by the defendant but he claimed the sum of £33 as due to him by the plaintiff for services rendered. Judgment was given for £l2 Is, and defendant asked that execution might be stayed until a case pending in the Warden's Court, Ahaura, had been settled, in which he (Davis) was plaintiff and Weitzell defeudant. A summons had been issued and the case would be heard in about ten days. Mr Broad asked if it was the intention of the defendant to drag the present plaintiff to the Ahaura, when the debt had been contracted in Charleston. The defendant replied that such was his intention, upon which the Bench refused to stay execution.

It was finally decided that the crossaction should be tried in Charleston, and the case was arranged to be heard here on Tuesday; execution in the meantime being stayed. In mining, there is very little alteration ; water is tolerably abundant and in some localities obtainable at a much lower iigure than during the corresponding period of last year. Some little heartburuing has arisen out of the £7OO voted for the Charleston Reservoir, but it is due, I believe, to the ignorance of the majority as to the terms upon which this snm was to be handed over to Haines and party. _ I believe that the Government, in the event of subsidising the work, will require that it should be extended to localities that it would scarcely pay the company, as a commercial speculation, to bring water upon, added to which the company would be restricted as to the rate to be charged per head. Looking at all the circumstances I do not think that the mode in which the £7OO is proposed to be expended, should give rise to dissatisfaction. At any rate holders of water-rights may rest perfectly content in the knowledge that the money, if expended at all, will be only directed towards supplying localities with water at a nominal rental, which are otherwise likely to be dependent solely upon a very uncertain and necessarily limited supply.