GROWTH AND PROGRESS
of a small village. The publicans are becoming by no means rich, and as for dance houses they are nearly defunct. At a sports meeting the other night it was waggishly proposed that the horse-races should take place in the street.”
In May, the Charleston Herald complained: “From Camp Reserve to Buller Road, there is only a narrow roadway; the whole width of the road being in its primitive condition of bog, intersected by numerous open drains and water-races; an appearance discreditable to the principal entrance to the town.”
The Addison’s Flat riot occurred. The Court heard 1,104 criminal cases but, so quickly was law and order established, that in 1872 only one case was heard.
1869. The Warden, Mr. C. Broad, reported on 31st March: “Charleston has already put on an appearance of permanent prosperity. The amount of ground known as auriferous is capable of employing the present population for years to come. The introduction of machinery and the granting of extended areas, has secured a settled population, and made goldmining assume more the appearance of a settled industry than the occupation of a roving community.”
It is estimated that there were about 240 batteries and “crushers” working, in addition to the numerous sluicing claims. Applications for water-races were 470, and for dams 307. The Warden stated that “all available ground is being worked, and water-races and dams meet the eye in every direction.”
Constant Bay was declared the “Port of Charleston.” The first race-meeting was held, in January, on the Nine-mile Beach. The first football match was played, on 9th March. A town band and a fire-brigade were formed. The Nile bridge had been taken over by the Provincial Council, and the toll abolished. A ferry and track were established from Totara Lagoon to the Addison’s Flat track, by William Bird, and tolls imposed.
The District Engineer reported the completion of “a road from Charleston to Brown’s Terrace, on the way to the Shamrock Lead, a distance of about five miles.” A valuation of house property, made by Thomas Dwan, showed it to be £83,000. The Warden’s report estimated the number of
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