COACH SERVICES
Arms Hotel (R. H. Thomas, 1868). Doubtless there were others.
There were at least two schools—Mrs. Franklin’s and Miss Maria Craddock’s. The latter had 50 pupils.
The two largest livery and bait stables were in connection with the two coach services, and had branches at Charleston also. These were:—(1) Lloyd & Co., 1867, the “Telegraph Line,” near to the Waterman’s Arms Hotel, apparently connected with Cobb & Co., 1867, whose business early passed to other hands as shown hereinafter. Their Charleston stables were on Section 150. (2) Rimmer & Forder, 1867, the “Lightning Line,” of 1868, next door to Carriers’ Arms Hotel, or to the Red, White and Blue Hotel, or to both. This firm dissolved partnership 13th June, 1869, and Forder carried on. Their Charleston stables were on Section 237. Two smaller stables were Pat Harney’s, 1868, and Brennan & Burns’, 1868. Horse-hire in 1868 was: For men, Charleston-Westport, 25/-. For women, 30/-. (Reduced in same year to 15/- and 20/- respectively.)
Livery charges were in 1868: Charleston, 10/- per night; South Spit, 8/- per night.
COACH SERVICES.
The first service was initiated about the middle of 1867, nearly a year after the discovery of Charleston, by Messrs. Cobb & Co., for whom Mr. William Crawley was manager; this was the Royal Mail Line. In advertisements of September, 1867, and January, 1868, Messrs. L. G. Cole & Co. are shown as owners, and Mr. Beamiss as manager; it was then called the “Telegraph Line.” In January, 1869, it was sold to The Westport and Charleston Telegraph Line of Coaches, Messrs. Greening & Kiely, for whom Mr. W. E. Veale was agent. In March, 1869, Greening sold his interest to James Simpson, and the firm became Kiely & Simpson. In 1873, Simpson became sole owner. In 1880, or earlier, it was owned and run by William R. Hill, who reduced the fare to 16/- and, some years later, to 5/-. The booking-offices for Cobb & Co. were at the Empire Hotel, Wharf Street, Westport, and at the Melbourne Hotel, Charleston, though it is believed that at
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