GList *ref = NULL;
GList *item = NULL;

char *hstnm[] = {"ch0108", "ch0916", "ch1724",
                 "ch2532", "ch3340", "ch4148",
                 "ch4956", "ch5764", "ch6572",
                 "ch7380", "ch8188", "ch8996"};

for(gint p = 0; p < 12; p++)
    ref = g_list_prepend(ref, hstnm[p]);

// find within the list one of the strings
g_print("Item to find: %s n" , hstnm[2]);
item = g_list_find(ref, hstnm[2] );
if(item != NULL)
    g_print("Item: %s n" , (gchar *)item->data);