The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 188, 7 March 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1868.

A somewhat remarkable observation was made a short time since by Dr. Selwyn, the Bishop of Litchfield, and until recently Metropolitan of New Zealand, that he in company with the Bishop of Newcastle and another bishop rowed together in the same boat at the first boat race between Oxford and Cambridge. There can be no doubt but that the bishop was and is a believer in muscular Christianity, and that it is as necessary that the body should have some recreation or amusement in order to fit it for the more serious duties of every day life. Recreation is as essential to the general well-being of the body as the food we eat or fcho air we breathe—it is in fact the oil that keeps the human machine in order, and prevents the faculties from rusting. Dr. Snter, our own

Bishop of Nelsonj is also a believer in this doctrine, and he recommends his clergy to abstain from their duties for a brief period, and unbend their minds from their duties, and seel? some relaxation, either iu " paddling their own cahoe" up and down some of tin rivers ofJSTewZealand, or in scaling some of the lofty ranges and contemplating nature in her wild solitude ; or if he bo of a gentle disposition to take his fishingrod in hand, and sit upon a mossy bank in some sequestered nook, and follow the art that old Izaak Walton loved so well. " All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," is a wise old saying, and after tho holiday is over the worker will End himself a now man, and return to his labors with a greater zest, with a renewed energy, and like a " giant refreshed from sleep" will feci himself invigorated and more fit to meet tho world and its troubles. Dangers and difficulties that seemed before fit to crush and overwhelm him, and at which he stood aghast, will seem but a trifle to him, and ho will go forth without fear and a manly heart to face the futnre. The question naturally arises what amusements or relaxations are there in this neighbourhood; and we candidly confess none —except those of an enervating character, and the only one to be called anything at all of an amusement is that played usually till the small hours of tho morning "on the board of green cloth," and it is doubtful whether it does not do more harm than good. Relaxation, or amusement, should be of a healthful, cheerful character, keeping in mind that the great object of amusement is to administer a tonic as it were to the system. It is a strange thing, that all attempts to get up any rational amusement in Westport have signally failed, and to this we must in some measure ascribe the singular apathy and dulncss that seeuis to pervade this district. Tho mind is too much with the world, its business and cares, and therefore it falls into a morhid, unhealthy, diseased state, causing it to take no interest whatever in anything, doubting whether there is any good thingleft, andleavingit almost powerless. There is not the slightest doubt but that the district wants rousing, and a little healthy excitement would do not only good for the body physically but the district generally. " Better rub than rust," was tho constant refrain of that sturdy old ironmaster and rhymster, Ebenezer Elliott, and the sooner we commence to rub, the sooner will the rust that seems so common in Westport begin to wear off. There is work in plenty to be done, but there docs not seem the spirit to tackle it, —the constant cry is, " It's no use ; the Duller is done ;" and done it will be if some attempt is not made to stop the undoing, and the only way to do this is to unbend the mind for a time from its apathetic plodding, and proceed in earnest to invigorate the system by something like a cheerful excitement. Various attempts have been made to start cricketing, but all of them have failed, simply because there is no interest taken in tho attempt to arouse the system from its sleepy grumbling ; and therefore the sport par excellence of Englishmen is neglected, and the bat, ball, and stumps, like " old Ned's shovel and de hoc," appears to have " gone to sleep long ago," so there is no fear of any of the youth of this place emulating their brethren in Australia and turning out a body of''young colts," whose doings with the willow would astonish the " old folks athome." We arc too apt to talk about the degraded natives of Australia, but if BuUocky, Cuzens, Mullagh, Tarpot, or the rest of the Aboriginal team were to visit Westport we wonder what their opinion of us would be, when one of them would stand at the wicket and defy the whole population to beat him at our national game. We have a splendid river, but it is entirely innocent of any attempt at aquatic sports. We do not see our tradesmen strengthening their muscles and producing some little natural excitement by taking advantage of tho Duller river to cause it. No fear of anybody being developed into a muscular Christian, or being able to handle an oar with a disciple from the Isis or the Cam, should he be a confirmed Westportonian such a thing as recreation would be regarded with " horror." Even a horserace would be something, it would set people talking and would put money into circulation, for somehow or the other these things always put money into circulation. Even an angling match is a thing unknown, although we have as fine a river as needs be for this sport; and as to deep sea fishing—oh for a night in the " channel," though a wot skin might be the result, and a qualmy sensation in the region of the stomach—deep sea fishing is a thing unknown. We have no volunteers, no rifle-matches, "no nothing " of any

account. 'Tis a short time Since wo had a visit from as line a company of artistes as ever visited tho Southern hemisphere, but after a night or so's performance the sumo dreary apathy seemed to prevail, and the enthusiasm of a first appearance soon died out, and the refined performance of the Simouseuß was not oven scarcely appreciated. A theatrical company cannot exist, and there aro no such things as chess tournaments, so intellectual amusements seem to be at as groat a discount as those of a more physical character ; while as to amusements for ladies there aro none. A croquet lawn is a thing unheard of, while the attempt to get up a respectable weekly assembly has proved a failure, owing to one or two causes, one of them being a doubt as to the moaning of the word "respectable," and tho other a kind of infra dig feeling, that is only too prevalent in this locality—a feeling of " I think myself so very much better than you aro," that willbe, andhasbecn,abar to every species of amusement or recreation. What is there that remains ? —the billiard-room, the card-table, and tho casino for the men ; and what for women ? nothing, simply nothing, but to stay at home or wander by the " sad sea waves," and thereby become beings without life or energy. It is time that something should be done to arouse this spirit of lethargy—to shake off this dreamy apathy, and to promote a little healthy pleasurable excitement in the shape of some rational amuse ment. It would make us all better, wiser, and happier men. It would promote business and make us not only better men temporarily, but better Christians, and while expanding our system would expand our hearts and feelings likewise.