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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 193, 13 March 1868, Page 2

Departures for Queensland. —• Nearly every vessel from this port is now freighted with miners and others bound for Queensland. Yesterday the Murray, which had been laid on for G-reymouth, was despatched to Nelson to catch the Panama Mail boat Tararua and the Margaret Campbell, andalthough only thirty passengers were actually booked, over sixty were on board bound for the new land of Promise. We yet have hope for the Buller, notwithstanding the crisis it is at present undergoing, and no doubt many of the present travellers will find that even in Queensland 'all i snot " gold that glitiers ;" and although we have no wish to be a barrier to success by endeavoring to stop the exodus, we will quote Campbell's lines, which will no doubt at some future time be found very appropriate : " 'lis distance lends enchantment to the view, And robes yon mountain in its azure hue." The New Jetties.—There seems a desire in the mind of the planner of the present foundations for the new wharf to drive the piles deep enough into the ground, as many of them are over thirty feet long. Last time the main cause of the carrying away of the works, was the short hold the piles had in the ground. "Wharf accommodation is much needed, and we are glad to see the work progressing favorably. Stephenson's Assembly Rooms.— Last evening the ball at the above rooms was very siiccessful, and among those present we observed some of the leading men of the town. There can be no doubt but that balls of this character are more successful in "Westport than those of a more select nature.

Flirtation.—The lecture by Mrs C. F. Evereste, postponed from Wednesday, will be delivered *:this evening at the Court-house. As the subject is an interesting one, we hope to see a good house.

A Step in the Right Direction. — The undci'-mentioned example is worthy of being followed by every province in the colony. The Otago Provincial Government Gazette contains the following announcement: — Being desirous of promoting the introduction into Otago of Woollen factories, either by guaranteeing for a fixed period interest on the capital invested in buildiugs and machinery, or by suitable bonus otherwise ; the Provincial Government will be glad to receive overtures from any person or persons who may feel disposed to embark in such undertaking, such overtures to be forwarded in to enable them to be submitted to the Provincial Council early in April next—James Macandrew, Superintendent. While on the subject of Woollen Manufactories, we clip the following from the Geelong Advertiser, relative to the progress of the Woollen and Cloth Factory established in Greelong : —The Factory is beginning to present a very lively appearance. A number of fresh hands, principally women and boys, have been

engaged, and these aro getting on with their novel work as well as can be expected. There has been about 320 yards of clcth turned from the looms, principally of mixed colors. There aro now six looms at work. The company are now prepared to take orders for a7iy quantity of plain material, but will not he able to supply fancy cloths until the workpeople become a little more skilful. In the meantime, scouring, scrubbing, carding, and dying of the wool is constantly being proceeded with.

A Medical Mayor on Smoking.— At the close of a lecture in the Temperance Hall, Bolton, the Mayor, who presided over the meeting, said: —Much as I dread the influence of intoxication on society, of late I have been led to regard the influence of tobacco, especially upon the youth of society, as being an evil that threatens the most disastrous consequences- The lecturer has told you that in his younger days smoking among youth was scarcely known, I can remember the" time when smoking amongst young boys and amongst women was almost 01* altogether unknown. But your own experience will tell you whether that is so now or not. I believe that in the case of boys—young girls don't to my knowledge smoke—but amongst boys often, eleven, twelve, and thirteen years of age I am afraid smoking is too prevalent. The influence of this vice to arrest the growth of the body is very "great. I believe that any person who begins to smoke at any tim 9 under the years of manhood wiU'never grow to be a strong healthy man. He will be stunted in bodily growth, stunted in physical vigor, stunted in intellect. Smokers are preparing for themselves not only feeble bodies and feeble minds, but they are prepai'ing for themselves early graves. My circumstances bring me much in contact with the youthful portion of the community, and in many cases I meet with children who in their development don't seem to he above twelve or thirteen years of age, but who bring to me legal proof —the register of their birth—to show that they are actually in some cases fourteen and even fifteen years of age. In many cases I ask them if they are smokers ? They very generally deny it, but the tainted breath gives the lie to their statement. A great number of stunted children I believe smoke to a greater or lesser extent. This habit leads them also in many cases to theft. I have been surprised at the smallness of the number of such cases, but within the last forghtnight I have seen three or four young children—for they were mere children in stature, though fourteen and fifteen years of agebrought up on a charge of stealing tobacco and cigars.