In the meantime they had to rely on their friends in the Old Country whom he considered were deserving of the * very warmest thanks for the troublo they had taken in sending oub to the colony examiners with the view of cultivating tbe art of rauiio, At present only lobal examinations in musical knowledge were held in the oolonie?, the dijtanoa and expenso of travelling lo London precluding' students from going in for the higher examinations whioh were held in London, He hoped tbe time was Dot far distant when they should have some inch institu tion or college in tbis part of the world. Many people in New Zealand were poisened of wealth, and could very well »fford to contribate a few pounds to auoh > desirable ■ object, in the shape of prizes' and scholar, ships. During the last two years these examinations had been held in the colo nies, and Wanganui had boon appointed a local centre, the m&nßgemenfc being in tbe hands of a committee, with Miis Hud eon Di leorotary. That lady would be pleased to give any information respecting tbe examinations, one of which. would be held in June next for thaory and the pr»oti- Oil one in Ootobor. Matio, he isid, .was described by someone as ' the. Jtngasße of the emotions ' and by Moris Coreih in in one of hor books as 'the Heaven born spirit of pure sound — the ohoicest o'jsence of tho Creator's voioo ' He was pUasid to believe that the influence of mntio wss every year becoming moro widespread amoagst the people in thia colony. It wot an influence which lootbed and itlevateithe people— it had a refining influence. ' Muoio ' hath oharms to soothe the e»v«ge brent, 'J?o soften rooks or bend a knotted oak.' He said ho believed Us ioflnenoe wss 'not felt, understood, and valued by tho people' at a whole as much as it should ba; knd before tbe musical art couid accomplish its high mission amon2it us, it mutt become a reul and not an artificial expression of tho emotions as they work in our hearts and homes. 