REPORTS FROM THE SECTIONS. 289 
might say of my life, I do not despair of its future in this country, 
because I can trace its present humiliation to very natural causes, 
and I therefore see no reason that time and patience should not 
put the matter right. 
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mer erce, so as to attract  paniatial and money, are less the means 
to the end than the end itself ; squatting, banking, buying and 
selling, and building, are the ‘grea at purs rsuits to which all else is 
entirely subordinate ; - and of the liberal Bist ag two only push 
their way in so ne ew a country, law and medicine, for moral and 
physical diseases follow us everywhere. In the cums for exist- 
ence the young Colony can spare neither time nor strength for 
more refined culture; but as time goes on, it follows that some 
families will, from w ealth or official position, raise themselves 
bove the mass, thus at once creating a demand for a higher and 
more refined education. Professors of various kind appear on the 
e—a University is founded ; but the means of the Colony being 
still limited, the curriculum embraces only the most indispensable 
matters of ‘learn rning. No doubt some members of the Senate do 
not forget that music is one of the liberal arts tau 
air of m vernment which has already done so 
Then outside the University and Government prim 
schools, teaching is abandoned to private enterpri e teachers 
arrive with the demand, and the pianoforte being considered as 
specially the instrument of the fair sex, it is the lady teachers who 
predominate ; moreover, it is only the ladies who can find time 
for cultivating the fine arts. Tt follows that for a long period, 
mediocre piano-playing and still more doubtful singing. In my 
present capacity of pianoforte teacher, it would be out of taste to 
repeat all the witticisms circulated ~ the Re pO of that most 
popular of instruments; but I may be to say that the 
piano, by making music easy for the m one has contributed to 
lower its standard in the estimation of outsiders. Later on, new 
comers try to see if 50 mething cannot be done besides porotensin 
and vocal music, and they attempt to form e mili- 
tary bands are first called u a ae ce Now 
of he bands fail because th Oat es econ snatie —_— 
producing anything but powerful, noisy music, and because 
class of siaiians mes adn arily have had that delicate profes- 
: endeavour to mix with these military instru- 
siete Peete tour talent available among the citizens. 
That this combination also fails is not wonderful, seeing that such 
