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Motueka Star, Volume III, Issue 124, 21 October 1902, Page 3

A lady well known in Wanganui musical 'circles, now resident in Melbourne, thus describes her impressions of Madame Melba’s singing :—“I heard Melba sing in the Town Hall, which was packed to the doors, over 3500 persons being present. When Melba came on the platform she was greeted with deafening applause, which was only discontinued to allow the diva to sing. When she did it was a thrilling revelation of exquisite sound artistically controlled. I have heard many good singers, but none equal to Melba. I never previously believed that a human being could sing so divinely. It was better than the singing of even the lark or any other bird of song. Personally Melba is not a scrap like her photos, which are mostly libels on her. She is very sweet looking and has a perfect figure, whilst her dress was exquisite and her diamonds a sight to remember, and well worth going to see. The audience, as previously stated, was an immense one, and it was a beautiful sight, as nearly all the ladies were in. full dress and gave the scene a blaze of colours and glittering gems that I will not soon forget. It was quite touching to watch her old father, with a delighted look on his face the whole evening. As an encore, Melba sang “Robin Adair,” looked at her father the whole time, as it was his favourite song when she was a girl, a fact she had not for-, gotten. A young girl in her teens played the harp splendidly, and the pianiste was also very good. 1 did net think much of the tenor or baritone, as I have heard better even|in Wanganui. I was very sorry you and the pater were not there to hear Melba, as I am afraid you will not hear her in New Zealand, at least in Wanganui, which is a pity, as it is only once a century, they aay, that such “a Queen of Song” is discovered.

The member for Masterton (Mr Hogg) was asked at his meeting last week if he would express his opinion about Bible-reading in schools.” “Itis a very old question.” replied Mr Hogg, “ and I was asked it over twelve years ago, before I was elected to Parliament. It is my opinion that the proper place for teaching Biblereading is the Sunday school, the Church and the fire-side.” The audience applauded.

Speaking at a meeting of the Thames branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation, the Hon C. H. Mills referred to the plethora of candidates offering themselves throughout the colony in the Liberal interest, and urged the branches to work in unity afterthe “ boiling down ” process had been out. He advised that the Liberals should stand out for three years, and then see what side they were on. All departments of the State showed healthy signs, and the duty devolved upon the electors to return to Parliament men who could guide the destinies of the colony as they had been guided in the past;