The Cinque Ports.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 9 May 1891, Page 2

The Cinque Ports.

. ♦■ The appointment of Mr W. H. Smith us Warden of the Cinque Forts, by the Queen, recalls the perpetuation of titles, long after the real purpose is needed. The Cinque Ports were the five ports of Hast ings, Hytho, Sandwich, Dover and fiomney, to which, afterwards, Eye and Winchelsea were added with several smal'er- places. Times were different to the present, when these places were termed ports, as their creation into an united district dates asfar back as the Eoman occupation. It was William I. who placed the whole uuder the control of a Warden, for the purposes of defence. The towns were required to furnish a certain number of ships and men, who had to serve their king and counlry free for a certain number of days, after which they were paid. The district received a charter confirming many privileges, one of which was the right to return sixteen members to parliament. The I?e---forin Bill cut these down to hulf. The office of Warden is one of much importanop, and is generally awarded to a distinguished soldier. The old Duke of Wellington held the offic* up to his death. Dover was, as it is now, the principal crossing place to France, aid in times back, it was ordered that all passengers had to go by this route. To show how the nominal value of money has altered, it was ordered in 1380, that the charge for conveying passengers f torn Dover to Calais, a distance of twenty-one miles, was fixed at sixpence, and two shilling* for a man and horse ! a sum that it now costs to cioss a New Zealand river.