Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1891. A Royal Birthday.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 23 May 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1891. A Royal Birthday.

« Seventy-two years ago, Her Majesty, Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, was born. No one can fail to wish that it may please the Almighty to spare her for a time yet, in health and happiness. The Queen has ever been known as an excellent lady, a fond mother, and the best and most constitutional of Sovereigns. It is when remembering the vastness of the countries, the multitude of their inhabitants and the enormous wealth of the trade between them, that the little spot, England, fades away and Britons view the splendid empire which is theirs. It is a common saying that the sun never sets on Her Majesty's dominions, but such a saying in no way describes the territories which are ouvs, and which acknowledge the rule of English Statesmen. It would take too long to particularly indicate the countries which have been obtained by conquest, or cession, but though long it may help to. -impress the wonderful advance in power and development made by England since the birth of Her Majesty, if we recall the possessions obtained since the year 1800. The year 1801 witnessed the cession, by treaty of Ceylon, which now numbers a population of three millions. British Guiana was partly obtained in 1803, and the remainder in 1814, partly by conquest and partly by cession. There are now 282,000 inhabitants in this possession. The same year was noted for the occupation of Tasmania, which now contributes 152,000 people to the numbers of the Empire. Malta was gained by cession on completion of a treaty in 1814, and has now 164,000 souls. Between 1810 and and 1814 the Mauritius was conquered and annexed, and the population now is 872,000. Manitoba ! was gained, by settlement, in 1813, and Cape Colony in 1814, with 1,480,000. Ascension was annexed in 1815. Queensland was settled in 1824, and has now 407,000 inhabitants, the Straits Settlement in the same year now numbering 600,000. Western Australia followed in 1828 with 44,000 people at the present time. Victoria in 1882, which carries now 1,105,000 persons. South Australia in 1886 with 425,000. Aden was gained by conquest in 1839 and has now 44,000 inhabitants. In 1841 Hong Kong was obtained by treaty session and thus now adds 600,000 people to our number. Natal was annexed in 1843, and the population is now 5,300,000. In 18-16, Labuan was added to the Empire, by cession, the • number of people, however, is only 6,000. New Zealand was settled iii 1845, and we are able to number 621,000. The year 1858 witnessed

, the whole of India, formerly held by j the Ec.st India Company, transferred to the Queen with its 272 million of inhabitants, and in this year also British Columbia was transferred to the Crown., The (jdld* Co^.st was ceedeil in 1872 with its 1,427,000 inhabitants. Fiji followed in 1874 with its 1(15,000 peopln: 111 1877 British Nort?> Borneo came under w; rule, adding an, 'her 150,000. lv B brought Cyprus within the fold with 187,000 more people. New I Guinea was annexed in 18Si addinganother 150,000* m<\ cturliig the past yeftr tlie annexations in the Dark Continent have been made, which will further add to the large number of now subjects. Wo have said that the list would be long-, and. wo expert that it is longer til fin it Was thought it would be. Is it not a wonderful thing for a Sovereign to bo now reigning, to whose care has been added, dating back only nineteen years b.forc her birth, the enormous number of 21)0 millions of new subjects ! Is not the British Empire one which a Sovereign may well be proud to rule, and one which we should be pleased to be members of, which by holding only nine millions of square miles of territory, has yet a population of over 380 millions, a revenue of over 212 millions and an import and export of 1174 millions annually ? To Her Majesty's wise counsels •and great tact, sufficient credit, as yet, has not been given ; that will be more fully known when she has ceased to breathe. We once again with all her subjects, wish Her Majesty, many happy returns of the day.