THE BRITISH COLONIES.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 60, 23 November 1878, Page 2

THE BRITISH COLONIES.

U The vtltto awl iniport»nfof U> '1 nil.-as a part of Ihoßritish Emptta wi» oeived another, ami u right n jrad, reecj '" uitiou irheutho Prince ol Wale* consented g to become President oi the Bqyal I'olo- ''' ninl Institute. It needs not now to my '■ that it is Dot so very longsinco that the " s colonics were under a olouu, and deemed I- by men of liigh political standiugof little ;- advantage. Like patient workers howI- ever, bent upon making their mi i "■ the records of history, colonist *' heed to their detractors. Modest in ! 1S demands, and by no means boastful of u their inherent power, they knew that the s time must come w hen their merits and X their worth must be recognised. Imitat'f ing the industrial organisation which is lt commonly attiibuted to the ant, they ''" were thankful for small mercies, und :s worked on with a will. Xothing coulu "\ daunt the faith that was in them of the -'' value of their work, or of the conviction ■y that that work would ultimately be rc- ''' cognised, and place them in the fore-front .'•' of British pioueersi '" By degrees luhour has built up a Colonial Empire, and by degrees the rising "." generation oi that Empire will assert ' political principles which will be found to lv lie in consonance with a high, honourable, and progressive intellectual development. '" Now, therefore, that His lloyal Highness b " the Prince of Wales has become the president of an institution which has lnliourcd so haul and persistently in 100 •:.•,'-'. ,' 1 of the colonies, the colonial-born legisia- ! s tors will have a greater incentive than I ever to tiike care thai the colonies whoso '. political history may bo confided I" their '. Keeping shall be conducted and carried "' on upon the best possible models. The ,'/ l-.'O. rtac • "I ' .:■ E.I-; i ll , ' il-e TO 'k:: '•' oi men who are interested in the material • and social development of Iho colonies ,". cannot be overrated. The Prince of '' Wales—like Albert the Good—is. an earnest worker: whatever he puts his ; '', hand to do he dies it thoroughly, and with all his heart. He knows ho s-;:r1i '" word as fail, ami if w look to the almost parental interest which he displayed in , inection with the Colonial Courts m the Paris Exhibition, and the almost ~ t.'-.v.ivr'; ' ■■■-"■ig ln> ex:n-'' I t v ,r.|s the gentlemen who were aeereditetl Com- '\ nii-sioners by the several colonics, we have an earnest which cannot he questioned \ . of the labour and attention he is prepared '• to devote to the colonies in his new office of President of the Royal Colonial institute. The lieir to tile Throne lias now identified himself in hj marked manner ;° with the feelings and sympathies of coioI nists, and it is not too much to sny that. i the evidences of their industrial power , which came under his observation in Paris had much to do in determining him to ~\ accept this office. But while cordially '' congratulating the colonies itpoii this ■ notable accession to the ranks of men ■' working on their behalf, the services ren h ', dercd by the late president, the Duke of '■ Manchester, must not be forgotten. Tbe.se j services have been so great, and his •■Tuns in the interests of the colonies have 1..- ■:• so persistent, that he is entitled to ,;»• o j best thanks of the empire at large for the . good work which be has done, especially when it is remembered that lie has worked in no ungrudging spirit, and that it has ; it j been a labour of love with him. The j high and distinguished position which lie , holds in the State naturally involves J huge responsibilities, but daring his eight )if " years of oilice very few, even of men of us more leisure, have given such constant l i(i and unceasing attention to the affairs of iu , the Institute. A colonist at heart, and J v with somo considerable experience of more lr _ than one colony, his Grace was peculiarly ■']_ fitted for the position lie occupied, as ||( ] every colonist who has had the pleasure I of a chat with him on colonial affairs can testify, Nothing, therefore, could better show the earnestness of his zeal in his • work than the readiness with which ho used his influence with the I'rii of ?' Wales upon the subject of the Presidency "' of the lloyal Colonial Institute, while ho ' himself is content to find a sphere of usefulness no less eflective then hitherto - ' as viec-prcsideul and chairman of the !"' council. None hut :. eoloni.-t knows how loyally w I lor Majesty's biuhday is kept in the ;■ •■' i'-! ' 'Hi r. it ■!: i-yJi :'. -<t: ,- n l f.,,e , n| with everybody : here business goes on us ■;„ usual, and, save "(he trooping of the J lk colours" in tiie open space in front of u . the Horse Guards, and a salute from the , u . Tower, there is little to note that Her Ul , Majesty has run down another year of l 0( Iho long list which it is to be hoped in in „, store for her. Still, though homo folks ,•, are not demonstrative in their loyalty, M . they do not fail to remember the day with gratitude and affection, and it is |„. perhaps that they ar-always within the 0 f influonco of royalty that they are not do- „.. monstrative. in the colonies it is differ-' „.„ ent, Their royalty is enjoyed only in the „,, ideal, and the enthusiasm whicli bodies forth this unseen and abstract quality us _ a thing to love betokens love in its high. -' est sense, and imparls to the loyalty of "•>' the colonists an earnestness and force ng which are so peculiarly colonial as to he to without, comparison, even if one .should attempt an analysis of the degrees of icr force in loyalty, whether as the attribute vs of Her Majesty the Queen or any conti'ii- nental monarch, Well, it nmsl be n-mti-ier lying to colonists to know that Her IUS Majesty is not insensible to the loyally and affection of her subjects iutheoolo" lit nies, and that on her birthday the official nr representatives of Iho leading colonies „f e,i Australasia were entertained at n' annuel ns given by the Colonial Soerctnry ... lion mi he oi ihe occasion, ■'" Tho guests included |-; ; , ' Cailomn Iho 1 H .... Win; .

K.CM.Q.; the Bigot Rev. Bishop lVtw. Preble of the Ontor of St. Michael and St George; Sir John Row, Boii. K.C. M.Ci.; Sir Henry Barkly. G.GX.G..K.C. B.; Major-(«-ni-ral Sir W. K. DriimmondJcrvois, (i.C.M.i;., CIV. H.E.; General Sir Arthur Borton, K.C.IV j SirFanroM Julvun, K.C.M.0., C.8.; Sir Julius Vogel, K.0.M.Q.; Sir \V. W. Cairns, K.0.M.G.; BirStephen Walo.tt.' S.C.H.G.; MajorGeneral Sir H. Lefroy, R.E..K.C.M.G, '€. B.; Sir Arthur Blyth, K.C.M.G.; Sir Archibald Miohie, K.C.M.G.J Sir Albert Woods (King of Arms to th<- < Werof St. Michael ami St. George ; Sir John de Villiers; the Right Rev. the Bishop of Svdm-v; tl» Right Rev. the Bishop of Adelaide; Mr. H. T. Ussher, C.M.G.; Mr. A. N. Birch, C.M.G.; Mr. E. Newton, G.M.G.; Mr. A. Macalister. CMC; Mr. J. Gardiner Austin CM.G.; Mr. George Dirodus, C.M.G.; Mr. R. G. W. Herbert, Mr. Justice- .Stephen, the Hon. Meade, Mr. W. Forster, Cuptain Ominanney, H.E.; Mr. W. R. Malcolm, Mr. J. Bnunston, Mr. Charles Cox, Mr. I'. 0. Fysh, Mr. W. Caulfeild, ami Mr. F. It. Round.—European .Mail.