THE LATE CZAR'S ESTATES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 June 1917, Page 2

THE LATE CZAR'S ESTATES.

What will /lccomc of the incalculable wealth and vast possessions of the Czar? If they were forfeited to the prosecution of the war, the Russian State Treasury would b e relieved to an am azing extent. The Imperial Family's private domains comprise 21,308,000 acres, an area larger than all Ireland. More than a third of tlie territory, larger than all Wales, is highly cultivated land.

From many sources—mines, mills, trading concerns, and so on—a clear profit is now derived from these lands of more than £2,000,000 per annum. From the Imperial domains alone during th 0 past century the Royal Family lias received some £30,000,000. The?) there are the numerous palaces, apart from the various sources of revenue. In many of these palaces there are huge hoards of specie, bullion, and diamonds.

The extent of the Czar's own private treasury of actual cash may be gauged from the fact that he was able, at the time of the Russo-Japanese War, to contribute a lump sum of £20,000,000 to the war fund. A high diplomatist has estimated that from all sources the Czar has been drawing from his millions of subjects an income of much more than £10,000,000 a year.

The Czar's palace at Tsarslcoe-Selo, where the Czarina is declared to be in "perfect safety," is the Versailles of the Russian capital. It was there that Nicholas II.; panic-stricken, fled when his uncle dragooned the people on the fateful January 22, 1005.

It is not so much a single palace as a congeries of palaces, all decorated within, and without with a. dazzling splendour verging on the barbaric. Statues and ornaments arc richly gilded. AValls are covered with lapis lazuli. Ceilings are studded with pure amber, and the ebony floors are inlaid will', mother of pearl. In the Imperial park is a greal lake, with islands, waterfalls, and fountains, also an extraordinary number of statues, mostly nude, and largely made of 1, '" , " ! Thi> nnrlf ; s pnacions enomyh to contain several churches, an arson:!.]. harrn.o'ks. and a theatre.