Cost of Royal Palaces.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 40, 8 March 1884, Page 5

Cost of Royal Palaces.

The Queen for nearly a quarter of a century has never occupied Buckingham Palace for more than six days in each year. It cost an enormous amount to build, and several thousands are yearly expended on its maintenance. It is sumptuously furnished in every part, and contains miles of fine pictures; and there it stands year after year, nobody ever entering in it, except on four afternoons when drawing-rooms are held, and on four evenings when state balls or concerts are given. It ought either to be understood that this Palace should be open to Royal visitors of high rank, or it should be converted into a hospital or museum. The vast sum which the Queen receives every year from the country is not given to be hoarded up, but is intended to maintain the state and dignity of the Crown. The English Court has gradually acquired a most unpleasant reputation abroad for extreme parsimony, and one would think that instead of the Civil List charges amounting to over £400,000 a year, the Queen was only in receipt of a tenth of that amount. So far as expense goes, it saves a Royal visitor little or nothing to be a guest at "the Palace." The tips which are given are enormous. When the Emperor Nicholas passed Ascot week at Windsor Castle, in 1844, he left £3,000 for the servants, and gave twelve gold and diamond snuff-boxes to the lords and gentlemen of the household. In 1855 the Emperor Napoleon gave £1,500 to the Windsor servants, and last year the King of the Netherlands expended nearly £ltoool t 000 in the same way. In fact, I believe the Lord Steward keeps a regular tariff of what is expeoted, the amount varying according to the rank of the guest, and this is formally presented to the principal personage in attendance on him. — "Truth."

Lieut. R. Booth, of the Blue Ribbon Army, and nephew of the Salvationist General, has been visiting New Caledonia and Fiji on a crusade. The state of affairs at Noumea rather discouraged him,