A Short History of the Reign.

Te Aroha News, 21 June 1887, Page 11

A Short History of the Reign.

r I AHE first notable c\ cnt of the Queen's reign I was the outbreak ot a rebellion in Canada. The imbecile colonial policy of the British Government towards Canada — almost as suicidal as the mistakes of the previous half century, which culminated in the Declaration of Independence by the revolted Ameiican States — had fanned into open rebellion the colonists of British North America. It was soon suppressed, however, and Lord Durham, who was sent out to pacilicate the Canadas, did so wisely, and established the just principle on which the relations between Britain and her colonies are now based. The early portion of Her Majesty's reign saw the Australasian Colonies first begin to rise into prominence. We have grown up so rapidly that we have hardly time to look about us and become conscious of our own sensations. Two generations have hardly passed since we began to be. It was in 1837 that the fhst land sale took place at Adelaide. In the same year the estimated population of South Austiaha was considerably under 80,000 persons, and at that time Victoria was included in the colony of New South Wales. Queensland had been known since 1825, when the Mermaid cast anchor in Moreton Bay, but she could not be said to have a population before 1845, and then it was only " computed at about 2,257." in ,our own colony it was in 1840 that the '1 rcaty of Wailangi was signed, and Wellington and Auckland were first planted. Ouigo followed in 1848. and Canterbury not until 1850. We are now 3,000,000 ot Englishmen. Our united re\enue amounts to and our loreign tiade to £\ i9,cco,coo. Our wealth thus far has depended mainly on our wool, which means that we must have the mam pait of out area tenanted by sheep, and not by men. Vet we have ■built cities. The population of Melbourne exceeds, and that of Sydney nearly reaches, 300,000. We have a large number of towns ranging between 20,000 and 60,000, and the number of our smaller towns — iarge enough to be mentioned in our guide books — must, on a rough computation, amount certainly to a couple of thousands. The opening of the reign saw also the general development of the railway system all over England (1837-39), the construction of the electric telegraph (1838), the first successful attempts to make use ot steam forthe business of transatlantic navigation ( 1838), and the introduction of the penny postage (1840). The suspension of tianspoitation in the same year (18( 1 8 1.0) ensuied a career of future prosperity to our settlements in Australia. A measure to abolish in various cases the punishment of death was passed. Inquiries into the condition of our poor and labouring classes were ihe order of the day. A system ot national education, begun 111 1831 by a small annual grant tow aids the erection of schools, was developed in 1839 by the cieation of a Committee of the Pi ivy Council for educational purposes, and by steady increase of educational grants. In Ireland the hoi 101s of the Tithe Wai led in 1838 to the abolition of tithes and the substitution of a land tax. A Poor Law was passed in the same }ear, and a Municipal Reform Act two yeais later. But although the ministry weie able to carry these and seveial other beneficial measures, they failed to win the confidence of the people. The condition of the manufacturing poor was deplorable, and it gave rise to the r hartist agitation for admission

to equal political lights with the middle classes. For ten yeais (1838-48)11)0 movement distuibed England. Events abioad added to the diificuliics of the ministry at home. A wai was forced on China in 1836, on its refusal to allow the smuggling of opium into its dominion. In India the occupation ot Cabul duiing the same year (1839) ended two years later in a general ievolt of the Afghans, and in the loss of a British army in the Kyber Pass. A general election in IS4I resulted in the return of the Con-

servatives to power under Sir Robert Peel. When the new ministry assumed office there was a general confidence that the financial genius of Sir Robert Peel would quickly find some way to amend the condition of things, especially in the agricultural distiicts. Abroad the Go\einment pio\ed itselt successful. Peace was made with China by a treaty which threw open fi\e additional ports to Euiopean traders ; and in India the disaster of Cabul was a\engcd by an expedition under General Pollock. In 1843 Daniel O Council and his formidable agitation for Repeal are entitled 10 the foremost place; but 'he prohibition of the monster meeting at Clonlaif, on October 3rd, broke his powei. In India the province of Scinde was annexed to the Jhitish dominions. In 1545 KngLmd's supiemacy in India was again ieopaidised l>\ the outbreak of the Sikhs who were,

ho\ve\cr, subdued in the battles of Sobraon, IMoodkce, and Ferozebhab. On July 17 of that )ear died Kail Oicv. P 1 e in i e ] of the Cabinet, \\ho passed the Rciorni Bill and abolished slavery. The agitation legardmg the Corn La\\s commenced about this time. Peel, who had been elected in 1841 to maintain the Coin Tax, in 1846 lepealed it, in consequence of the agitation of a gieat political association called the Anti-Corn Law League, and also for the difficulty of pioviding for an impending famine in

Ireland. The day that the bill was passed by the House of Lords saw the ministry defeated on an Irish Coercion Bill. Lord John Russell succeeded to the Premiership, and carried out the system of Free Trade initiated by his predecessor. The great O'Connell died in 1847, and in 1848 there were revolutionary outbreaks in Germany, Italy, Austria, and France, while in England the renewal of the Chartist agitation, and in Ireland the " Young Ireland " rebellion, were tho principal events. Another outbreak of the Sikhs tool? place in 1849, and was followed by their complete defeat and the annexation of the Punjaub In 1849, while the countries of the continent were still agitated by the revolutionaries, trade and manufactures at home were improving, wages rising, and the popular discontent dying out. Ireland, too, was temporarily tranquil. ISSI was rendered notable by the opening of the Great Exhibition and the discovery of gold in Victoria. In the following year the Volunteer movement sprung into existence, in consequence o( the popular fear of a French invasion. Little wars were proceeding with Bunnah and the Kaffirs. Lord Russell's ministiy was defeated on a Militia Bill, and Loid Dei by came into office with Disraeli as Chancellor of the Exchequer. A new constiluuon was granted to New Zealand. The end of the }car saw the death of the great. Duke of Wellington. The new Parliament was called togethei in November, but the Dei by administration wr.s deJeated on the budget of Mr. Disraeli. In a few da^s after the Aberdeen Coalition Ministry was foirned. With Mr. Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer, another sweeping abolition of duties was carried; while Lord Pahncrston at the Home Office introduced such useful refoims as the ticket-of-leave system, the extension of the Factory Acts, and the shutting up of graveyards in the metropolis. But the mind of the nation was soon to be wholly taken up with foieign affairs. The attack upon Tuikey by the Emperor of Russia was resisted by the allied forces of England and France. War was declared in March, 1854. The invasion of the Crimea (September 14th), and the victory of Alma (September 20th), were followed by the siege of Sebastopol. On October 25th was fought the battle of Balaclava; the sth November witnessed the successful defence of the heights above Inkerman. The winter tried our troops severely, encamped as they were on a bleak plateau, while the commissariat utterly broke down. This caused great indignation in England, and Lord Abeideen was succeeded as Prime Minister by Lord Palmerston in February, 1855. When operations were resumed in the summer the English army was far outnumbered by its French allies, who consequently gained the greater part of the credit of the Cciptuic of bebastopol on September sth. 'I he war was now viitually over, the Congicss of Paris opened Fcbruaiy 26th, 1856, and March 30th a tieaty of peace was signed. For some time after the Gimean war llir* business of legislation proceeded with languor. In India the annexation of Oude (Febiuary 7th, 1856) gave rise to much discontent among the natives, which was afterwards to bear fruit. The seizure of the l'orcha (or cutter) Arrow by the Chinese authorities, on the charge of piracy, was the cause of the second Chinese war (October, 1855 — May, 1858). '1 he policy of the Government in this matter led to their defeat in Febiuary, 1857; km Lord Palmerston's appeal to the countiy bi ought him back to power with a laiger majority than before. The hi tie war with Persia was concluded in April. Soon aftci wards the news of the outbreak in India broke upon England with the shock of a thunderclap. A mutiny at Meerut in May was followed by the seizure of Delhi, where the native king was enthroned as Empctor of Ilindoostan; by a fresh mutiny and massacre of the Europeans at Cawnpore, by the rising of Oude, and the siege of the Residency of Lucknow. The revolt was not finally suppressed until August, 1858. At home the new parliament was engaged for some time in passing the Act foi the establishment of a Court of Divorce. This year (1857) also saw the abolition of the system of transposition. The autumn was memorable by a terrible nionej panic, and the failures of banks and commeicial firms, which led to the suspension of the Bank Charter Act. ]n the beginning of 1858 Lord Palmerston intioduced a bill to transfer the authority of the East India Company to the Crown, In accordance with this Act the government of the company — the famed "John Company" — formally ceased on September Ist, 1858; and the Queen was proclaimed throughout India in

the following November, the Governor-General _ becoming her Viceroy. In February, 1859, the failure of Mr. Disraeli's Reform Bill necessitated an appeal to the country. The election brought back Lord Palmerston, whose ministry lasted till his death in 1865. A commercial treaty with France, negotiated by Mr. Cobden, was concluded in January, 1861. The ratification of the treaty of Tientsin by the Emperor in October ended for a time the disturbances in China. A native war was proceeding in New Zealand. The opening days of 1862 were made memorable by a fearrul accident at the Hartley coal mine, Northumberland, by which 202 men and bo}S were buried alive. For the next three years home politics weie inactive. Parliament was dissohed in July, 1865, and a large Liberal majority was the result of the appeai to the countiy. In the following October, Lord Palmerston died. The new Government introduced a Franchise Bill e.irly in 1566, and resigned, on failing to carry it, in July. This year was also notable for a tenible commercial panic, and the laying of the Atlantic cable. In 1867 a further measure of reform was carried by the Conservative Government, and the Parliamentary session was scarcely over when the country was startled by the news of the attempted rescue ot the Fenian prisoners at Manchester. The Fenian movement, organised for the purpose of extorting independence for Ireland by force, may be said to have commenced at the close of the American War, in 1865; but all attempts at insurrection had Jiitherto proved abortive. The scheme ior the capture of Chester Castle, in Febmary of this year, was anticipated by the Government. The gathcung at Tallaght, in March, which was to have formed a prelude to a general rising in Ireland, was dispetsed by the police On November 23, three of the leaders ol the Manchester rescue were hanged. On December 13, an attempt was made to blow up the House of Detention at Cleikenwell. Early in IS6B, Lord Derby withdrew from politics, and Mr. Disraeli became Premier. In July, Mr. Gladstone carried his Irish Church Bill, and in the general election which followed the Liberals again secuicd the power. The successful conclusion 'ot the Ab)ssmian expedition belongs to the histniy ot this )car. A sadc\entof 1 868 was the gicat massacre of scttleis by natives in PoverU Bay, New Zealand. During the session ol 1569, the Disestablishment ot the Irish Chinch was earned, and the Irish Land Bill, accouling a sort of tenant right, was also passed in 1870, while a little later in the same year the Education Bill became law. In 1871, the long-pend-ing dispute between Biitain and America, re the Alabama claims, was sctiled, Gieat Biitain having to pay about 200,000 indemnity money. 1872 was remarkable lor the agitation among the agncultural labouiertj, and the foimation of then Union, an event which e\en the fusi Tichhorne trial, now drawing to its close, failed to throw into the shade. A fresh step in Parliamentary leiorm was made by the passing of a measure which enabled the votes of electors to be given in secret by means of the ballot. Meanwhile the time had come when the nation was no longer in reforming mood. 1873 pioved a trying time for the Liberal Government. The Irish Home Rule party now came into piominence, under Mr. Isaac Butt, and put them in a new difficulty. Defeated on the Irish University Bill, they resigned in March, but Mr. Disraeli prudently declined to accept office without a working majoiity. By the death of the ex-Emperor Of the French at Chisclhurst, on Januaiy 9, a name of enormous power passed out of the living world into that of history. Nine days later died Lord Lytton, who, if he did not in every walk achieve equal distinction, yet failed in none. Early in 1874 Mr. Gladstone suddenly resolved to consult public opinion by a dissolution of Parliament, and the return of a Conservative majority of nearly seventy members led to his retirement from office, Mr. Disraeli again becoming Prime Minister, February 28th was the iSSth and last day of the trial of the Tichborne Claimant for pei jury. Sentence of fourteen years' imprisonment was passed. The Ashantee war — " one of the least of all our little wars "—was brought to a close in March. About this time (1877-78) the Home Rule party, under the leadership of Mr. Parnell, who had displaced Mr. Butt, began to make its power felt in the House of Commons. The new leader availed himself of the distress caused by bad harvests in 1878-80, and of the repeal of the Convention Act in 1879, to organise the formidable Land League movement. Throughout 1876 and 1877 a guarded and even hostile attitude towards Russia was maintained ; and when the Russians seemed about to enter Constantinople, the British fleet was ordered to the Dardanelles, and an Indian Contingent was brought to Malta. When a treaty was concluded between Turkey and Russia at San Stefano, Mr. Disraeli, now Lord Beaconsfield, insisted that it should be submitted to the great Powers. A general Congress at Beilin followed, which Lord Beaconsfield and Lord Salisbury attended as the representatives of England, and in the summer of 1878 the Eastern Question was temporarily set at rest by the Treaty of Berlin, Cyprus now became a British possession. The death of Earl Russell, May 28th, in this year, removed from the political world the shadow of a great name. Abroad, the repulse by the Afghans of a British mission led this year to a fresh Afghan war (Nov. 1878). The Afghans made but a poor

resistance, and the British troops soon occupied Cabul. A treaty was concluded at Gandamak with Yakoob Khan, who had succeeded to power on the death of his father, Sherc Ali, in May, 1879, but all its provisions were scatleicd to the winds by the murder of Sir Louis Cavagnari, who had been deputed as English Envoy to Cabul (Sept.). The British army promptly advanced on the capital, and on Dec. 24 Cabul was again occupied. Matters were now settling down, but the appioach of the Sirdar Ayoob Khan kindled anew the flames of rebellion. This pretender, having defeated General Burrows at Maiwand in July, proceeded to invest Candahar, but he was utterly routed in his turn by General Sir F. Roberts (Sept.), who had effected the difficult march from Cabul with consummate generalship. The government of the country was ultimately left in the hands of Abd ur Rahman (July, 1880). The year 1879 began inauspiciously with the war between the British and the Zulu king, Cetcwayo, owing to the refusal of the latter to make reparation for the raids by his subjects upon Natal. A force under Lord Chelmsford crossed the frontier, and after several reverses, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Zulus, and captured Cetewayo. At home the next general election sent the Liberals back to power with a large majority. The new Parliament met May 20th, and the state of Ireland soon absorbed attention. The Relief of Distress Bill passed uneventfully into law; but the Compensation for Disturbance Bill, having for its main provision that in certain districts tenants might be compensated for eviction in the case of non-payment of rent, was unceremoniously thrown out of the House of Loids by the overwhelming majonty of 231. In June the King of Greece, George L, made a short stay. In South Alrica the annexation of the Transvaal to the British dominions (April, 1877), had caused much discontent among the Boers, whsch in December ot this >ear, 1880, took the form of open rebellion. A most disastrous campaign followed in winch the British sustained three several deieats. An aimLstice, proposed by the Boers, was accepted in March, 1881, and peace was finally concluded on the 22nd ot the same month. By the Convention ot Pretona the Boers, while retaining selfgo\ernmcni, acknowledged the su/ciainty of Biitain, and thus the Tiansvaal piactically became an independent State. The Mmistiy re-assembled both Houses on. January 6th, and at once set to woik at lunhcr legislation tor li eland. Two repressive measures — a Preseivation of Propeity and an Anns Bill— became law, after a despeiate fight on the pan of the Paincllitcs ; and the Go\ eminent were free to mtioduce their "message of peace," the new lush Land Bill, by v. lnch the whole system ot Irish tenures was transtoimc-d (April 7th). Alter endless obstruction the Bill icceived the royal assent in August. The remainder of the session was devoted chiefly to army lclorm. By the Army Discipline Act flogging was totally abolished. The evils oi the short-seivice system were decreased, the prospects of junior officers were impioved ; while by a stiict method of localization moie hoops were ready for service at a particular moment. In li eland, the tnumphal acquittal of Mr. Parnell and his coadjutois had added to the strength of the agitators, while they condemned the Land Act by anticipation. The Government, seeing little prospect of the Land x\ct being allowed fair play, availed itself of the " unexhausted lesourccs of civilization," by lodging Mr. Parnell and five of his allies in Kilmainham Gaol. Ten days later the Land League was pioclaimed as " an illegal and ciiminal association," but it immediately revived as the National League. On April 19th Lord Beaconslield passed away, full of years and of such honours as the State had to bestow. His last public utterance had been in the House of Lords on the occasion of the assassination of the Emperor of Russia in the previous March. The session which opened Feb. 7th, 1882, was devoted, like its predecessor, almost entirely to liish affairs. A fresh trouble was prepared for the Government by the adoption of a motion in the House of Lords for a Select Committee to inquire into the working of the Irish Land Act. The release of Mr Parnell and other "suspects" on certain conditions — jocosely referred to by the Opposition as the " Kilmainham Treaty " — gave rise to much heated debate (May). These incidents seriously interfered with the discussion on the new Rules of Procedure. It was hoped there would be more expedition after Easter; but a terrible crisis — the assassination of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr. Burke, the Chief and Under Secretaries for Ireland, in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, on May 6th, compelled the Government to resort to a totally new departure. A stringent Prevention of Crimes Bill was forthwith introduced (May nth), which on becoming law (July 1 2th) put a stop to the worst of the atrocities. In spite of the most extreme provocation the Ministry introduced one more remedial measure for Ireland, the Arrears of Rent Bill, which received royal assent, August 1 8th. The other measures of the session included in the Commons the Parcel Post Bill ; in the Upper House, the Married Women's Property Bill— which places the married woman precisely upon the same footing as her husband in everything relating to the ownership and disposal of property— and the Settled Land Bill were carried. The Procedure Resolutions were finally passed in an autumn session (October 24th to December 2nd).

Abroad, the Egyptian difficulty came to a head by the uprising of the "National Paity '' under Arabi Pasha. On May 17th, 1883, the English and French fleets were ordered to Alexandria to support the authority of the Khedive. June nth a riot bioke out in the city, and the European colony in alarm began to leave Egypt. Mercantile enterprise was checked, and it was probably owing to financial pressure that armed intervention was then decided on by Mr. Gladstone. The "Bondholders' War " began with the bombardment of Alexandria by the English fleet on July nth, with the result that on the second day it was evacuated by the Nationalists, who, as they retired, took care to burn down the European quarter of the city. I oss estimated at Finally, September 10th, the campaign was ended by a night attack on Tel-el-Kebir, Cairo was saved from the fate of Alexandria by a forced march of cavalry, September 14th, and Arabi was eventually banished to Ceylon. 1883 saw the longbaffled efforts of the executive to bring the Phoenix Park murderers to justice completely successful. The actual assassins were hanged ; their accomplices sent to penal servitude for life. The dynamite conspirators revealed their presence in London by attempts to blow up the Local Government Board and Times offices (March 13th), and by explosions on the Underground Railway (October 30th). These outrages necessitated the passing of a Bill for amending the Act of 1875 relating to explosives, April 10th. The severity of this measure, and of the sentences inflicted upon four of the gang in June, checked the movement for a brief while. Parliament met February 15th. Among a large number of legislative failuies were such important measures as the Criminal Appeal and Code Bills, and the Bill for the Reform of the Municipality of London (all three " dropped "). The International Fisheries Exhibition, which was opened on May 12th, proved the event of ihe London season, while it doubtless gave considerable impetus to one of the most important of our industries. Meanwhile the prospect in Egypt grew gloomier day by day. Although the Government had repeatedly dcclaied that the army of occupation would be withdrawn, they had ovei looked the fact that the Khedive was engaged in a desperate struggle with the Arabs of the Soudan, who, led by a religious fanatic, Mahomet Achmct (the Mahdi), totally annihilated an Egyptian airny under Hicks Pasha November 3rd This success the Mahdi followed up next year (1S84) by cutting to pieces, at El Tcb, near Suakim, Baker Pashas rabble of Egyptians, Bashi-Bazouks, and negioes, February 4th, and England now felt called upon to go to the rescue of hei new dependent. About 4,000 troops under General Graham w eie sent, and engaged the Soudanese commanded by Osman Digna at El Teb (February 29th) and Tamanieb (Maich 13th), but no practical result followed. In the meantime General Got don, at the request of the Government, had left London for Khartoum on January 18th to assume his old post of Governor-General of the Soudan. The main object of his mission was to effect the withdrawal ol the ganison and of the Christian population inlvhaitoum ; but in August, when all too late, it became necessary to despatch an army under Lord Woiseley to his lehet. At home, 1884 brought about a luither and probably final mcasuie ol Reform. Pailiamcnt assembled on February sth. The thiid reading of the Fianchise Bill was effected in the Commons on June 26th, but the Lords would ha\e none of it unless (so they alleged) it was accompanied by a Redistribution ol Seats Act. The Ministry had therefoic no alternative but to huny on the remaining business 111 order to pass the Fianchisc Bill again in an autumn session. Parliament met again on October 23rd, and shortly afterwards an agreement was anhed at between mmisteis and the Opposition leaders. A Redistribution Bill was drafted in concert, and the Franchise Bill was passed in the Lords on December 6th. The agricultural labourers were thus added to the constituencies. Domestic science was furtheied by the opening of the National Health Exhibition on May Bth. The death of Mr. Fawcelt, most illustrious of Postmasters-General, occurred on November 6th. In December a determined attempt was made to blow up London Bridge with dynamite. The earliest days of 1885 fell upon trouble, both at home and abroad. Simultaneous attempts were made (January 24th), in broad daylight, to blow up the Houses of Parliamenttand the Tower of London by dynamite. For complicity in these outrages, two men, Cunningham and Bui ton, were convicted and sentenced to penal seivitude for life in the following May. On Februaiy sth, the news of the fall ot Khartoum and the assassination of its heroic defender thrilled the country. A more unpiopitiousmoment for Parliament to reassemble could hardly have been chosen. When it met (Febiuary 19th) the Opposition gave notice of a vote of censui eon the Government for their conduct of the Soudan campaign. The Government just escaped intheCommons by a nairow majority of 14 ; in the Lords their policy found but 68 supporters. They now resolved on " smashing " the Mahdi, but after four millions and a half had been voted for that purpose, they as suddenly changed their minds and determined to abandon the Soudan to its fate (May nth). The Redistribution Bill had been meanwhile steadily pushed onwards, and received royal assent, May 21st. Defeat came at length on the Budget Bill, the Ministry resigned June 12th, andLord Salisbury became premier for the first time,-

The remainder of the session was employed in passing Mr. Balfour's Medical Relief Bill, Lord Salisbury's Housing of the Working Classes (England) Bill, the Land Purchase and Labourers' (Ireland) Bills, and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, a measure which may be said to be still on its trial. Scotland at last received a Chief Secretaiy and a Vice-President of her Education Department. Just before the prorogation, Lord Iddesleigh announced die proposal of a Royal Commission to inquire into the causes of Depression of Trade, August ioth. In April the Prince and Princess of Wales paid a three weeks' visit to Ireland, and received a cordial reception in most places ; the following month they opened the International Inventions Exhibition at South Kensington. The Exhibition proved hardly so attractive as its predecessors, while financially it lesulted in a loss of neaily Many eminent names are found on the death-list of 1885. The 2nd April saw the unexpected death of Eail Cairns. The veteran statesman, Viscount Halifax (Sir Charles Wood), passed away on August Sih. The death of the illustrious philanthropist, Lord Shaftesbury, October Ist, was mourned by all classes. The elections wnich came on in November were remaikable for the success of the woi king-men candidates. The result showed an absolute tie, provided the Home Rulers, now mustering S6 members, obeyed the mstiuciions of their leader, and voted with the Conservatives. Suddenly it was whispered that Mr. Gladstone had become tavourable to the establishment of a pailiament in li eland dealing with purely Irish aflaiis, and had even prepared a scheme. In the same month war was declared against the King of Burmah for persistent \iola ion ot tieaties, and on the reassembling of Paihament. 12th Janiuiy, 1886, the annexation of his dominions was announced. A ioitnight later the Salisbury Adminisliation was defeated on the Allotments amendment of Mr. Jesse Collmgs, and Mr. Gladstone once moie assumed the lcms. It was well known that he cnteicd office pledged to Home Rule measuics. After an interval ot suspense, a Government of lieland Bill was brought in on Bth April, but pieceded by the resignation of two Cabinet Ministeis, and by the secession of numerous minor membets of the Libeial party, who found themselves unable Lv support the measuie. A Sale and Purchase of Land (Ireland) Bill followed, 16th Apul. The first measure, the Government of Ireland Bill, was defeated on the second reading in the Commons by a majority of 30 (30th June), and the split in the Libeial camp was for the time complete. A geneial election, which returned Unionists, Dissentient Liberals, and Gladstonian Liberals, restored the Conseivatives to oflice, Lord Salisbury again becoming First Minister of the Crown. The most momentous colonial event was the eruption of Mount Taravvera, New Zealand, which buried several square miles of country under mud and ashes, and caused the loss of 100 lives. February Bth of this year acquired the unenviable sobriquet of " Mob Monday," from the riots which look place in the West End after a meeting of the unemployed in Trafalgar Square. The death of Mr. Forster, April sth, removed an occasionally useful and an always prominent, though not always popular minister. The year's obituary also contains the name of Lord Cardwell, a name associated with the abolition of purchase in the army. The magnificent Colonial and Indian Exhibition, opened by the Queen in May, brought home to us for the first time the development and progress which have been made in the various parts of the British dominions. The Exhibition was a great success, having been visited by no fewer than 5,550,745 persons during the six months it was open.