BRITAIN'S UNCROWNED "KINGS."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 265, 7 April 1914, Page 6

BRITAIN'S UNCROWNED "KINGS."

MUX Will) OWN" ISLAXDS. MOXAKCIIS OF All. 'HIICY SCUVFA'. An infcrcsliug account of the numerous islands around '..real Britain's coasts whose owners, by virtue of ancient charier.-, can claim to lie "r.ionarclis of ii.ll they survey'' in their sea-girt kingdoms. Many of these islands are I rich in historic associations, an.! some nf them arc! for sale.

Scattered an.;:mi the. shores of the United' Kingdom lire a number of islands, large and small, whose proprietors, while owning allegiance to Kin;,' (ieorge, are. nevertheless monarch* of all they survey, with greater power over the comfort and . well-being' of their "subjects" than his Majesty enjoys. Indeed, in some instances the l.'.iitish Parliament has no power to tax these island estates without the consent of their owners, nor can anyone land or reside upon them without the permission of their rulers. Some of them are but a few acres in extent, while others run into many square miles of territory, boasting of a lordly castle and quite a large population. Perhaps the principal island property in the United Kingdom is Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, whose present ruler is Major Mathesou. Lewis is certainly no J mean kingi'.om. seeing that it boasts of an area of 4:17,221 acres, and a population of nearly 3G,(I(H) souls. Indeed, it is the largest island in the United Kingdom next to Ireland. For the man desirous of setting up in a moderate sort of way as a monarch, here is an admirable chance, for Major Mathesou is anxious to dispose of his kingdom. Lewis has figured largely in Scottish history, and the doings of that doughty warrior chief. Rural Macleod, who once ruled it with a rod of iron, would fill volumes.

Over and over again British kings liiivc J despatched gallant soldiers to take the J island and subdue its chiefs. After a \ few months' occupation, however, they invariably had to retire beaten. At one time the. island fell into the hands of the Dutch, but they, like the Kings forces, were eventually driven out. The little kingdom boasts of extensive, lochs, where magnificent fishing is to be had, while in some parts it is very mountainous. Mealashbal and Ben More, the two highest |ieaks, towering eighteen hundred odd feet above sea-level. ' Over] its extensive moors and forest land the red deer si ill roam. Everywhere there larc numerous antiquities and Druidical i remains. The owner's residence is a '. magnificent old castle close to Sturnoi way. the principal town. Many members • of the Koval Family have staved here, in- ! eluding the late King Edward. The prinj cipal industry is fishing, and in the season the girls of Stornoway go all over Scotland packing herrings. Next to lulling cloth-weaving- engages the attention of the islanders, who are a bardv and thrifty set of people, the majority of whom know no other tongue but riaelie. Major Matheson is asking £3(111.0110 I'or this island, and a linn of auctioneers ncclare it ''dirt cheap 7 ' at the price.

. It is in these northern waters, too. that ■wo find Arran, another interesting island kingdom, ruled over by a lady, the beautiful Marchioness of Graham." wife of the eldest son and heir of the Duke of Montrose. Is was as Lady Mary Hamilton that fhe Marchioness inherited this little monarchy from her father, the late Duke of Hamilton, whose only child she was. Asjsole owner of this sea-girt kingdom, the Marchioness rules wisely and well over loyal subjects numbering in all nearly.sooo." The island, which is some 1!) miles loner and \U'/. : miles broad, with an area of Ills square miles, has had a romantic, history. Along the cliffs of the south coast, there are several large caverns, one being known as the King's Cave. Here Robert the Bruce is said "to have-hidden himself for some time, while it was from Brodick Hay that Bruce sailed to ( arriek on his expedition for the recovery of the Crown. There are many interest- | ing ruins, too, such as Lochranza .-Castle. i once the residence of the Scots kings. Then there arc eiiirns, standing stones and stone circles. A few years ago several stone coffins were found in a cairn 200 ft in circumference. Brodick Castle, the owner's residence, is on the site of an old and historic structure, but it has been rebuilt within recent times in Scotch baronial style. Situated upon the northwest shore of Brodick Bay, its position is an exceptionally fine one. In 1902, when cruising in" these waters, King Edward paid a visit to the castle. Xext comes the Isle of Bute, in the Firth of Clyde, said to possess the mildest climate in all Bonnie Scotland. Its owner, of course, is the Marquis of Bute, who lords it over a kingdom of 49 square miles in extent, and boasting of a population of 11.000 souls. The scenery is varied, and in some places very picturesque. There are six lakes on the island, the largest being Loch Fad, two and a-half miles long by a quarter of a mile wide. Here, in a cottage, lived Kcan, the great actor, and also Sheridan Knowlcs, the famous dramatist. Among the antiquities of Bute is James Castle, the birthplace of John Sterling, the celebrated author and essayist. The principal town is Rothesay." in the centre of which stands Rothesay Castle, dating back to the year 1098. It was here that, 1 Robert lIJ. died. From an early period Bute was more or less subject to the Xorwegians. who held the castle. The present owner's residence. Mount Stuart, lies five miles from Rothesay. By an old charter in the possession "of ihe Marquess' family, the present proprietor !>Qh]s undisputed sway over the destiny ;>f tile island.

Xot fur from fcute is tin- beautiful Island of Islny, now governed by .\fr. Hugh Morrison, brother-in-law of Lord firnnville. Tliis little kingdom, the richest and most productive island of the Hebrides, was the principal residence of the Macdonalds, Lords of the Isles. It passed, early in the seventeenth century, from the '.Macleans to the Campbells, and afterwards to the Morrisons. 11 has a length of 25'/ z miles, a breadth of 1!). and a total area of 246 square miles. The population numbers 7000 souls, the principal industries being dairy farming, stock-raising and whisky distillation.

The Duke of Argyll includes in his possession not only Tyrce Island, but also the Island- of lona.' the most sr.-rcd and historic spot in all Scotland. lis history began in the year ."ilill. when St. Coliimba, leaving the shores of Ireland, landed upon lona with 12 disciples.

In the Inner Hebrides there is also to be found the Island of ltmn. or Kliuiu. ruled by Sir John Bullmigli. This is virtually a huge deer and game reserve. The finest herds and some of the best shooting in Scotland are to be obtained here. Indeed, the place abounds in a great variety of game, which is zealously preserved by its owner. To receive nn invitation to hunt in this domain is one of the ambitions of sportsmen. This ; island reserve is eight and a-half miles in length by, eight miles in breadth. Of its 42 square miles of area only IfflO acres are arable, and these are devoted to sheep farming. The whole of the remainder is deer forest and moorland. The island is very mountainous, a mass

.)f high sharp peaks. ;;;■:..,;.■ to. ering iiifi!) it and. more in hei|.:-r. 'the island Iras had a chequered carer. Ji, ]S2ii ilie I'll) crofters living on the islar I -.,vre all cleared oil' to America, with ;h- exception of a single family, and Hie arable land converted into a sheep farm. Today Hum'has a population of i-11l souls, who acknowledge Sir John liullough as their rightful lord and master. iie re-

sides at Kinloch Castle, and dispenses there a hospitality in keeping villi the traditions of the island. From the Orkneys lo the l'ri-10l Channel is perhaps a far cry, but it is in these latter waters that we find •Liindy (to speak of "Lundv Island" is incorrect), perhaps the best known of all the island monarchies. This little jewel of the sea has been the haunt of pirates and murderers, smugglers ami convict-.. At one time it fell into the haiels of Turkish privateers; at another if was held by French pirates, and Charles I. ki lit a garrison here. In the middle of the eighteenth century the member for (!arnstaple owned it. and when he undertook : to transport convicts to Virginia be took them to Lundy, and worked them for his own profit.

Just over 70 years ago, however. Lundy passed by purchased into the bands of the Heaven family, anil there it still remains. The price paid for it was £0871). The Kev. 1). !i. Heaven is the present owner. He became curate there in 18114, and as curate and vicar he has since remained, overlord of 1201! acres anil of fewer than Kill souls.

Just north of Ifowth, in Dublin lias', lies the Island of l.aiubay. Formerly 'it was the .property of the Archbishop of Dublin, but a. few yen re aju) it was purchased by the Hon. Cecil Earing, heir to the, earldom of his childless brother, Lord Ivcvclstrofcc. The island is a small one. barely three miles in circumference, and, although scarcely four miles ! from the coast, is furiously isolated when one considers its proximity to the capital of Ireland. Lumbar Castle, the residence of the owner, is an intercstiiu* old building of some historic note, from t!io fact that Archbishop Usher, a staunch adherent to Charles 1., took refuse in - the house on one occasion when bis life j was endangered. Mr. liarinfj lias constantly 'improved and beantilied the Cn.stlc, and spends a considerable portion of the year there with his wife. J Some declare that it was on Lambay

that St. Patrick first hunlcd in Ireland, ami that lie built liis iirsl church here: while others aver thai the old church

ruins on the islands nro those of a snored edifice found liv St. ; okniiba. To-dav the island is famous fi.i- it.-- ca."'„!i\ its animal life and il.< (lowers. Kallow deer roam over it. and :'lso thi- rhea. while in its caverns <hvll moat. »;■;■>■ seals. Tt is a paradise of birds, e-pcciali--- duriir: the summer, and close on a l:::n I red varieties make it. their home, includim: th- l';dcon. On the el ill's grow a. res of scurvy-gray*,

with its creamy while linwers smelling like honey, and covering the land with blossom.

Sir Maurice Fitzgerald, twentieth Knight of Kerry, lords it over the Island of Valentine, oil the coast of Kerry, the ownership of which enables him to style himself the nearest ICuropean neighbor to the United States. This little'king- | dom on the Atlantic is some live miles 10115 by two broad. The island is rhiellv I famous as the Kuropean terminus of I more than one Atlantic telegraph. With / its post and telegraph ollice. it is quite a busy little place, the population nitmberhifjf nearly ■2(101) souls. Unique in mane ways anion': these island kingdoms i-, (Iscsi. It lies in a deep bay on the ICsscx eoa.-t. formed bv the estuary of the lllackwater. The island is about a mile and a-half lon;,', three-quarters of a mile wide, and has a coast-line of some four It is a delightful island retreat of beautiful meadow land and charming old elm trees. 1111 ideal place for yaciiiim:, bo;iting,bathing and s.ea-lisliing. It. was purrhased some eight years ago by Mr. Frank X. Carrim-ton. the popular Kast laid temperance worker, who sacrilacd a million and a-quarlci' of money rather (hail continue in the great hrewcrv Ij-.i-itu'-.-s established by his father. After lie had secured the'island lie .converted it into a retreat for aristocratic drunkards, and also, for that matter, into a seaside nnd health resort. On this •■teetotal island" there are no public-houses or drug stores. | The largest building on the island is ■•Rivermere." a really charming residence for well-to-do inebriates. the island boasts of an interesting history, and, from the time of Edward the Confessor! has always had a small population and a ''king." Twenty-seven miles to the south-west] of Land's End lie the Seilly Isles. They represent the strongest island bidding in llin United Kingdom, as in all they mini-J her 2UO islands, islets mnl rocks--an extensive archipelago, and yet entirely the |

property of one man. At the present time only four of them are inhabited, iiixl Hie second in point of size. Trcseo,

is the home of the lord-proprietor <if the

Sr-illics. Mi: T. A. Uoiricii-Smitli. Tivseo Abbey, .Mr. Donieii-Siiiith's residence, is

built on the foundations, and to a great extent with the malcrials of the ancient abbey, which dates from the time of King Athelstone in !!:l(j. The Scilly Islands remained in the possession iif (Tie (Jodolphins until ISo.'i, when thev passed to .Augustus Smith, uncle of the present "king of tile Scillies." It was Mr, Dor-rien-Smitb's father who induced the islanders to take up (lower-growing, an industry which has contributed much to the prosperity of the islands. Naturally there are many islands scattered around (lie shores of f I rent Britain owned by private companies and also by various cities and corporations. and quite a number that are Crown or Government property, hi the Bristol Channel, for instance, there, arctwo charming' little islands, each about a mile and a-ha!f in circumference, known as Flat Holme and Steep Holme, The former is under the control of the Cardiff Corporation, and. like Steep Holme, is fortified. ' Steep Holme belongs to a farmer, Mr. .lames Sleemon. who raises sheep and milks his cows here undisturbed by the madding crowd. The smallest, but'one of the inhabited Channel Islands. Herm, is now owned by the Wcslhauk Company. Another of the Channel Islands, the Me of .lethoii. less th.in a mile and a-milf in circumference, is owned by Sir Henry l.ec, of the BrilL-h Embassy in Paris. lie and his wife spend many weeks every year in its delightful manor-house.