THE COLONIES AND THE ENGLISH PRESS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3095, 18 January 1879, Page 4

THE COLONIES AND THE ENGLISH PRESS.

How lively and how rapidly increasing is the interest taken by the British public in its Colonial cousins is shown by the prominence given to Colonial matters in the London press. During the French Exhibition this was particularly noticeable. All the principal journals devoted column after column to detailed descriptions of the Colonial courts and their exhibits. All are now calling attention to the forthcoming exhibitions to be held in Australia. A further proof'of this interest is given by the publication just commenced in one of the best evening papers, the Globe, of a series of exhaustive articles upon the several Colonies. These are from the pens of the respective agents-general or of experts specially authorised to speak, and, to judge from the two papers which have already appeared, will be a valuable addition to our knowledge of the Colonies The time has indeed come for some great and comprehensive work which should bring the history of all our Colonies down to the present date. Montgomery Martin's book first appeared just fifty years ago, and, although it has gone through many new editions, it is now rather oldfashioned. The materials for such a work are ample. Colonial travels, descriptions, disquisitions, issue year after year from the press. Writers of eminence have explored all the Colonies in turn and given us their impressions; patriotic colonists have published histories of their own countries ; professors at home have compiled school mannals; the Colonial Office Emigration Board have given us annually cartloads of annual statistics. All that is wanted is the man to dig up the ore and weld it into a great and enduring monument. —Home News.