LITTLE-KNOWN RULERS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 12

LITTLE-KNOWN RULERS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

For Iho man who has a wish to set up in a moderate way as a monarch, the present tune is Ins opportunity lot achieving this end. Mr Vv. Cary, tho son of Colom l Ctery, the well-mown Amnn’ean, a tow wi-eks ago offered ter sale the small island known as the Cali Oi -Man, with abr-olnto powers as a ruler. When offering it for sale Mr Cary assured all prospective buyers that tho British Parliament has no power to tax tho island without tho owners permission, and that the fishing lights wore iu themselves of gicat value, but oven the tempting bah of no rates or taxes failed to’ bring a substantial enough bid. and, so this little monarchy is still “To Let.” This island, over which any one with the necessary rr onev can at once become ‘ king, ’ is 020 acres in extent and separated, frem tho Isle of Man bv tho Calf bound. Under a grant of tho island from tho Crown, in the davs ot Elizabeth, the Calf was declared to ho for over free from taxes, so that the approach o. tho Budget can ho surveyed by the owner with equanimity. This fact may also explain why one hermit owner ot tho island was content to dwell tlioio for upwards of twenty years hi total solitude, subsisting on fish, rabbits, and a few vegetables. But tho groat objection to this tiny kingdom isshat hut a small part of it is cultivated, and tho whole ot it is tn cirun with rabbits and rats, winch, atranm. to relate, like Man:: cats, are tailless.

But tho Calf of Alan is not the only island near our coast wlioro the riglus ef kingship may bo had for the purchasing! Them aro several small, though valuable, tracts of sea-girt land whoso proprietors, while owning allegiance to King Edward, are monarcha of all they survey, with greater absolute power over tho comfort of their ‘subjects'’ than ins Majesty enjoys. First among these, perhaps, is Lundy (to speak of “Lundy Island” is incorrect), standing like a sentinel in the Bristol Channel. Tins lovely little jewel has been tho haunt of pirates and murderers, smugglers and convicts. At one time, it foil into tho hands of Turkish privateers; at another it was held by French pirates. In tho middle of the eighteenth century tho member for Barnstaple owned it; and when he undertook to transport convicts to Virginia ho took them to Lundy and worked them for his own profit. \ “KING” IN THE SCTLLY ISLES.

About seventy years ago, however, Lundy passed by purchase into the hands of tho Heaven family, and there it still remains. Tho K-ev. XI. G. Heaven is tho present oivner. Ho became curate there in 18G4, and ns curate and vicar he has since remained, overlord of 1200 acres and of fewer than 200 souls. Tho island is two and a half miles long and ono mile broad, and is really included in the county of Devon. Half-a-milc from tho southern end is tho Lundy Lighthouse, 95ft high, situated on a cliff top. Its revolving light is 560 ft above the sea-level, and can bo seen thirty miles away. A small boat sails from Inslowf every week with tho mails; and there is a fortnightly service from Appledore; but beyond that Air Heaven prefers to have nothing to do with earth. No ono who wishes to land on Lundy can do so without the consent of its owner, but in justice, it must be said that permission is rarely refused.

Tresco, one of tho group forming tho Scilly Isles, is also under a kind of absolute monarchy, the “land pronnietor” in this case being Mr T. A. Smith-Dorrien. He is a benevolent despot. From his homo at Tresco, which has often been visited by the Royal Family, ho directs tho operations which have mado tho deserts of Scilly smile, and converted his people from discontented folk into happy and prosperous workers. Flowers by tho ton—sometimes as much as thirty-five tons a day —are despatched during the season from his little kingdom to the mainland, en route for tho markets of London and tho great provincial cities. This island group at tho entrance of the Bristol Channel is made of 140 islands of varying sizes only six of which aro of any importance; these are: St. Alary’s, Tresco, St. Alartin’s, St. Agnes, Bryhcr, and Samson. They constitute a parish of Cornwall, and aro in tho St. Ives Parliamentary Division. Tho scat of tho government of tho other islands is at Hugh Town, St. Mary’s, which is managed by twelve of tho principal inhabitants, who constitute tho Court of Twelve. Fortunately at tho present day Scilly is very prosperous, owing to tho favourableness of tho climate for raising early vegetables and flowers for tho London market. To tiro cast along tho southern coast ono may descry the little islot of Branksoa, or Brownsea, Branding in the waters of Poolo Harbour. For many generations Brownsoa has been ruled by a king of its own, and posseses'great historical interest. Its present owner is Air Van Raalte. Tt is supposed that this little island gained its name from tho fact that in tho, reign of Edward tho Confessor, Bruno was Lord of the Alanor of Studland, which included Brownsoa, and so it was often called Brunei Insula. Hence the corruption Brownsoa.

The value of land in the district four centuries ago can be judged from the fact that in 1573 this island was let for a rent of 9s per annum. Early in the Civil War Parliament caused Brownsea Castle, built on the island by Queen Elizabeth, to be strongly fortified, and in 1641 an order from the House of Commons was issued for delivery from the Isle of Wight of four pieces of ordnance, and chests of “musquets” from Weymouth. On. April 29, 1647, an order was made for the sum of £6O to be remitted to Captain Hardjmg, commandant of the castle, for 'payment of the men constituting the Brownsea garrison. As a defence the place fell into decay, and in 1772, it was bought by a Mr Benson for the not too extravagant sum of £3OO. One of the best known of the many rulers of this island kingdom is Colonel Waugh, of the Royal British Bank. He bought it in 1852, and at once started to work its clay deposits. He reclaimed about 100 acres of the foreshore, and built a sea wall around it. The British Bank collapsed; so did the colonel and his kingship, and the reign of King Waugh on Branksea came to an inglorions end. Mr Van Raalte now rules over this island, which is six miles in circumference, and has a population of 240 subjects, with justice tempered with mercy. One of the largest and most prosperous of the island kingdoms round our coasts is the Islo of Bute, in the 'Firth of Clyde. It is separated from Argyllshire by the Kyles of Bute, a narrow channel less than, a mile wide. The owner and king is, of course, the Marquis of Bute, whoso picturesque wedding was celebrated but a few weeks ago. The ruler’s home is Mountstnart, which is situated fiso miles rom Rothesay, a fashionable watering-

place, which is tho chief town. This island kingdom is ono of the largest round tho coasts of the United Kingdom. covering an area of isl,B3G acres, and having a population of 11,000 persons. Out in the waters of Cardigan Bay, off tho coast of Carnarvon, is Bard_scy Island, a small slip of land two miles long, covering an area of -130 acres. Hero reigns the Hon. Frederick AAynn, who is acknowledged by tho inhabitants, numbering less than two hundred all told. It contains the ruins of a monastery and 20,000 saints arc said to lie buried there.

But it will bo seen that it is not often that an island kingdom is either to let or for sale, and this fact makes all tho mono surprising that a slip of England. immune from rates and taxes, should havo to go begging.