TINY ISLAND KINGDOMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12785, 31 October 1919, Page 7

TINY ISLAND KINGDOMS.

■ ———» OFF THE BRITISH COAST, Scattered about the shores of the British Isles are a number of islands, lairgo and small, whose proprietors are monarchs of all they survey (says the New York ‘ Sun.”)» In many respects they possess greater power over their “subjects” than is possessed by King George himself. Although owing allegiance to the British Crown, yet Parliament has.no power to tax some of these island estates, nor can any one land on their shores without the permission of the owner. Some of these islands are but a, few acres in extent, while one of them xs the largest islaud around the British coinst, next after Ireland, and boasts of quite a large population. The special privileges mentioned nave been granted in limes past by some sovereign to a favourite to whom he wished to give a mark of special favour. Like titles of nobility, those special privileges were made in perpetuity and still cling to the territories. Those of ns who have road Westward Ho!” will remember Lundy Ishiudj Trhich lies in the British. Channel. r\ow Lundy is one of the best known of the tiny island monarchies. It is A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE JEWEL that was once the haunt of pirates and smugglers. It was at one time captured by French pirates and at another time fell into the hands °f ■Turkish' privateers. No one can dwell or even visit‘this bit of the earth’s surface without the consent of the owner. It is exempt from taxation. Lundy is probably not paradise, huf it is actually the property of the Heaven family, and a clergyman by that name is the present owner. He rules over a kingdom of 1300 acres and fewer than a hundred souls," Down near Land’s End a- great rods nses out of the bay which is known as fet Michaels Mount. It is an island and it is not, for at low tide a rough stone causeway connects it. with the mainland. _ It is little more than a mile m circumference and is probably the tiniest of the island kingdoms- Porohec upon the summit of the rock, which i« about'2oo feet high, is the famous old castle in which the “king,” Lord S1 Levan, resides. Clustered at the tee, facing the land, is a.tiny village c-orri posed of a score of houses where dwell top subjects.” RABBITS AND RATS. Just south of the Isle of Man is a uttle island called the <! Calf of Man.” i-he original owner received from bjueen Elizabeth a grant of this island, w Inch, was declared to be forever free from taxation. No one can live there or even on Rs shores, without the consent of the owner. It is in every sense of the word private. The late owner was so engrossed in his books and lived so retired a life that years would sometimes elapse between his visits tc the neighbouring Ido of Man. Only a small part of the land is cultivated, and the whole is 'overrun with rabbits and rats. This little island kingdom was sold not long ago for £20,000. Gn the eastern coast of England is a tiny islaud called Osca. It is about a rrulo and a half long and throe-quar-ters of a mile wide. It is «, delightful little retreat, covered with meadow land and charming old elm trees —an ideal place for bathing and sea- fishing. This island has a history, that dates from the time of Edward the Confessor, from which time it has always had a “king” and a small population, iho present “king” is the son of a brewer who refused to continue in that business. In doing this he sacrificed more than a million dollars, so it is said, and has converted the island into A RETREAT FOR DRUNKARDS. His efforts have met with considerabh success, for the isolation and the bracing sea air have worked wonders--There are a number of these diminutive water surrounded monarchies ofl the coast of Scotland. One of their is the Isle of Bute in" the Firth oi Clyde, which is owned by the Marquis ot Bute. This kingdom contains almost fifty square miles and has a population of .11,000 people. There are as many as six little lakes' in that monarete the largest of which, Loch rad, is a quarter of a mile wide and about nine times that in length. The famous old home of the Marquis, intvo : Say i dates from the year 1098. _ Arran is another of these sea girt kingdoms in the same firth" The ruler, of this little principality is the Marchioness of Graham, and a wise ruler she has proven to her 500 C subjects. Although only nineteen miles long and ten broad, Arran has had a romantic history, Robert the Bruce is said to. have hidden himself there for some time in a cave and to have prepared one of his expeditions to recover the crown on the island. The ruins of a castle are i shown which was one of the residences of Scotland's kings. Another little kingdom is the island of Rhum, whose potentate is Sir John Bullough. Nearly all the island is deep forest and moorland ‘ and it is all mountainous. Only 300 acres are tillable. The subjects of Sir John number fewer than eightscore. Tim whole island is one vast game preserve, where deer and\other game roam to provide sport for the nobility. THE LARGEST OF THESE ISLAND KINGDOMS is doubtless Lewis Islaud. one of the outer Hebrides group, off the west coast of Scotland. It covers an area of nearly 700 square miles and has 1 37,000 people. It has several lochs where splendid fishing is to lie had. Over the moors and forest land the red deer still roam. This island has had ‘a. stirring history, for the people have always been fighters. Many times have royal troops been defeated by the islanders. Many members of the royal family of England have been entertained at Stornoway Castle, the residence of the owner. The present “ruler” is a Major Matheson, and he desires to sell his kingdom. At present the people are peaceable enough and are principally engaged in fishing. The girls go' all over Scotland to assist in packing the famous herring of that country. Next to fishing cloth weaving engages the .attention of the islanders, who are a hardy and thrifty people, the majoritv of whom speak only Gallic. No other race of animals can tew such a history as the' black oxen that draw the funeral cars of Japanese Emperors. They ■ are of a special breed, and for centuries have been kept for the solo use of the Imperial family. The English Board of Agriculture has received the, results of an inquiry conducted by the Women’s Agricultural l Committee. Farmers iu Staffordshire were asked whether they employed any woman whom" they thought of sufficient value to retain permanently, and 120 replied giving ihs names of eighty-three members of the Land Army as suitable for retaining. Questions as to tli© relative value of women' and mon elicited the fact that forty-one farmers preferred men, sixty-two considered! women better than men for milking, thirty preferred women for rearing stock and nine for poultry-keeping. A further inquiry was made as to the branches of agriculture which farmers would advise women to -specialise in as a permanent means of livelihood: Sixty-five advised milking, sixty-one stock rearing fourteen general dairy work, twentythroe poultry-keeping, and four shepherding, while a few suggested that women should bo specially trained in' horse-keeping, tb-atoning and hedging, and ditching. ’ * ' ) * - Jr/*®