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Wananga, Volume 2, Issue 23, 9 October 1875, Page 269

Ere the following will be in our readers hands His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the heir apparent to an Empire greater than that of which "we know anything" will have left the shores of Great Britain to visit the possessions of the British Crown in the

Indian Continent. His visit will perhaps be of about six months duration, entailing a cost to the Home and Indian Governments of some £150,000. Great Britain with her colonies and dependencies claims the allegiance of 290,000,000 souls, nearly a fourth of the population of the globe, of which vast number 200,000,000 reside in her East Indian possessions. It must be borne in mind that this visit is not of an ordinary, but of a politieal nature. The visit of other members of the Royal Family, save Her "who graciously and wisely occupies the highest place in the realm, could not have under any circumstances an equal significance as that of the Heir apparent; but when it is remembered that the visit is of a premeditated nature, having a definite purpose to achieve, its importance cannot be over-estimated. Within the last twenty years, it had been the avowed policy of the Imperial Parliament to avoid the acquisition of fresh territory, to weaken the bonds which attached the Mother country to her colonies and dependencies, to plant as it were sturdy children in the far-off portions of the globe, protect them until they arrived to manhood and years of discretion, and then alloiv them to run and prosper alone. A different policy however has lately been inaugurated, and the aim of the rulers of less than one fifth of the population of the earth has been to consolidate the Empire, " greater than any historical empire" of the past, to preserve its unity, maintain its dignity, and enhance its strength. With this • object in view, the Prince of Wales goes to India. A well informed paper published in London says :—" Its unity would be worth maintaining for the mere sake of the lustre and prestige which it must impart to every country and community which will belong to it, but the peace and security which it must insure them, if it be properly organized, wiil be a blessing of incalculable value to them all." With this object in view, it was at one time considered probable His Royal Highness would, after travelling through our Indian possessions, have extended his journey to Australia and New Zealand., but this tour will probably be postponed for another year, our African territories and peoples most probably - occupying His attention on His homeward route. Should His life however be presei'ved, at not a remote date Australasia will welcome him ,to her shores, and the chiefs of this island have the honor of being presented to the Heir to that Empire over the boundaries of which the sun ever shines. These remarks have been penned with the hope of our Native readers understanding the line of policy the Imperial authorities have adopted, and of showing them of how mighty a confederation they form a part.