A hundred years ago
From the 'Speeral. 3 July 1869—Anybody
want a kingdom all for himself, twice as big as the Isle of Wight, with hills as high as Skiddaw, timber. .esh-water streams, beautiful climate, varying only from 38 deg. to 73 deg, and a soil that will grow anything? The Telegraph of Friday says there is such a king- dom to let, to be had of the British Govern- ment for a moderate rent. It is the island of Auckland, 180 miles south of New Zealand, with no natives, and belonging to the Colonial Office, which some years ago leased it to Messrs. Enderby, who leased it again to a Company. The latter failed to pay the rent, and Government accordingly took possession again. No further assignment has been made, and if anybody wants to be a sort of king, and can get 40 or 50 labourers together, Lord Granville will, we doubt not, make him Lessee, Governor, and Parliament all together. He ought to be rich enough to keep a steam yacht though, or he will be rather more secluded than if he kept a pike. If adventure is not wholly dead among us, that island will be taken up this year.
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