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Large new Territory brings hope of gold deposits
Golcondiaurum, an 80.44 acre uninhabited piece of land bordered by Nevada, was annexed as an Austenasian Territory on Sunday 24th.
The new Territory was claimed for the Empire by its owner, Lord Michael Simpson.
Lord Simpson has been appointed Governor of Golcondiaurum. He already serves as Governor of Florencium Carolina and of Elliessium Colorandum, two other uninhabited areas of land also owned and claimed by him.
The annexation of Golcondiaurum is of particular interest due to the high possibility of gold deposits on the land.
Geological surveys and soil testing to ascertain whether such gold deposits are present have been planned by Lord Simpson for the near future.
Ministry of Territories and the Diaspora established
Tuesday 19th January saw a new Cabinet Ministry created by Parliament to enable greater political participation for non-residential subjects and for the governors of uninhabited territories.
Out of Austenasia’s population of one hundred and twenty one, only eighty five live in Austenasia itself. The other thirty six, known as non-residential subjects, form an Austenasian diaspora the majority of whom live in the United Kingdom, USA, Greece, and New Virginia.
Given non-residential subjects do not live in a Town, they are not represented in Parliament. Their comparatively limited ability to have their voices heard has been noted before, but Emperor Jonathan I and PM Lord John Gordon agreed to enact concrete steps towards enabling their greater political participation.
The newly-established Ministry of Territories and the Diaspora has therefore been tasked with creating a group for non-residential subjects which will allow them to have a greater involvement in Austenasian politics and culture. The exact form this group will take and the time-frame for its creation have not yet been confirmed, but membership will be voluntary.
The new ministry has also been given the responsibility of “relaying to Cabinet the concerns, requests or opinions of Governors”, that is, the officials that administer uninhabited Austenasian land claims, who have prior to this not automatically had any official means of having their voices heard in lawmaking or policy.
Lord Andrew Creed has been appointed the first Minister of Territories and the Diaspora. He is Austenasia’s longest serving Governor, having administered Corinium Terentium since December 2013.
New territory annexed in Australia
Earlier this week saw a new Territory claimed by the Empire of Austenasia in Australia.
The new land claim, Western Jarrahview, is comprised of an uninhabited roughly 155,000 square foot wooded area.
The area was claimed by the now Lord Daniel Roscoe, who has been appointed Governor of the new territory.
An Imperial Decree accepting the claim and officially annexing Western Jarrahview was promulgated by Emperor Jonathan I on the evening of January 5th. However, with the difference in time zones, this was past midnight on January 6th in Western Jarrahview, which will be considered its official date of foundation.
Western Jarrahview is only the second land claim of Austenasia in Australia, or in Oceania as a whole. The first, New South Scotland, became an Austenasian Crown Dependency in January 2013.
Princess Hannah and Bradley of Dullahan named Consuls of 2021
Lord John Gordon has named the first Consuls of his premiership, announcing that Princess Hannah and Bradley, Duke of Dullahan will hold the office for 2021.
The Consuls are the highest judicial authorities in the Empire, passing sentence when guilty verdicts are reached. However, due to Austenasia’s practically non-existent crime rate, their function is mostly ceremonial, primarily being used to name the year.
2021 will therefore be known as the year of the consulship of Hannah Augusta and Bradley Archidux Saxoniae.
Princess Hannah also served as Consul last year, becoming one of only three people to have held the Austenasian Consulate consecutively since its creation at the start of 2011.
A Consul may serve two consecutive terms, but the same two Consuls cannot serve consecutive terms at the same time.
Princess Hannah, in addition to being sovereign monarch of the Principality of Wildflower Meadows, is the fiancée and official consort of Emperor Jonathan I.
Bradley, who was recently appointed Archduke of Saxony in the Holy Roman Empire, in addition to his role as Prime Minister of Wyvern also serves in Austenasia as Princeps Senatus (leader of the Senate) and has held office as both Home Secretary and Minister of Defence.
Happy New Year from the Austenasian Times!
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