Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 4 February 1896, Page 3

Notes and Events.

It is worth a passing notice! owing to the particularly strained state of Enropean affairs that by a convention signed in 1888 the Suez canal was exempted from blockade, and vessels of all nations, whether armed or not, are to be allowed to pass through it in peace or war. " We don't want to fight, but by Jingo if we do " &c, is illustrated by the state of the Navy. The number of war vessels expected to %be in commission in November last (not counting the new flying squadron) were :— 42 armour-plated ships, 61 cruisers, 11 sloops, 4 gun vessels, 48 gunboats, 14 torpedo boats, 19 special service vessels, 1 torpedo ram, 1 torpedo depot ship, 2 despatch vessels, 8 surveying vessels, 6 tenders, 1 Indian troopship and 4 royal yachts. The number of officers and men I oroe on ships' books, and for whom n provision is $ made in the English estimates is : — Fleet service, officers « seamen 52,532, boy 3 4,494 ; 'tguards 4,200 ; Royal Marines 65 ; other services, 6,809 ; total 33,800. Some of the largest and best merchant steamers are beM at the dispo al of the Admiralty for me as armel cruisers in ca=ie of need. The Cuna d Company pr >vide 7 steamers with a speed langing from 15$

knots an hour to 22 knot 3; the Peninsular and Oriental Company provide 14 with speed from 14£ to 18 knots ; the White Star Company find only 5 steamers with speed from 14 to 20 knots an hour.