Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 8 June 1897, Page 2

Notes and Events.

It is commonly held that in the the event of Britain being engaged in a great naval war the inhabitants would be in danger oi starving, since the bulk of tho national food supply is drawn from abroad. A writer in, the Economist, however, shows with considerable success that tbis ie a fallacy. He assumes that Britain bas partly lost command of the sea, and that it is extremely difficult for merchant ships to proceed on their voyages. In that event would corn cease to come ? The writer thinks not. In the first place the enemy would have to make corn contraband of war, and other nations desirous of profiting by the rise in price which would follow war would resent this. America, for instance, would not relish having her vessels seized by French or Russian cruisers while engaged in carrying wheat, Even if the Powers at war with Britain were strong enough to blockade the whole of the coasts of the kingdom, the writer thinks any blockade could and would be evaded ; and he cites recent experience in Crete as an illustration. Tbe article is an interest* ing and fairly convincing one.

The Duchess of York was the recipient a few weeks ago of a handsome baby's robe in white silk and Valenciennes lace from a number of sailors' wives in Portsmouth. The robe is made entirely by sailors' wives, and such as could not have a hand in the making of it got up among themselves a penny subscription to pay for the materiais, which amounted to nearly £10. In asking her Royal Highness to accept the robe the woman described it as " a 'gift from sailors' wives to a sailor's wife," and this expression has much pleased the Duchess, as she informed the donors in a gracefully worded letter of thanks and acceptance which she sent them.