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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2726, 22 March 1916, Page 5

The.Napier-Harbour Board proposes co increase its rates sufficiently to obtain £2000' to allow for a decrease of. revenue brought about by the shortage of shipping occasioned by the war.

The Petohe Easter Carnival Committee has-received an offer from Mr. H. S. Alpe to walk from Wellington to Petone (on record) on the day of the carnival. Mr. Alps recently lowered the record from- Hawarden to Ohristchurch, covering the '-distance, of 54 miles in 11 hours 11 minutes;

; The Minister of Education denies the accuracy of a paragraph originating with the "Otago Daily Times," and reprinted by The Dominion on Monday, concerning a pupil teacher at Kaitaugata, who, it was stated,.-had, been Eeriously inconvenienced as. >_ result of wrong information being supplied her in respect to the. D certificate examination for which she sat last year. Mr. Hanan stated yesterday that he had made an investigation, which showed that the telegram sent from the Department informed the young lady in question that she was unsuccessful, and that if any mistake in transmission was ma'de the - fault did not lie with the Education Department. The newspaper paragraph further proceeded to bold the Department responsible for some mistake over the matriculation list. "Abb matter of fact," said tbe Minister, "the Education Department has nothing whatever to do with the conduct of that' examination." As the statement had apparently appeared in several newspapers throughout the-Do-minion, he trusted that in justice to the Department this reply from him to tbe acousation of muddling would be published in all papers that had inserted the paragraph. . At last a change in the weather. The light rain that fell on Monday evening was followed in the early hours of yesterday morning by the most impressive thunderstorm heard here for some time., ■ The night had been disagreeably close and, oppressive,.'and it was generally remarked that there was "thunder in the air." . The batteries of the heavens opened fire at about 3 a.m. arid" accompanied by vivid flashes or lightning, held sway : for over half an hour. Heavy rain pelted down for over an hour, and continued in a lighter form until after daylight. The storm was the prelude to.a stiff north-wester-ly blow, which came as a'distinct .relief after weeks of perfect weather.

A congress of the Foderated Furniture Trados Workers' Unions of New Zealand is: to be held at Wanganui at Easter. Three delegates will be present from Otago, Southland, Canterbury, and AVelhngton,' and an invitation is to be-sent to' Auckland (which some time ago 3ecedad from the Federation) to be also represented.' In addition, an invitation has been forwarded by Mr-.:-D.-E! Kennedy, secretary of the local union, to Mr. 0. Sohreiber, general secretary of the New South Wales furniture trades workerß, with a view to having an Australian representative present if it is deemed desirable and convenient. With a Com-; monwealth delegate present if it would be possible to discuss matters of reciprocal interest to the Dominion, and the other side. The , last conference was held at Christchurch some twelve months ago. ..'

A few days ago a statement appeared in a southern' newspaper, dealing with the 1 labour troubles which have resulted iu the closing down of the Wellington Woollen Mills at Petone, that the Hon. Mr. Myers. Minister in Charge of / Munitions and Supplies, had made ar ; •' rangements for a great deal more khaki than was required for immediate needs, '•■ so much more that the possibility, had been discussed of selling .some to Aus- ,, tralia. When this matter was brought ' i under the notice of Mr. Myers, he re- ' plied that there was no justification ■for' such (statements. He.-pointed out that: the requirements for military, pur-■■/-poses' to the end: of the year had been , '■-drawn up on the"'lines ; -of the actual needs in this connection for the period named, and that therefore the statement that the deliveries of the present quantities by the several woollen mills throughout the Dominion would enable a portion of same being sold to, Aus- '- tralia is without .foundation in- fact. Possibly, the Minister remarked, the ■■■'■ statement has been made owing to the fact that the Director of Munitions for Australia was recently in Now Zealand, and had been making inquiries.through him as to the possibility of New Zealand supplying. Australia with some of their requirements for khaki and other woollen goods. _'._ ,

A fire at Roseneath occupied the attention of the City Brigade yesterday morning. The call was received short/ly after 9 o'clock to a cottage of five rooms on Grafton Terrace, owned by Mrs. Thos. Highet, and 1 occupied by 'Mr.; Charles S. Falconer; A stiff northwesterly winoV fanned' the flames, and before they could .be extinguished the house, .which is insured in the' State office for £400, and the contents, which are covered by. a policy in the Atlas Company for £300, were badly dama"ed. The fire originated in the washhouse aud was caused by a down draught forcing the flames out of the furnace of the copper'against some clothes. An adjoining house owned by Mr. Williams', of theHutt, and in the occupation of Mr. C. T. was in danger' for some time, but through the efforts of the''Brigade, no. damage was done, beyond the scorching of one side of the building.