AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PRODUCE PRICES. MELBOURNE, April 4. Oats, 3s 3tl, 3s Gel; bailey (English) 4s, 4s 2d, (Cape) 3s Gil 3s 7<l; potatoes £4 10s £5; onions £7. DEMENTED WOMAN. MELBOURNE, April 4. A strange tragedy occurred at Armidale early this morning. Airs Dodos called at a neighbour's and asked tin; latter to go for a doctor, who, alien liearrived, found Mrs Dodds and her eight year old daughter in a state of collapse from loss of blood, and suffering from severe gashes. The woman had a deep eut on the leg. One of the child’s wrists was almost severed. The child’s head also showed marks of ; battering with a. blunt instrument. Both were removed to the hospital in a serious condition, being too weak to supply any details, beyond a statement by Mrs Dodds. The reason for their condition was explained in a letter she bad written. A bloodstained table knife and a blacksmith's hammer were found in the house, and also a rambling S-iftnsignecl statement, addressed to the doctor mentioning that a doctor onto told her it was better to commit suicide than bring a curse on another life. She asked that her body he examined, also her brain. There were references to an alleged injustice done to the writer. The letter throws no direct light on the affair tsolf. Apparently the wounds were inflicted a considerable time before the doctor was called. the conversion loan. MELBOURNE, April 5. In the House of Representatives, Dr. Earle Page stated that subscriptions to tho Conversion Loan amounted to £11,207,098. The loan bad not yet closed, but the figures could be considered final. r" r SHEARERS WANT INCREASEV BRISBANE. April o. Before the Arbitration Court, the Australian Workers Union applied for n nc w award for shearers and station bands, asking for a fifty per cent advance in wages.