DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[llY TELEORAPII—rER TRESS ASSOCIATION. R EMU ERA TRAGEDY. AUCKLAND, Dec. I. James Simpkin (ol) was charged at the J’olicc Court to-day with having murdered his wife at I’emiiera on litli. October. Dr. Williams gave evidence Hint lie I omul the •bodies of a man and woman lying on the road. Mrs Simpkin was quite dead ami had a wound in her throat. Accused also had a wound in his throat and was bleeding. His wound was dressed, and he was sent to the hospital. Dr. Fitigely stated that before he operated on the accused at the hospital the latter said; “God knows why I did it.” Emma Ross, mother of the deceased wennan. said her daughter had been married to the- accused for nine years. There were two children, who never had a home, anil who mostly lived in rooms. Accused was more often idle than wen-king. Witness’ daughter worked after her marriage, and was working prior to the birth of her first child. On one occasion her daughter complained to her that Simpkin had beaten her. Later she refused to live with him. Accused made several attempts at reconciliation with his wife, hut was unsuccessful.

William Ross. father of the dead woman, said that he knew of strained relations existing between Simpkin and his wife. On the clay before the tragedy. witness told the licensed that his wife was going to leave him. On the evening of the tragedy, witness saw his daughter walking up the road to meet accused. They moved off together. Witness was turning away, when he heard accused shout. His daughter screamed. Ife found both lying on the ground with their throats cut.

Alter further evidence, the accused was committed for trial.

POLICE PROMOTIONS. WELLINGTON. December 7. .Sub-Inspector Bird, Auckland, has been promoted to Inspector, and transferred to Invercargill, where he replaces Inspector Mac-Namara, who was retired on account of ill-health. Senior-Sergeant Bowie, Auckland, succeeds Inspector Bird and Sergeant Edwards Hamilton, has’been appointed Senior-Sergeant t<* he stationed at Auckland. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. BOTH SHOW INCREASES. WELLINGTON. December The exports for the ten months of this year are valued at 9 1.‘),9S 1,110(1 as compared with 9.'19,729, ll!9 lasi, year. The imports were 9'10,220, !'_'7 and e:t!!,(Ki,:!t;o. «

Rutter, cheese and lamb show slight decreases, hut wool has jumped from 90*7.7.72:1 to 91d.092..772. The li irgest item in impoits is motor vehicles valued at 92.5PN.225. DREDGE’S ROUGH VOYAGE. AUCKLAND. December I. The bucket dredge Korun arrived at Auckland to-day, alter an adventurous vovnge ol sixteen (lays. Ihe dredge struck heavy weather alter leaving Melbourne, and encountered mnmilaimimis seas. To make matters worse, the steam steering gear broke clown, and two men hail to steer by hand. Eventually the captain hove to. and some relict was gamed. When the vessel faced the gale, the iivn in the stokehold had an unenviable time. At length the gale moderated, and Irom then cm line weather prevailed. The llames from tile funnel burned through the vessel's wirclss aerials, when two clays from Auckland, hut the damage was repaired.

The Knrusi was Imilt :»t Ihilnuiiit New Smith Wales, in lit 11. f I In* K«»rcca is a ves-el of I" 1 ' tons gross, and I*7 net. She was migimclly owned hv the West Australian Government, and was lakcn lr in Fremantle to Sydney about eight years ago. Alter seeing service there for some months, she was transferred to Melbourne, where she was laid up for two years. Three months ago she was purchased by the

Gisborne Harbour Hoard. Captain Sydney James brought the Korua from Svduey.

THROWN FROM HORSE. DFNEDIN. December A voting mail. ('buries Dougherty, of Fruit lands. Central Otago, sustained severe brain concussion at the Oiiiakau Show, through his horse Hipping over a hurdle in a leaping contest. RATAXA’S RETURN. AI'CKI.AND. Dee. There is the prospect of a great native demount nition in Auckland in the arrival of Ratana and his party by the Niagara on December 22. M INISTKRI n. AUCKLAND, Dee. A.

The lion. Heaton Rhodes was a passenger for Wellington ml the second express last night. He continues his journey to Canterbury on Saturday. The lion. R. F. Bollard leaves for Wellington >'V tli<* express to-night.

WOOL I’I!ICES. AUCKLAND, December L The first Auckland wool sale of the season commenced to-night. I lie catalogue was a very large one, comprising IS.SD2 hales. The hulk was crossbred anil the average price over all was from 221.1 to 2ld per lb, or about C.T) per hale. Average wools ol the same class were about on a par with Christchurch rates, while some of the stronger wools sold rather better. Compared with the prices realised at the February sale in Auckland, the crossbreds were up from (ijd to C«1 pelII, ; hoggets were up from fid 1“ !;<1 -'> and halFkreds were up Idl'd. The bench of buyers was the largest seen in Auckland. Bradford buyers took most of the wool sold 10-lliglit. hut America and Continental buyers were also operating. In view of the hi-li prices reached at the sales in the south this season, the farmers had rushed every available hale to Auckland, and this accounted lor the unusually large catalogue. The prices to-night were up to expectations. The sale will he continued to-morrow.

PRICKS 100 PER CENT HIGHER AUCKLAND. Dec. o

When the wool sales wen- resumed this morning, more than halt of the catalogue remained to 1-e dealt wit i. Riddling .-vontinned brisk and L's ni-bt’s prices wore maintained, some being one hundred per cent above these ruling last l-ebruar\. \x APPOINTMENT. CHRISTCHURCH. Dec. Mr P R. Climie. Organiser of the Canterbury Progress League has boon appointed Secretary of Canterbury Chandier of Common©, and w.U mm hold both positions.

\ STEAMER SEARCHED CHRTSTCIirRCH. Dec.

When the steamer Waitemata armed at Lvttelton this morning from Newcastle, .she was thoroughly searched |,v three detectives and two policeman, evidently in the belief that some Australian criminal was aboard. No arrest was made. It is stated that the police in the Commonwealth and the Bonn - ion are now keeping in closer touch than formerly,