AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3648, 8 December 1920, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

IMPORTANT CUSTOMS DECISION, Received 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, This flay. The High Court delivered an important decision in a test case regarding, duties levied on imported Continental: goods. The Customs Department had! been levying what amounted to the-pre-war face value of foreign coinage, but the merchants contended that it should levy on the present day equivalent values of goods in British money. The Court, by a majority, decided against the Customs Department.

ARCHBISHOP KELLY RETURNS. SYDNEY, This day. i Archbishop Kelly has returned fromr a visit to Rome and England. He said that Mr Lloyd George wished to fie fair to Ireland, but was not allowed to be. He added that there was- a great deal of unrest in England. 'VARSITY FEES TWHKESSSD.. SYDNEY, This day. The University Senate has decided to increase all fees for all faculites by 50 per cent. AN APPEAL NOT UPHELD. SYDNEY, This day. The High Court decided, in the appeal of the Union Steamsnip Company against the assessment of wartime profits by the "Federal Taxation Commissioner that the Company was liable for tax under the War-time Profits Tax Act, and decided that the Company was not entitled to rely on any objection other than an objection that the assessment was excessive. The Court also decided that the assessment made by tne Commis-

sioner was not excessive, and remltt ted the matter to the, Supreme Court.. SEAMEN SUPPORT SECRETARY. Received 11 a.m. SYDNEY, This day. The stopwork seamen's meeting de-» clared its confidence m the honesty and ability of■ Secretary Walsh, anff carried a motion that the executive immediately withdraw itite wiif against him. THE FEDERAL CAPITAL. SYDNEY, This Say, During the Federal Pafliamentary delegation's visit to Canberra, 3®t Hughes announced that' the policy <n? the Government was to expeditiously proceed with the of tk£ {federal capital.

TOKOSZMA 'TBAGEDY.

VERDICT OF N O'T" G XJILTY HAMILTON, This Day. When William Anuerson, aged about 25 years, a returned soldier, was charged before Sir Robert Stout at the Supreme Court, yesterday, with the murder of Frederick Henry Telfer at Tokorima, near Tauiaarunui, on October 14, counsel ioi; the Crown (Mr H. D. Gilles) stated to the jury that the Crown case would be that at the time the murder was committed theprisoner was insane. The jury would be directed by his iHonor to find a vedict of "not guilty" on the ground of insanity. The Crown did not say that the prisoner did not eomrait the murder, but that on account of the state of his mind at the ffctfe the crime was committed he could not be held acconntable for his actions'. /

The jury, without fetiring. brought in a verdict of "not guilty" on the ground of insanity.

His Honour then committed the prisoner to the gaol hospital, there to await instructions from the"' Ministe* Of Justice.