PUKEKAWA MURDER.

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1920, Page 3

PUKEKAWA MURDER.

RE-TRIAL OF THORN. s AUCKLAND, Dec The second trial of Samuel Jot Thorn, charged with committing tl Pukekawa murder, was contiued ti day, when further on tl lines of that given at the previoi trial was hea-rd. * Some discussion ensued on the r< quest of. counsel for the accused fc an experiment to show what resul '' would follow from the firing of No Peters cartridges from the assused 1 ; s gun. It was pointed out that the ai s mosphere -and other conditions woul< g not be the same as on the night of th > tragedy. c Eventually the judge said that lat :- er on, 1 if the jury wished it, they couli ask for an experiment, j The case was adjourned. C ' ■___■__■«■«■«» ! PRICE OF CO AL~ RAISED. : • { •■■ AUCKLAND, Dec 1 Owing, to an increase in the work ing costs, the . retail merchants hav< been compelled to raise the price o: coal. The increase in Auckland vrii. amount to between" 3s a-nd 4s per. ton. NEW JUDC4ES. SUPREME COURT VACANCIES. WELLINGTON, December 1. \ Three vancies are pending on the [ Supreme Court bench. It is believed . that Justice Cooper intends resigning early next year, and about the same time Justice Chapman yill have reached, the age limit of 72 years for service on' the bench. The Appropiation. Act of last session indicates the approaching resignation of Justice Edwards. It will be necessary to bring the bench up to full strength, more especially as it is believed that the Chief Justice will commence his years leave of absence some time next year. The Attorney General Sir Francis Bell, • when- asked what would be the position regarding the three vacancies, replied that one would; be filled by the appointment of Justice Salmond, whose appointment at present is temporary, and another by the transfer of Justice Stringer from the Arbitration Court to be a judge of the Supreme Court. That would leave two appointments, a. judge of Arbitration Court and a judge of the Supreme Court, .to be made early in 1921. / If the anticipation of the pending vacancies proved correct, the attorney general has a traditional right to succeed to a seat on the bench, but it is well known that Sir Francis Bell has not availed himself of this right in the? l past, and it is equally certain that he will not do so now.