NEWS IN BRIEF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 December 1924, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF.

SIMPSON EXECUTED. BY CABLE—PRESa ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, Dec. 10. William Simpson, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Constable hlynu and Mr Guy Clift, a motordriver, at Appin, was hanged at Long Bay gaol to-day. Death was instantaneous. ARMS AND MUNITIONS. ROME, Dec. 9. _ The Council of the League of Nations agreed to the British proposal to postpone discussion on the Geneva disarmament protocol until next session. MM. Briand and Salandra were among those approving the proposal. The council decided to convene in M&y, 1925, an international conference to draw up the convention controlling the international traffic in arms and munitions, in which the United States has agreed toi participate. It was also decided to summon for February 16, 1925, the committee which is examining questions regarding the private manufacture of arms and munitions. FORWARD. FIGHTING. LONDON, Dec. 9. General Sir William Thwaites, lecturing at Woolwich, emphasised the importance of the role, of forward fighting troops for capturing prisoners and securing information. Such inquisitiveness was not a characteristic of British troops, but was possessed by the Australians and New Zealanders and Canadians. OPIUM SEIZED. HONOLULU, Dec. 9. The first seizure of narcotics bn a vessel from Australia was made on board th© Ventura. Louis Ferreira, a fireman, was arrested,, and seven tins of opium, birds bf paradise feathers and 14 bottles of whisky were seized. WEMBLEY IN 1925. LONDON, Dec. 9. The Australian Press Association is authoritatively informed that Newfoundland is the only Dominion which has unconditionally agreed to continue its exhibition at Wembley .in 1925. The other Dominions are bickering over the terms upon which they will participate in the exhibition. Canada was originally enthusiastic, but since learning that Australia is likely to get better financial terms this enthusiasm has evaporated. Sir John Stevenson is temporarily absent from London. Meanwhile the financial terms of participation by the Dominions are awaiting determination. PUCCINI’S WILL. ROME, Dec. 9. The will of Giacomo Puccini, the. composer, discloses an estate of 20,000,000 lire, in addition to royalties bringing in £BOOO per annum. He had planned to build an opera house, and it is believed his heirs will carry out the plan with the assistance of the Government as a memorial to Puccini. EGYPTIAN AS- SIRDAR. CAIRO, Dec. 9. The newspaper Al Abram states that it has been decided to appoint an Egyptian as Sirdar of the Egyptian Army. It is understood that such a decision will naturally he in agreement with Britain, and there appears some foundation for the statement. COMMUNISTS IN BELGIUM. PARIS, Dec. 9. Most of the expelled foreign Communists were taken to the Belgian frontier. The presence of these, together with other Communists who are voluntarily leaving France, has alarmed the Belgian Government, which ordered the frontier guards not to permit their entry into Belgium. The Government is approaching the French Government on the subject. FIGHT PROMOTER’S LOSS.

. . LONDON. Dec. 9. The examination has concluded in the Bankruptcy Court of Major Arnold Wilson. A statement of his affairs showed liabilities of £17,316 and estimated assets of £344. The debtor said he lost £15.000 in promoting a fight at the Wembley Exhibition.