TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5153, 21 December 1903, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC.

AUCKLAND. December 20. In ft letter to the Rev T. P. Robertson, regarding the proposed home for inebriates’ children,, the, Premier states: —“Referring to your,,,letter;.of : 24th ultimo, I have the honour to inform yon that great difficulty has been, exi'erieuccd in finding sites for homes for defectves, etc., that are in all respects suitable. Inquiries are now being made and will. I hope, be successful, and result in the establishment of such homes at an early date." CHRISTCHURCH. December 20. An inquest was held at the hospital yesterday, concerning the death of Edwin Forward, who died from tile after effects of self-inflicted wounds in the throat. The jury returned a verdict that death had resulted ’from an attempt to commit suicide whilst temporarily insane. Mr Macpherson,'Dairy Inspector, says that the statements made at the recent meeting of Christchurch dairymen to tho effect that the Government made profits out of dairy cattle condemned and killed are quite incorrect,* ; Ho says the .Government has not in ado a penny in that way. With regard to the assertion that tivo beasts which had passed the test were killed and found to be in a terrible condition, he says they had been condemned. and had been sent on to Addington to be driven to Belfast, and they were slaughtered at tho same time as other condemned boosts. It was known they were diseased.. Mr Macpherson says that many of ’the statements that had be.en made at the meeting of dairymen were win! and unfair to the officers of tho department. AU cattle that had been condemned on tho strength of the tost had been .proved to bo suffering from tuberculosis. INVERCARGILL, December 20. Mr William Craig, an old resident and public man, died to-day. ’He was proprietor of tho Southland "News" a quar. ter of a century back, and since had been engaged in printing business. Ho was for many years a member of the Bluff Harbour Board and also its chairman. 'He had been in tho colonies since the early fifties and a few years ago wrote some sketches of scenes on the diggings. These were published in fragmentary form, but being highly thought of London, publishers brought them out in bo.ok ’form.' N-'-.; i -!■ . •