Frozen Mutton.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 9 May 1891, Page 2

Frozen Mutton.

=♦* New Zealand mutton during the ast three years has been sent Home n the following increasing quaniities: —

It does not seem improbable that during 1891 two million carcases will be sent away. It will be remembered that some five or six years since those best qualified to give an opinion were discussing the question whether New Zealand would ever be able to sustain Jihe export of one million' - carcases annum without seriously depleting the flocks of the colony. Now we have got a million and a-half and there are no signs of the flocks being depleted, while the rise in the price of mutton here, -though decided, is by no means oppressive to the consumer - amounting, as it does, to about Id to ljd per lb all round. Judging by what is going on now in both North and South Islands, the production 1 seems quite likely to keep paoe with the anticipated increase in exportation. We are firm believers in the powers of the colony in this' direction. There is still a large area, of land which can be made ,to double its present carrying capacity. Besides the process of clearing, which is, of course, chiefly confined to the north, the continual improvement to the pasturage which is going on everywhere will enable the country <tp .increase its output of sheep very largely ; ! while the small settler, with his two or three hundred acres, has so far done little more than enter on the business of raising mutton for lreezing purposes, It will prqbablyrsurprise our readers to learn that last year one-tenth of the entire mutton supply of the United Kingdom came from New Zealsnd^^^f^(jf?2/ Tim8 ' sssssssa&sSA? ' .'

1889 .... 939,000 carcases 1889 ... 1,068,000 do 1890 ... 1,562,000 do