LOSSES BY DROUGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 14, 15 June 1885, Page 2

LOSSES BY DROUGHT.

-» ■ Mi?. Abbott, Minister of Mines, while speaking at May on March 1 1 , gave some important information regarding the loss of stock from drought last season. He said that the pastoral interest, as it advanced or suffered, either advanced or retarded the progress of the colony as was shown by the following almost in-

crcdi!>!e reiuvn of the loss of stock (turini? the past year. On January I, 1884, the horses m the colony numbered #26,964, and on January 1,1885, they numbered 316,915, the decrciis:- bring 10,094. Valuing each horse atLlO this amounted to LI 00,000 ; add the ordinary increase which was of course deficient of say 15 per cent, of the number for 1884, which came to 48,000, and valuing | these at L 3 each, that was an added loss of LI 44,000, or a total of L 244, 000. The cattle m the colony m 1884 were 1,6 10,753, and 1885, 1, 408,353, the decrease being 23J.400. This at L 2 was a loss of L 697,200. /^he ordinary increase loet was 196, '890 at 12 per cent., and these valued at 25s each, gave an additional loss of L 246,212, or a total on cattle of L 943, 312. The number of *sheep m the colony m 1884 was 37, (334,425, and m 1885 the number was 31,517,984, showing a decrease of 5,816,461, which, at 6s 8d each, gave a loss of IJ ,938,81 3. The orI dinary increase at 1 0 per cent, would be 3,700,000, and this ht 3s 4d each j ivould add L6l 6 t 666 to the loss, total on sheep being Li,555,479. Thee there was the clip and the loss m weight and quantity, which might be stated at 500,000, so that altogether the loss on stock for one year alone amounted to L 4,392,791,, 392,791, and that prejudicially affected the whole colony.