SHEEP INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

Southland Times, Issue 1224, 18 March 1870, Page 2

SHEEP INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

Sheep Inspector's Department, Invercargill, 31st Deo., 1869 His Honor the Superintendent.

Sib,— l have the honor to forward for your information a certified copy of the whole of the returns of sheep within the Province of Southland, as forwarded to this department, for the year ended 30bh September, 1569. The gross total is 579,640, shewing an increase upon last year's returns of 95,263. During the past year I inspected 23,150 coming over the boarders into Southland from the various Provinces of New Zsaland ; 146 stud sheep were also imported during that period from New South Wales and Victoria. Among the number were some splendid sheep from New South Wales for Messrs Wentworth and Hill, of Croydon and Wantwood stations, Hokanuis ; also a few very fine tups for Messrs Brown and Steuart, Blackmount, Waiau. Having been absent in Victoria for some time during the past year, I cannot speak definitely as yet as to what m likely to be the i r average increase of lambs this season ; but, if I may judge from what I have heard of the masnificent weather experienced during the lambing, I should say it will .exceed the percentage of form r years. Taking a deep interest, Sir, in the welfare of the Province generally, especially in the stock interests, I must say I felt disappointed upon my return from Victoria in not seeing a good boilingdown establishment started by some of our enterprising runholders in a locality that would have been convenient for the Waiau, Aparima, Oreti, and Mararoa districts. Had such an establishment been liberally patronised, I am confident the undertaking would have repaid itself in less than two seasons, and given its owners a handsome profit besides. Thut it would have proven

(if well man'a^ea^o^owo-oa—af^^irjeatj^enefit to the sheep owners of the above ~ rliitncClr-tWs can, 1 think, be no doubt in the minds of unpre-^ judiced and practical sheep farmers, especially, considering that at present there is no market here for the sale of fat stock. It would not only have been an outlet for fat wedders, but would also have enabled sheep owners to do what is most desirable and necessary to be done upon a well-conducted station— viz., to cull their flocks at the proper time ; for with such an establish, ment, they would have had the means at hand of disposing of such culls at a good figure by melting them down. At present the sheep owner cannot cull his flocks with any advantage, for the simple reason that there is no outlet for him by which he can dispose of them, except in rare instances, and then only at a ruinously low rate Good management, however, is required in pre. paring the culls for the melting pot, ao that they ; would" be in such condition a3 to repay the owner. By the word culls, I do not mean old sheep alone, but bad^ram-d sheep, thin fleeced, and indifferent wooled sheep. Having had practical experience in Victoria, some years ago, in the management of a boilingdown establishment, I feel certain that we might have disposed of at least 30,001) sheep this season by melting down, and had such sheep been in anything like fair condition, I calculate that by pickling, spicing, and smoking the legs, these, with the yield of tallow and the skins, would make the price realised per sheep at least eight shillings. With really good lots, the return would be greiter ; indeed, I fir nly believe there would be some lots th*t would realise as hi^h as ten shillin-js. From 30,000 sheep at least-50 tons of bone dust might be made with but little 003t ; and the boiled meat and rich liquor left, after running off the tallow, would iatten- a large number of pigs, — these two sources of profit would prove no mean item towards paying the working expenses of the establishment. Thi3, however, is only my opinion ; and, being that of one person only, I presume it will be open to many doubts and objections. Notwithstanding, I feel pretty sure that a proper trial would prove that lam not far wrong ; and if a little sanguine upon the matter, I honestly think- 1 should be found right in the main — viz., that a melting down establishment would not only p*y well (if fairly patronised), but be a great boon to the sheep farmers in this Province. 1 would refer your honor and the sheep owners to the report of the G-uichen Bay Boiling-down Company. There are at present three or four meat preserving establishments at work in Victoria ; at the same time there are... several boiling-down companies in full operation in .Melbourne and other parts of the colony ; therefore, it would be no argument that, because we are shortly to have a meat-preserving establishment at work, we do not require a boiling-down establishment to suit the districts I have named. The cost of boiling-down is but trifling compared' with the meat-preserving process. Our present meat-preserving establishment being nearly at one end of the Province, will not, I fear, be of that general benefit that was at first contemplated it would be.. The distances that "stock would have to travel from the opposite part 3of tha Province would tend materially to_ reduce their condition, and consequently their- price. That it would be a great boon to the Australian and New Zealand Land Company, and the surrounding district, there can be but one opinion, and I am sure all will join with me in wishing them " good luck." I have again the pleasure of congratulating your Honor and the sheep owners of this Province upon the fact that our flocks are still free from scab. All risk of stragglers and old hermit sheep being at an end, I can confidently grant a cleau bill of health for the whole Province. The report of the Acting Inspector, Mr Jackson, who performed the duties of the department during my absence in Victoria (on account of ill health) was, on my return, most satisfactory. Although the scab is, I am sorry to say, reported to be unpleasantly near our border, yet, I trust, by strict care and watchfulness there, and at our ports, our flocks may still escape the ravages of the above scourge. . In conclusion, I beg to assure your Honor and the sheep owners of the Province that no effort on my part shall be wanting in preserving oar flocks from disease. — I have, ~&c.,

Hekbt GL Fibldeb, Chief Sheep Inspector, Southland.