SHEEP RETURNS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3043, 13 November 1908, Page 6

SHEEP RETURNS.

LSOME INTERESTING FIGURES. There were on April 30th last, according to the Government returns, 11,632,201 sheep in the North Island of New Zealand, and 10,816,852 in the South Island. On April 30th, 1907, there were 10,854,018 sheep in the North Island and 10,129,754 sheep in the South Island. Only two counties in New Zealand, and both in the North Island, contain more than 1,000,000 sheep, viz., Cook County (1,228,689) and Hawke's Bay County (1,096,397). Among the other North Island counties Waipawa and Woodville has 838,835 sheep, Patangata and Weber 737,118, Rangitikei 665,923, Wairoa 606,895, Masterton 560,998, VVaiapu 524,939. In the South Island the principal sheep counties are Ashburton (965,288), Akaroa and Mount Herbert (834,210), Selwyn (702,865), Geraldine and Levels (661,570), Gore subdivision of Southland (621,132), and Marlborough 585,948. In the Auckland sheep district there are 1,225 stud rams, 10,140 flock rains, 119,078 wethers, 483,633 breeding ewes, 53,015 dry ewes and 256,716 lambs; in the Napier-Gis-borne district there are 2,847 stud rams, 64,139 flock rams, 748,687 wethers, 2,634,693 breeding ewes, 291,050 dry ewes, and 1,705,345 lambs; in the Wellington-West Coast district there are 3,843 stud rams, 61,506 flock rams, 706,408 wethers, 2,580,539 breeding ewes, 282,622 dry ewes, and 1,566,715 lambs; in the Marlborough-Nelson district, there are 480 stud rams, 13,517 flock rams, 185,934 wethers, 596,114 breeding ewes, 56,742 dry ewes, and 1,358,498 lambs; in the Canter-bury-Kaikoura district there are 3,477 stud rams, 61,607 flock rams, 761,656 wethers, 2,145,662 breeding ewes, 200,117 dry ewes, and 1,358,498 lambs; in the Otago district there are 3030 stud rams, 46,941 flock rams, 761,656 wethers, 2,145,662 breeding ewes, 200,117 dry ewes and 1,160,533 lambs. The totals for the Dominion are: —Stud rams 14,902, flock rams 257,850, wethers 3,378,398, breeding ewes 11,224,041, dry ewes 1,166,845, and lambs 6,387,017.

In the Mastertjn County there are 560,998 sheep, as against 540,554 on April 30th 1907. The largest sheep owners in the County are as follow :—H. H. Beetham, Braricepeth, 19,321; H. Burling, Brooklands, Alfredton, 10,363; James S. Holmes, Alfredton, 12,820; Holmes Bros., Matahiwi, 10,279; R. M. Morrison, Blairlogie, 11,999; C. F. Yallance, Kahumingi, 12,062; Williams Bros., Te Parae, 38,999;, Estate of W. H. Levin, Bowlands, 19,884. In the Castlepoint County the lnrgest owners sie: —R. and F. Maunsell, Tinui, 25,310; Dalziell and Bunny, Manawa, 16,794; Estate of Rev. J.C.Andrew, lea, 23,230; Executors in Estate of W. W. Johnston, Castlepoint, 16,445; Williams Bros., Annedale, 23,497. The number of sheep in the County is 170,273, as against 171,688 on April 30th, 1907.

The largest owners in the Akitio I County are: —F. Armstrong, Glenora, 23,450; J. Barton, Mataikona, 12,425; Burling Bros., Woodlands, Pongoroa, 11,944; H. T. Hume, Aohanga, 11,663. The total number of sheep. in the Akitio County is 196,568, as against 177,231 on April 30th, 1907. The Eketahuna County contains 82,576 sheep, and the largest owners are:—W. R. Godfrey, Rongomai, 6,400; Lewis and Toogood, Estcourt, 4,434; F. and H. W. White, Eastry, Tane, 5,623; F. C. Turnor,. Eketahuna, 2,207; F. B. Lowes, Rongomai, 2,326. " The number of sheep in the County on April 30th, 1907, was 69,941. The Mauriceviile County contains 68,173 sheep, as against 67,002 on April 30th, 1907. The largest owners are:- John Rutherfurd, Wairere, 2,566; A. H. Wrightson, Mangamahoe, 2,069; Martin Kennedy, Tikitapu, 8,719; R. Judd, Manaia, 3,700; T. T. Hillas, Mauric3ville, 2,480; J. F. Heckler, Forest Downs, Mangamahoe, 2,355. On April 30th last the number of sheep in the Featherston County was 467,001, as against 441,458 on the corresponding day in 19C7. The prin- [ cipal owners are a« follow:—W. Barton, White Rock, 11,730; J. O. Bidwill, Pihautea, 7,808; W. E. Bidwill, Rototawai, 6,829; Duncan Cameron, Glendhu, Hinakura, 6,860; John Cameron, Pahaoa, 6,521; C. Elgar, Awhea, 19,700; C. Harris, Wantwood, Martinborough, 18,537; C. Harris, Birch Hill, 6,640; C. J. Jury, Glendower, Carterton, 6,754; John Martin, Puruatanga, 10,321; Arthur Martin, Otaraia, 6,600; W. J. Martin, Huangarua, 6,890; P. McLaren, Ngakonui, 17,774; W. McLaren, Bush Gully, 12,560; Pain and Sutherland, Admiral Run, Gladstone, 9,273; E. J. Riddiford, Ruamahunga, Martinborough, 16,185; E. J. Riddiford, Tablelands, 13,940; E. J. Riddiford, Te Awaite, 46,400; D. M. Sutherland, Ngaipu, 9,256; E. and E. Sutherland, Moeraki, 7,478; Te Whiti and Sinclair, Watarangi, 20,470. The largest owners in the South Wairarapa County, which contained 185,192 sheep on April 30th last, as against 171,487 on April 30th, 1907, are as follow: —W.' H. Beetham, Oruatainore, 12,087; W. Howard Booth, Carterton, 5,536; Buchanan Bros., Gladstone, 9,498; W. C. Buchanan, Tupurupuru, 6,743; C. A. Cameron, Flat Point, 16,455; D. Douglas, Lands End, Te Wharau, 8,000; Grace Bros., Weraawhaitiri, Gladstone, 9,489; Kummer Bros., Te Wharau, 5,050; M. J. McGregor, Hikorangi, 7,800; J. Strang, Glenside, Gladstone, 9,533; T. F. York, Bank View, Carterton, 4,081.