PROGRESS IN THE COLONIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2709, 21 November 1889, Page 3

PROGRESS IN THE COLONIES.

Under the above heading the Mark Lane Express, of September 2nd, the leading agricultural journal of England, publishes the following article on the live stock of these colonies, in relation chiefly to the meat supply of the Old Country. Coining from such a well-informed and authoritative source, the remarks of the writer will be read with interest by all engaged in agricultural or pastoral pursuits. The latter half of the fourth paragraph is specially worthy of the attention of breeders :—

" The development of our import trade with the Island Continent has tended to feed and foster British interests m the welfare of our kimlsmeu on the other side of the world. They have, it ia true, become serious opponents to the farmerß of the Old Country in the production of bent' aud mutton. Nevertheless, Great Britain rejoices to learn of the progress of the agricultural pursuits of her great dependency. Some exceedingly interesting figures have just been sent to us on official authority concerning tho live stock interests of Australasia. The object of the compiler is to show the progress which has been made during the past eight years iu the breeding of sheep, cattle, horaea aud pigs, and wo are not surprised at his ambition. The increase of the ditlerent breeds of live stock throughout the Australian colonies since ISSO has been very remarkable. iSheep have increased 27'14 per cent., numbering now 1)0,563,376, representing a value 0f.£45,*281,65S ; cattle are more numerous by 11.14 than in 18S0, numbering !J, 1-14,210; horses have multiplied to th»extent of 20.35, mustering in all 1,482,938, and are grossly estimated to be worth £15.973,742. Pigs, whic , '. number 1,076.633, have increased by 5.58 pur ceut., and are computed to represent ;i total value of £u.">tf,3llj, or 10s per head.

There are therefore, in round figure* i! 52,181,376 invested in livo stock in tilt Australian colonies, field l>y a population of about 3.000,600. Tlic.se figures exemplify as nothiug,else could, the prosperous condition of pastoral interests of tlie Island Continent. They are advancing, not by leaps and bounds, but by a steady and substantial yearly gain. The main growth during the past eight years, as might naturally be expected, has beeu in sheep. Queensland leads the van with an increase of 93,83 per cent, West Aus tralia following with a net gaiu o f 71. 10 per cent since iSSO. Theotliercolouies vary in increase from 2.24 in the case of Victoria, up to 31.37 in the case of New South Wales.

But for our heavy receipts of mutton from Ne\y Zealand the increase in the flocks of that country would have, in all probability, eclipsed (Queensland's progress. As it is, however, there has been an actual gain of only 18.45 per cent in ei«ht years. Runholders—as sheepfarmers are styled out there—have lately been killing on an average 600,000 sheep x>er annum for export as frozen mutton. This year an many as 1,000,000 carcases have been ehippe.d from the Colony. New Zealand is perhaps the finest sheep country in the world. Its fat lands with ;in unlimited supply of water can carry a vast number more sheep than is at present depastured, and it is now believed that, with the freer financial arrangements that are now possible, they are not likely to do so.

The progress of the cattle interest of the colonies is by no tneaus remarkable. That is with regard to the Antipodes generally ; Queensland appears to be quito exceptional in her bovine resources. She possesses more than half the cattle in Australasia—4,6s4,922 herd out ot a grand total of 9,144,310 cattle. No breeding stock from the old country has regarded the progress of cattle somewhat. A few straggling shipments of pedigree stock have been despatched from time to time, but colonists appear to vastly underestimate the importance of fresh blood from the herds, flocks and stutis of the Mother Country. In this matter, at least, they have latterly been allowing other countries—competitive countries— to surpass them, which is hound to work materially against their interests by-and-bye.