INSPECTION OF STOCK. (ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE INSPECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1890.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1890 Session I, H-08

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1890. NEW ZEALAND.

INSPECTION OF STOCK. (ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE INSPECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1890.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly In/ Command of Tfis 'Excellency.

Ai CKIiAND DISTBIOT. Silt. — Sheep Inspector's Office, Auckland. 3rd April, 1890. 1 have the honour to furnish herewith the annual report for the Auckland District for the year ended the 31st March, 1890. The Kaiawa flock at Miranda is now the only one on the infected list in my districts, Auckland, Waikawa, and Miranda. These Kaiawa sheep will be mustered for inspection next week, and I quite expect to find them clean and to give them a clean certificate. The sheep in the rest of the provincial district are free from serious disease, hut those in the immediate vicinity appear to be very much infested with lice. The condition of stock has been seriously affected by the long-continued dry weather. There were about 2,500 sheep exported to Fiji and Samoa, and 7,104 sheep frozen and exported by the " Duke of Westminster" and "Tainni." I have, &c, li. Clifton. Inspector. The Hon. the Minister of Lands (Stock Department), Wellington.

NaPIEB DISTBtCT. Sik, — Sheep Inspector's Office, Napier, Ist May, 1890. [ have the honour to make my report on this district for the year ended the Hist March, 1890. Sheep. —The past year has been most favourable for the Hocks in the district. Owing to the fine winter last year, there, was comparatively little loss among the hoggets, though it was anticipated that the loss would be considerable, owing to the dry autumn and scarcity of feed. The lambing was good, averaging about 75 per cent. The weather since the winter has been exceptionally good, and consequently the sheep have thriven well, and been in good condition all the summer and autumn; in some parts of the district they have suffered a good deal from staggers. The clip of wool was in fine order and condition. During the year there were 279,081 sheep exported frozen and 14,400 boiled down and preserved. The number frozen would have been increased considerably had there been more shipping available. There have been no exports or imports of sheep, but 145,000 have gone from this district into other districts. Cattle. —I have nothing particular to say on this head. Sub-Inspector Thomson (of Gisbome) reports that he saw a few cows near Opotiki that he was pretty sure had tuberculosis, and he advised the owner to kill them. I have, &c, K. C. Pasley, Inspector. The Hon. the Minister of Lands (Stock Department), Wellington.

Wellington-West Coast District. Sib, — Sheep Inspector's Office, Wellington, 30th May, 1890, I have the honour to furnish my report for the year ended the 31st March, 1890. Scab. —l am glad to state that this district is now free from this disease. Lungworm. —There is still a considerable mortality from this cause amongst some flocks, owing in a large measure to want of proper management, good feed, and frequent change for young stock. Lice.- —The practice of dipping at least once a year, now very generally adopted on the larger holdings, is keeping lice within reasonable limits; but on smaller holdings, where this precaution is neglected, lice still continue to be more or less prevalent. General Health of Stock. —This has been fairly good during the year, but, owing to scarcity of feed during the summer of 1889, in some parts of the district there was a considerable increase in the death-rate. lam of opinion also that this fact is likely to interfere with the growing clip and next lambing.

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There have been 55,489 sheep introduced into this district by land from Hawke'sßay. Of these, 21,839 went into the Wairarapa, and 33,650 to the West Coast. Some of these have been used for stocking new country, and the remainder for slaughter. I am, however, unable to give the proportions. 'Pllore were imported during the year : From England, six rams and one dog; from Australia, ono nun and twenty-five dogs. There were exported during the same period: To Australia, thirteen horses, twenty-five dogs, three cattle. There have been 238,583 sheep frozen, 37,723 preserved, and 43,200 boiled down: a total of 319,506. I have, &c, J. Dbummond, Inspector. The Hon. the Minister of Lands (Stock Department), Wellington.

Maklbokough-Nklson District. Sir,— Sheep Inspector's Office, Blenheim, 19th May, 1890. I have the honour to furnish my annual report upon the district under my charge for the year ended the 31st March, 1890. In August last a slight outbreak of scab was reported from the Lake Eun, the flock being mustered and dipped with all convenient speed, and a clean certificate granted in the following February. Several cases of lice have also been reported, and the flocks dipped. Mount Patriarch and adjoining blocks have been stocked, and will be mustered this month, when I feel satisfied that this flock will then be removed from the infected list. A gang of men, varying in number from three to eighteen, have been employed since September last scouring the bush and unoccupied Crown lands in the Tophouse country ; and. although they have killed 1,009 wild and marked sheep, not a scabby one lias been Been. The returns of sheep on the 31st May, 1889, showed au increase of about 30,000 over the previous year, there being an increase in all subdivisions except the Awatere, which shows a decrease of 1,896 sheep: this I attribute to the number of sheep sent south in the autumn of 1889. From inquiries made I find the wool-clip and lambing have been einaal to that of previous years. There are no frozen-meat works in the district, but during the year 19,470 sheep have been boiled down or preserved. No disease has shown itself in either cattle or horses. lam not aware of any stock being imported or exported in this district except coastwise. I have, &c, T. (}. Bichabdson, Inspector. Tin: lion, the Minister of Lands (Stock Department), Wellington.

Canteebury-Kaikouba I Jistiuct. Sir, — Sheep Inspector's Office, Christchurch, 26th April, 1890. I have the honour to forward my annual report for the year ended the 31st March, 1890. The past year having been unusually favourable for all classes of stock, they have been remarkably free from disease. The Kaikoura district has been declared free from scab, and no further trouble is anticipated from this disease. The wool-clip was the best, both as regards length qf staple and soundness, that has been known for some yours. Notwithstanding the large number of sheep frozen ami boiled down in 1888-89, the returns of sheep owned on the 31st May showed an increase of 26,874, and it is anticipated that, owing to the large lambing, the next returns will show a further increase. The continued good prices for both wool and mutton, as compared with the low prices for grain, is having the effect of inducing farmers to pay more attention to sheep ; this is especially noticeable by the increased demand this season for breeding owes. It is not probable, therefore, that there will be any difficulty in supplying the requirements of the frozen-mutton trade. The quality of our frozen mutton has been well maintained : it is to be feared, however, that the present system of freezing the earliest-maturing ewe lambs, which are presumably the best constitutioned, if allowed to continue, must tend to ultimately deteriorate our flocks. Dipping is becoming more general, but it would h<; of great assistance to careful sheep-owners if it were made compulsory to dip all sheep other than adult merinos by the 31st May. This would go iv great way towards the eradication of those enemies to the production of wool and mutton —viz., lice and ticks. The lice clauses of the Sheep Act have been systematically enforced, with beneficial results. The number of frozen carcases of mutton exported was 401,788, being an increase of 74,136 on the previous year. The number would have been greater had it not been for the burning of the Belfast Factory. Thre were also 248 head of cattle frozen. The number of sheep boiled down and preserved was 75,226, being an increase of 42,124 on the previous year. There were exported to: Calcutta —Horses, 100; dogs, 10. America —Dog, 1. Australia — Horses, 85; cattle, 18; sheep, 35; pigs, 26; dogs, 112. There were imported from: Great Britain—Cattle, 1; sheep, 10; dogs, 4. Australia--Horses, 4; cattle, 1; sheep, 34; dogs, 15. Tasmania —Sheep, 20. I have, &c, R. Fobtee, Inspector. The lion, the Minister of Lands (Stock Department), Wellington.

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Otago District. Sir, — Sheep Inspector's Office, Dnnedin, Bth May, 1890. I have the honour to forward my annual report on stock in the Otago District for the year ended the 31st March, 1890. The health of all kinds of stock has been very good. There were no serious floods in the Oreti Eiver this past spring, and only an odd beast or two died at Winton, which indicates that the soiled pastures had something to do with the previous mortality. No further deaths having been reported from Wyndham district, I think the deaths in sheep which occurred last November and December can safely be put down to cutting and shearing operations. Luneworm and lice are giving very little trouble. The lambing, with very few exceptions, has been extra prolific, and owing to the dry warm summer the percentage of deaths between marking and weaning has been very small. The clip also whs very satisfactory. Feed has been abundant on the high country throughout the district, but in the central and northern portions both native and artificial grasses have failed from want of rain, and I much fear, should a severe winter follow 7 , that there will be heavy losses of stock. Turnips in many parts are also a failure. Keas.—These birds are reported as very troublesome in the back portions of Waitaki, Vincent, and Lake Counties. During the year ended the 31st March, 1890, 278,507 frozen carcases (being 40,625 more than previous year) were exported from the three ports in this district—namely, Dunedin, Oaniaru, and Bluff; 28,572 were preserved, being a decrease of 31,428; and 64,476 were boiled down, being a decrease of 30,871. There were 54 animals imported am) 4 exported, as against 124 imported and 50 exported in the previous year. J have, Ac, Alfred Douglass, Inspector. The Flon. the Minister of Lands (Stock Department!. Wellington.

Appendix A. Comparative Statement of the Number of Carcases of Frozen Mutton exported from the Colony during the Year ended the 31st March.

Note. —"When the export of frozen mutton commenced in 1882, the number of carcases shipped was not recorded. The Statistics for 1882, p. 144, show that 15,244c\vt. of frozen meat was exported during the year ended the 31st December, 1882, valued at £19,339 ; and the Statistics for 1883, p. 150, show that 86,994-Jcwt. of frozen mutton was exported (exclusive of beef) during the year ended the 31st December,"!BB3, valued at £316,106.

Appendix B. Comparative Statement of the Number of Sheep in the Colony, returned annually under Section 21 of "The Sheep Act, 1878," on the 31st May. 1879 ... ... 11,693,911 1885 ... ... 14,546,801 1880 ... ... 11,530,623 1886 ... ... 15,174,263 1881 ... ... 12,190,215 1887 ... ... 15,155,626 1882 ... ... 12,408,106 1888 ... ... 15,042,198 1883 ... ... 13,306,329 LBB9 ... ... 15,423,328 1884 ... ... 13,978,520 Note.—The return of all sheepowners, and the number of sheep and lambs on 31st May, 1890, showing the county in which owners reside and their sheep are depastured, so far as the information is supplied in the Schedule "A" furnished by sheepowners under section 21 of "The Sheep Act. 1878," will be published in the New Zealand Gazette as soon as the returns are complete.

Auckland Napier Wellington .. Picton Lyttelton Oamo.ru .. i Danedio Bluff Estimate for 1884. 1885. ! 1880. lflB7. 1H8H. 1R89. 1882. I 188H. .. 7,968 .. i 18,561 19,918 .. 9,69?' 9,003 89,089 132,700 157,800 155,057 208,335' .. : 46,803 130,430 137,964 140,302 20!),785 229,466: 15,950 .. : 80,920 i 121,027 161,462 235,031 316,455 D27,652 ( 32,250 .. .. 68,108 :: :: SJ ]33 >' JG4 91 - 255158 > 821 2 ™> 22!, On previouH fear. 1800. Decrease. Inereaiie. 7,101 2,593 279,081 .. 70.7-Ki 238,583' .. 9,1J7 401,788| .. 74,136 94,415 .. 31,312 146,837 .. 12,746 37,255 3,433 '■ .. ; 30,488 173,988 247,772 ; 491,066 574,192 706,967 981,5261,018,082 : 1,205,063 6,026 198,057 Leas <;.(«); Increase. 192,031

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Appendix C. Number of Owners on the 31st May.

Appendix D. [Extract from Financial Statement, B.-6, 1890.] Exports of New Zealand Produce.

[Approximate Cost of Paper. -Preparation, Nil; printing (l>sBo coiiios). £3 12s.|

By Authority: Gbobob Didsbubv, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9o.

'wiling— 1881. Under 500 sheep ... ... 4,727 500 and under 1,000 sheep .. 704 1,000 „ 2,000 J 500 '2,000 „ 5,000 „ ... I 350 1 5,000 „ 10,000 J 236 10,000 „ 20,000 ! 201 20,000 and upwards ... 139 Totals ... ... j C,857 1882. 4,685 844 552 416 225 209 133| 1883. 5,039 970 609 467i 244' 200: 149' 1884. 5,422 1,033 672J 473 256 211 154 1885. 5,622 1,146 718 505 ! 270; 213 157 188G. 6,024 1,189 747j 532: 263 1 228: 166 , 1887. 6,247 1,139 723 531 289 221 166 1888. 1889. G,579 7,054 1,182 1,381 794! 826 524' 597 287: 277 213 ! 239 166, 151 7,064 7,678 8,221 8,631 9,149; 9,316 9,74510,525

Wool. Gold. Frozen Butt? 1 ; Agricultural m,,,,,,*,,,.,,,,.... Meat. cheese Produce. • M """ 1 " , tu - ls - Other x. Zealand Produce. , Total. Manufactures, excluding Plioriiiiuni. 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 8 8,898,156 8,395,816 3,658,938 8,292,807 8,126,489 £ 1,407,770 1,268,599 1,476,812 1,244,190 1,134, (!41 £ •• £ t £ 2,522 258,719 40,272 7,898 374,401 48,177 40,171 889,893 55,789 21,479 617,980 44,530 2,259 708.475 50,954 £ £ 373,400 5,475,844 394,510 i 5,488,901 507,881 0,078,484 559,522 j 5,780,508 534,087 ! 5,503,455 007,745 0,102,400 003,955 5,702,250 841,108 0,253,350 1,122,887 G,855,244 l,17G,307 0,942,486 £ 28,580 29,892 36,963 88,864 49. OKI) 1880 1881 1882 L883 lssl 8,169,800 2,909,760 8,118,554 8,014,211 8,267,527 1,22O,2G3 990,8G7 921,004 892,445 988,953 19,339 118,328 345.090 10,888 978,008 61,751 14,(108 ; 1,089,739 I 87,321 02.218 1,169,020 121,447 48,912 1,537,015 121,440 91,667 , 968,517 104,425 46,134 00,224 79,492 84,685 80,960 J 885 L886 1887 1888 1889 8,205,275 8,072,971 3,821,074 8,115,098 3,976,375 890,051. 939,048 747,878 914,309 785,490 878,857 427,198 455,870 028,800 783,374 138,12'.) 688,415 i 120,539 151,194 ! 088,804 109,050 109,483 ; 588,022 j 124,382 197,170 • 905,907 : 288,388 218,945 1.424,297 509,880 1,175,040 , 0,591,911 997,210 0,380,082 1,204,372 0,551,081 1,200,401 7,255,128 1,288,047 i 9,042,008 104,228 98,634 99,288 158,114 208,698