INTERIM RETURN OF SHEEP IN THE COLONY ON THE 30th APRIL, 1904.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1904 Session I, H-23a

H.—23a

1904. NEW ZEALAND.

INTERIM RETURN OF SHEEP IN THE COLONY ON THE 30th APRIL, 1904.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Department of Agriculture, Sib,— Wellington, Bth July, 1904. I have the honour to furnish a statement of the approximate number of sheep in the colony on the 30th April, 1904. I have, &c., John D. Eitchib, The Hon. the Minister for Agriculture. Chief Inspector of Stock.

Approximate Number of Sheep in the Colony on the 30th April, 1904.

The boundaries of the Napier, Wellington-West Coast, Marlborough-Nelson, and Canterbury Districts have been slightly changed, the Napier and Marlborough-Nelson being somewhat larger than formerly, the two being correspondingly smaller. Had the districts remained as last year, Napier's increase of 85,290 would have been reduced to about 10,000, and MarlboroughNelson would have shown a decrease of over 30,000. A further decrease in our flocks of 665,014 is shown. When it is considered that the export of carcases of mutton and lamb for the year ending 31st March, 1904, was only 180,534 carcases less than the previous year, whilst the number of sheep to be drawn from was considerably over a million less, it is a matter for surprise that the decrease is not more. The number of cattle, however, has increased by 132,884, or, roughly speaking, sufficient to make up the decrease in sheep. Number of Sheep in Number of Carcases, Mutton and Lamb, the Colony at 30th April. Exported for year 31et March. 1901 ... ... 20,233,099 3,144,716 1902 ... ... 20,342,727 3,349,713 1903 ... ... 18,954,553 4,636,537 1904 ... ... *18,289,539 4,456,003 * Approximate.

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Distriot. Number of Sheep. Increase. Deorease. 1903.* 1904. Luckland 784,043 693,302 90,741 lapier 4,419,419 4,504,709 85,290 Wellington-West Coast 4,230,369 4,023,278 207,091 larlborough-Nelson 927,483 932,073 4,590 'anterbury-Kaikoura 4,960,474 4,776,686 183,788 >tago ... 3,632,765 3,359,491 273,274 Total 18,954,553 18,289,539 89,880 754,894 Decreasi :, North Island 212,542 Decreasi :, South Island 452,472 Total decrease 665,014 * Complete returns.