H.—9

6

Sheep Inspector's Office, Christchurch. Sin, —I have the honor to forward a report upon the state of the flocks in the Sheep District of Canterbury for the year ending 31st December, 1878. The approximate number of sheep on that date is 3,350,000. Of these, 1,750,000 were depastured on freehold land and 1,000,000 on runs, agaiust a return of the previous year of 1,411,510 on freehold land and 1,837,738 on runs. The following statement shows the comparative increase and decrease from the year 1861 to 1878 : — Year. No. of Sheep. Increase. Decrease. lSfit 1,483,644 18G5 1,735,416 301,772 1800 1,930,32a 191,906 1867 2,011,318 110,996 186S 2,123,770 82,458 1869 2,367,280 2-13,504 1870 2,452,058 84,778 1871 2,503,745 u 1,687 1872 2,505,950 9',205 1873 2,813,601 217,'i51 1874 2,954,850 111,249 is?.". 2,954,106 ... 745 1876 8,249,248 293,143 1877 3,307,711 58,163 1873 3,350,000 50,000 The returns disclose the fact that, out of the large number of sheepowners in the Sheep District of Canterbury, nearly three-fourths own a less number than 500 sheep, the proportions of ownership being as under : — 1,437 persons own 500 sheep and under. 95 „ 500 „ 1,000 51 „ 1,000 „ 1,500 20 „ 1,500 „ 2,000 78 „ 2,000 „ 5,000 62 „ 5,000 „ 10,000 53 „ 10,000 „ 20,000 28 „ 20,000 „ 40,000 8 „ 40,000 „ 90,000 During the past twelve months the number of sheep imported into the Sheep District of Canterbury has been 24,(536 —viz., by sea, 716; and by land, from Nelson, 1,974; from Otago, 21,51-3; and from Westland, 403 ; against an importation of 28,444, in the previous twelve months. The Hocks in the district continues free from scab ; and 1 have every hope that with duo watchfulness they may remain so ; but the extreme length of the northern boundary, and the state of the Hocks in a considerable portion of the Ainuri Subdivision, is a constant source of anxiety. Considerable danger may at any time arise should sheep purchased in Canterbury be taken to the Amuri for the purpose of stocking country north of the Waiau-au River, as their tendency will be to make back to the country on which they were bred. With respect to this, I may mention that the Amuri Inspector has received the strictest instructions to exercise the greatest vigilance in carrying out clause 46 of " The Sheep | Act, 1878," which provides that no sheep shall be driven through any infected run. I regret to say that a considerable number of the long-woolled sheep are more or less affected wyh lice, but I trust that, with the power given under clause 68, " Sheep Act, 1878," and which is being exercised by the Inspectors, I may be able to report more favourably in this respect next year. Attention is again drawn to the largo area of Crown lands alienated in the past twelve months, from which cause a large increase in the number of sliccpowners may be looked for, and also to the division of many estates into properties of smaller size, which necessitates an increase of work to the staff of Inspectors. The lambing has been a fair one, but the extreme severity of the past winter in the back country will

Name and Address of Chvner. No. of Sheep. HoTvatt, K. C, Middlehurst MeMahon, P., Kaikoura McRae, P. R., BUirioh McDonald, Starborough McOallum, A., Blenheim Murray, Spring Creek Murphy, C, Spring Creek McCidlum, J., Blenheim McCallum, D., Blenheim McDonald, George, Wairau Valley Murphy, S., Spring Creek Matthews, R., Pelorus Newman, John, Kaituna Neale, —, Picon O'Lenry, J., Blenheim Ottersou, H., Mount Gladstone... O'Donnell, Jame>, Kaikoura O'Sullivan, L., Kaituna O'DonneU, J. Ij., Kaik'uu'a O'Dwver, P., Spring Creek O'Dwyer, C, Spring Creek Tike, \\\, Blenheim ... Peoples, P., Kaikoura ... Peoples, John, Kaikoura Parsons Brother?, Kaikoura Parker Brothers, Blfiiheim Powick, —. Tun Marina Paul, B., Moorlands Phillips, —, Blenheim Beeves, Mrs., Spring Creek Redwood, —, Vernon Rogerson, —, Kaikoura Reuwick, Thomas, Delta Eenwick, —, Dumgree... Rose, John, Blenheim ... Richmond, A. J., Richmond Brook Rutland, —, Pelorus ... Reamington, —.Kaituna Randle, — .Kaituna ... Redwood, J. J., Kaikoura Boutin, J.. Kaikmira ... Koriion, J. L., Kaikoura Redwood, Thomas, Burley Redwood, Charles, Kiverlands ... Seymour, A. P., Mradowbank ... Shear. Joieph, Blenhe m Sutherland. W. A. 0., Spring Creek Sullivan, D., Kaikoura Spencer, J. II., Kaikoura Soper, William, Spring Creek Storey, Greorge, RenwiokTown ... Standen, James, 1'ieton Sinclair, J., Blenheim, Shroder, Mrs., Kaikoura Smith, W., Kaikoura ... Smith, W. G-., Kaikour.-v Smith, W. D., Kaikoura Stafford and Hodson, Fairfleld Downs Stafford, II. H., Upton Tells Soper, R., Spring Creek Selines and Barnett, Tua Marina Tiuline, R., Kaikoura ... Taylor. H.. Kaikoura ... Teschemaker. C, Avondale Trolove, F. W., Clsrenco Terrell, F., Blenheim ... Thompson, James, Pioton Thomas, —, Pioton Ward, Joseph, Kaikoura Ward, Felix, Wreskin Wallace,.]., Kaikoura... Weston, J., Pioton Williams, 11. D., Birch Hill Watt, C. F., Lansdowne Whedon, —, Blenheim Wilson and Header, Pelorus Western, C, Queen Charlotte Sound Webster, Picton Warner, B., Picton Wallace, W., Kaikoura Watson. S., Benwick Town Wyalt, John, Blenheim 14,600 120 29,000 200 300 450 600 76 72 72 60 240 600 50 40 6,781 480 150 7o 17G 200 60 320 100 1,100 7 IS 80 1,452 52 150 23,640 220 5,542 12,150 130 16,704 120 450 200 60 270 50 3,400 1,750 21,277 48 130 145 200 300 400 240 G3 450 5,330 250 200 11,200 21,01)0 60 868 2,500 400 13.5 15 c,ow 50 457 102 44,375 630 5.130 450 21,988 7,435 100 150 ]38 6 150 1,000 80 80 j 707,100