15

H.—9.

No. 79/149. Sheep Inspector's Office, Dunedin. Sib, —I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Grovernment, the annual return of the number of sheep in the Otago District for the year ending the 30th September, 1878. Owing to the severity of the winter, it was impossible to procure the returns at the usual time, and I was compelled to await the shearing tallies from the Southland Subdivision before compiling the report. Many of these are only now to hand, shearing operations being late in that portion of the district where the casualties are heaviest. Although the present return may give an approximate of the number of sheep in the district, I fear that a discrepancy will appear when the return under the present Act becomes due, which will give the correct total. Of those owners who furnished approximate returns during September, many have found their losses to be much greater than they anticipated. The returns show a total of three millions four hundred and eighty-two thousand six hundred and sixtythree (3,482,GG3) sheep, being a decrease, as compared with the returns for the previous year, of four hundred and forty-fire thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven (445,837). There are depastured on freeholds, one million three hundred and forty-eight thousand nine hundred and forty-nine (1,348,949) ; on runs, two millions one hundred and nine thousand two hundred and eightv-nine (2,109,289) ; on hundreds, twelve thousand seven hundred and three (12,703) ; and on commonages, eleven thousand seven hundred and twenty-two (11,722).

Name and Address of Owner. Freehold. Bun. Total. Melntosh, John, Timaru McShane, P. H., Winchester Macdonald, W. K, Orari Macdonald, Angus, Orari Meyer, C, Bluecliff McLean, John, Waitangi McLean, John, Merino Downs Matheson Brothers, Simon's Pass ... McPhail and Jameson, Omarama ... McGregor, John, Glenmore, Tekapo Medlicott, S., Waimate Metcalfe and Palmer, Greraldine ... McGroverin and Hardy, Waimate... McDonald, D., Waihi'Bush Moody and Bent, Washdyke Maslin, W. T., G-eraldine McKay, J. G-., Pleasant Point Mee, Alexander, Pleasant Point ... Marshall, George, Echovale New Zealand Meat Co., Timaru ... Norton, S., Temuka Nicholson, II., Washdyke Newton, W. J., Pleasant Point Nichols, Robert, Winchester New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Pareora New Zealand and Australian Land Company, The Levels Ostler, W. H., McKenzie Country Oldfleld, William, Temuka Oliver, James, Pleasant Point O'Brien Brothers, Waimate Parkerson, B. K., Arowhenua Parke, Thomas, Temuka Pigeon, Alfred, Otaio Pilbrow, James, The Point Palmer, Thomas, Temuka Price, Leonard, Waimate Pelvin, B., Otipua Creek Pringle, A. C, Timaru Postlethnaite, William, G-eraldine Packe Brothers, Eaincliffe Parker Brothers, Elephant Hill ... Paterson, John, Temuka Pratt, George, Waimate Poupart and Johnson, Timn; u Park and Watt, Geraldine Quinn, N. and A., Makikihi Quinn, M., Temuka Beid, J. C, Timaru Bae, Bobert, Geraldine Richardson, E., Albury Russell, P. H., Otipua Bador, N., McKenzie Country Bapsey, James, Pareora Booke, L., Kakahu Rodgerson and Paterson, Pleasant Point Bitchie, J. M., Timaru .3,43° 100 8,500 6,500 6,400 47,400 8,600 190 400 54° 230 2,500 230 1,009 470 161 180 280 5° 470 160 21,000 76,000 320 214 130 3,060 470 926 93° 345 800 80 i,45° 8,000 14,000 11,000 1,300 100 8,000 4,535 I 2,000 [,Soo 9,027 7,000 13,000 10,000 21,000 3,43° 100 16,500 ",035 18,400 47,400 10,100 9,027 7,000 13,000 190 400 540 230 2,500 230 1,009 470 161 180 280 5° 470 160 21,000 86,000 21,000 320 214 130 3,060 470 926 93O 345 800 80 4,418 2,300 10,000 1,45° 12,418 16,300 21,000 1,300 100 3° 5° 2,126 970 748 44 12,000 1,560 30 5° 2,126 970 748 44 23,000 1,560 10,000 80 11,000 10,000 "80 49 49 40 4,200 5,5°° 40 9,700

Name and Address of Owner. Freehold. Bun. Total. Rogers, J. D., Timaru Raine, Crosier, Orari Skinner, J. and E., G-eraldine Stewart, W T., Orari Slack, W. U., Pleasant Valley ... Sullivan, James, Timaru Soutb, James, Timaru Shaw, David, Winchester Sharp, R., Kakahu Scanlan, E. M., Timaru Saunders, Mark, Pleasant Point ... Stewart, W., jun., Orari Sutherland, Alexander, Pleasant Point Sealey, H. J. and E. P., Timaru ... Shaw, C. R., Timaru Smith, Albert, Albury Selbie, George, Albury Smith, A. B., Burke's Pass Sutherland, D., MeKenzie Country Studholme, M., Waimate Saunders, W., MeKenzie Country Sutton Brothers, Omarama Sibbald, William, MeKenzie Country Studholme, Banks, and Wigley, Timaru Stewart, W. G., Albert Town Smith, J. B., Timaru Sealey and McLaren, Otaio Stengar, John, Rangitata Stonyer, William, Pleasant Point ... Scott, D., Washdyke Smith, James, Temuka Slee, Frank, Waimate Saxon, Charles, Pareora Tarender, F., Temuka Tesehniaker and Le Cren, Timaru Tripp, C. G., Orari Thomson, A. C, Otago Tancred, Sir Thomas, Waihi Tagg, T. H. M., Kakahu Talbot, John, Temuka Thomson, Boyd, Temuka Toomey, E. H., Kakahu Turnbull, A., St. Andrews Woolcombe, B., Timaru Woodhead, G-., Temuka Wilson, J. P., Winchester Worthington, R., Timaru Wooflnder, E., Temuka Wright, William, Temuka Wilson, J. and S., Timaru Walker and Clogstoun, Mount Four Peaks Wooding, T. P., Geraldine Walker, William, Waitohi Flat ... Ward, George, Geraldine Walsh, W. K. G., Geraldine Young, Thomas, Pleasant Point ... 250 15° 1,Coo 3*3 2,200 1,050 221 700 68 90 i°5 232 35° 2,500 720 203 170 5,000 30,000 8,000 230 700 28 460 16 8,000 10,000 14,000 22,000 20,400 8,000 14,800 I>75° 250 1,600 323 2,200 1,050 221 700 68 90 232 35° 2,500 720 203 170 13,000 10,000 44,000 22,000 20,400 8,000 22,800 i>75° 230 700 28 460 16 200 162 305 410 13,845 26,841 2,000 5° 146 200 44 96 54 825 480 5° 380 57° 5,000 12,000 11,5'9 1,200 4,000 200 162 3°5 410 25,845 38,36° i,200 6,000 5° 146 200 44 96 54 825 480 5° 380 570 5,000 700 133 250 Co 130 80 32,000 32,700 '33 250 60 130 80