H.—2l

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Otago Disteict. Oamaru-Paimerston Division. Sheep. —The health of sheep has been good. Lambing has been exceptionally good, and the clip has been very satisfactory. Lambing of cross-breds on farms has been over 100 per cent., and run sheep about 70 per cent. Lung-worm not troublesome ; only a few cases have come under my notice and a remedy resorted to. Lice to be found occasionally. Dipping generally carried out in the case of large owners ; but considerable laxity exists in the case of small owners, owing to the want of proper conveniences for dipping. High prices for sheep have been ruling up to quite recently, but a sudden and very great drop has taken place. The past season has been an exceptional one for grass. Horses. —The bot-fly has been found in the Palmerston district, but the horses affected having been treated for it at once, no further spread in other localities in the district has been reported to me. Cattle. —Cattle with cancerous tumours come under my notice occasionally, and I have succeeded in getting the worst cases destroyed. Swine. —It is reported to me that a disease exists among swine in this district, but the veterinary surgeon is so far unable to definitely say what it is. Agriculture. —The crops of wheat and oats in this district are said to be very good, and the threshing results are coming up to expectations. The Hessian fly has not caused any damage in the Oamaru district yet; but when in the Macrae's district last my attention was drawn to a field of oats which was considerably injured by the ravages of the leather-jacket grub. Turnip and potatoe crops so far look very well. - Babbits. —The usual means have been adopted for the destruction of the pest—poisoned grain, trapping, shooting, ferreting, and dogging. During the past year the work of coping with the pest has been fairly successful, and a marked decrease noticed in some parts of the district. The desire to dispense with winter poisoning, so as not to interfere with the operations of the rabbit factory, does not exist to such a large extent amongst landowners as formerly, and I have hopes for more united action in the matter of poisoning during the forthcoming winter. Poisoned grain being the chief factor in coping with the rabbit pest on rough country, any departure from it must only lead to a serious increase of the pest. The spread of gorse and broom on public roads, river banks, and private property makes it extremely difficult to cope with rabbits where such harbour is allowed to exist. Ferrets and weasels appear to be increasing, as indications of them are seen throughout the district; but they are not yet in sufficient numbers to have any very great effect upon the pest. I have recently had many inquiries for ferrets for hand-working and breeding, and there appears at present to be very great difficulty in getting them. Oamaru. W. Millee.

Dunedin Division. Stock. —Stock in good condition and health. No diseases or unusual mortality have been reported to me. Found a few cattle with cancer, and had them destroyed. Feed of all descriptions abundant throughout the year. Lambing very good, the season being favourable. Clip was on the light side, but the wool was sound and in good order. Lung-worm. —Have noticed very little of this disease amongst lambs. Lice. —Not prevalent; dipping general. Crops.—The crops seemed generally to be good, especially oats; but I understand are not threshing out as well as expected. The Hessian fly was observable on some of the farms in the Taieri and Maungatua districts, and did a good deal of damage to the wheat crop; did not observe it in any other parts of my district. Babbits. —On the high country rabbits are not thick, but in some localities in the low warm country more numerous, and difficult to cope with this summer. This I attribute to a very open winter, plenty of feed, and not sufficient wet to destroy the early litters of young ones. The means taken for destruction are : Poisoning in winter with phosphorized oats, trapping, shooting, dogging, fumigating, ferreting, digging-out and filling-in burrows. The natural enemy is evidently increasing and spreading, as I hear of weasel sespecially being seen in a good many localities, and occasionally getting into the traps. Mosgiel. Blaie Fuleaeton.

Maniototo Division. Sheep. —General health good. Lambing considered extra good for this high country, there being between 70 and 80 per cent, from merino run sheep. Clip of run sheep better than has been known for years, this owing to an exceedingly mild winter and luxuriant spring. Lice, lung-worm, foot-rot, &c, not prevalent in this district. Cattle.— No disease exists. Only one case of cancer has come under my notice, and the animal was destroyed. Horses. —No disease exists, horses being particularly healthy in Maniototo County. Grass in abundance during early part of summer, and a keen demand existed for sheep. Crops. —Wheat and oats generally throughout the district only fair. Hessian fly and other pests not known. Potatoes not grown to any extent, owing to unsuitableness of climate. Turnip crops fairly good, and more ground being put under this crop yearly.