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Marlborough's reputation for lucerne-seed is well established throughout the country, and its standard and quality are still being maintained. Skins and hides have found a good market this season, and good prices are being obtained. It is reported that the poisoning of rabbits in south Marlborough was fairly successful last winter, when great numbers were destroyed. They still appear to be fairly numerous, however. Dairying.- The dairy industry remains much the same as last year. Prices for butterfat show a slight drop since the opening of the season. The Government assistance in order to facilitate the improvement of milking-strains by the hire of imported or pedigree bulls has not been taken advantage of except in a very few instances. If full advantage were taken of this excellent offer great improvement in the dairy herds would very soon take place. Butterfat is still at a low price, and this, together with the poor prices obtained for beef, makes the dairy-farmers' outlook not too bright. Wool and Sheep.—Record prices ruled for the earlier clips this year, and the fat-stock market was good, so that the sheep-fa,rmer has had an excellent year. Marlborough wool maintained its record prices of last year. Those who were fortunate enough to reach the first sales were well satisfied, and though a considerable drop took place towards the end of the sales, the prices obtained were good, and growers should now have caught up the lost ground caused by the slump of a few years ago. The Seddon fat-stock sales in December last again established a record for prices and entries. Some ■3,400 sheep were yarded, of which about 2,800 were lambs. Top prices were reached by Mr. Dysart, of Blind River —lambs of the Southdown cross, which realized 455. 3d. Mr. Conway, of Seddon, running him close at 41s. Id. for Suffolk cross. Other lots by the same breeders realized 395. and 38s. respectively. The lowest price paid was 31s. 6d., the average price for lambs being about lid. per pound. Fat wethers ranged from 335. 6d. to 31s. Id. Ewes also sold well. The annual Ewe Fair held in Blenheim in January was a great success. Fourteen thousand sheep came under the hammer. The top price realized was in the vicinity of 425. ; other lines brought 375. 6d., 365. 6d., down to 345. Id. Practically the whole yarding was cleared, and the prices realized show great promise for the future of this annual event. Merino-breeders are again out to improve their flocks by importing high-grade rams, the latest addition being imported by Mr. C. 0. F. Rutherford, of " Craiglockhart." The Addington markets still offer a handsome margin, and enormous quantities of store sheep trek annually towards Canterbury. The increased price, however, does not go to the grower, but to the dealer, and this amount is lost to the district, as most of the large dealers live south. Were the South Island Main Trunk Railway an established fact, surplus sheep would be trucked by the grower, and the increased price obtained would of coiirse come into the district. Similarly, the beef prices obtaining in Addington would encourage the production of beef in Marlborough if railway facilities for marketing were provided. At present there is practically no demand for beef. Agriculture.—A good season for crops of all kinds was experienced, and prices of barley, peas, &c., were fair. Chaff did not show such a good return. The caterpillars played havoc with some of the barley : crops estimated to produce 50 to 60 bushels were in a night reduced to 20 bushels. Fortunately, they were bad in part of the province only. Marlborough climate lends itself to the successful growing of seeds of all kinds. Agriculturists can therefore command top market prices for their crops. Orchards.—This industry, owing to the lack of a stable market, is going through a very trying period, the position this year being worse, if anything, than last. No improvement can, I think, be looked for until a stable market is found, and cost of production reduced to such an extent as to make the fruit-price within the reach of every one. One enterprising orchardist has launched out in a ciderfactory, the idea being to use those apples that cannot be marketed in the ordinary way. Should this project prove successful it may mean quite a good thing for the growers of Marlborough. Poultry-farming.—Owing to the successful export of eggs the prices locally have been very good. Then, a well-organized egg circle has done much for the industry in the way of marketing the eggs, regulating supply and demand, &c. The high price of fowl-wheat is about the only worry these farmers have at the present time. Timber.—This industry is flourishing. With the increased demand for buildings of all kinds quite a number of small plants are operating on country that a few years ago was considered worked out or unprofitable to mill. The end of the natural supply, however, is in sight in this district, and when there is nothing coming on to take its place it makes the outlook anything but bright in the timber line. Flax. —Four mills are operating in this district, and good-quality flax-fibre has been marketed. The £3-per-ton rise in fibre during the year has made the millers scour the countryside and cut flax in isolated and scattered patches that in ordinary years would go untouched. Limeworks.—The works at Ward owned by Mr. Alex. Thomson are now firmly established, and are proving a great benefit to the district. The crushing plant has been erected, and the requirements of the district are being well catered for. The output last year was in the neighbourhood of 1,000 tons, and the quality of the lime averaged 90 per cent. The demand is now becoming more regular as settlers realize the benefits that are to be derived from systematic liming. Lavd Board.—Twelve ordinary meetings and one special meeting were held during the year. The items dealt with numbered 477, of which 200 cases related to soldier settlement. Comparatively few (81) transfers of ordinary Crown lands were presented for approval. Miscellaneous cases numbered 196. Messrs. James Boyd and James Fulton, whose term as members of the' Board expired during the year, were both reappointed, the latter as representative of the tenants. Revenue. —The gross revenue received during the year amounted to £83,491, an increase of £2,645 on that of the preceeding year. This amount includes £27,371 received under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account.