Sheep Returns.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 700, 3 November 1909, Page 5

Sheep Returns.

The annual sheep returns for the year ended April 30th, 1909, have been published aud are to hand recently. They make interesting and instructive reading. The number of sheep in the Dominion at the date mentioned was 23,480,707, as against 22,449,053 at the end of the previous period. Of the present total, 11,287,490 are in the South Island, aud 12,191,211 in the North. Of the increase of 1,031,654 for the year, 470,044 was in the South Island, aud 501,010 in the North. The number of owners increased from 20,693 to 21,858, an increase of 1,105. There are 9,809 sheepowners in the North Island, more than half of whom own less than 500 sheep, and 40 over 20,000. There are 12,049 owners in the South Island, a greater proportion than in the north owning under 500, and only 38 owning over 20,000. The largest owner is Mr G. P. Donnelly, of Hawkes Bay, with a total herd of 84,970, Morven Hills runs (Dalgety and Co.) are set down at 64,499, and come second as the largest sheep-owners in the Dominion. In fact Central Otago is well represented awxnigst the largest sheep-owners, clearly showing that the pastoral country in the interior of the province comprises a large area. The total for Vincent County is 349,203 sheep, being an increase of 20,924 for the the year. The following runs represent the largest owners in Central Otago:—■ xMrs H. N. Nichols, Cromwell, 34,003 ; It. M. Turubull, Patearoa, 20,208 ; Watson Shenuan, Puketoi, 15,293; M. J. S. Mackenzie (estate of), Kyeburn, 14,832 ; F. G. Dalgety, Hawkden, 19,073 ; Dalgety and Co., Morven Hills, with 64,499 ; N.Z. aud Australian Land Co., Kawarau, 43,503; R. Campbell, JLinr., Galloway,- 20,300; S. T. Spain, Earnscleugh, 19,500; Executors Sir P. D.Bell, Ida Valley, 17,133; W. Laidlaw,. Matakanui, 14,421 ; Andrew Jopp, Moutere, 11,240. And this is not all, for there are numerous smaller settlers whose returns run from 200 up to 10,000.