STATISTICS AND RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 298, 23 December 1897, Page 3

STATISTICS AND RETURNS.

From the annual sheep returns for the colony for the year ending April 30th, 1897, we learn that the total number of sheep owners in New Zealand is 15,468 against 17,703 in 1896. These own amongst them 19,657,954 sheep against 19,138,493 in 1896. In the South Island the number of owners is 9,863, and the number of sheep 10,147,237.; in the North Island there are 8,605 owners, and 9,540,717 sheep. There are in the South Island 82, and in the North Island 63, persons owning over 20,000 sheep each. In the South 7,068, and in the North 5,638, persons own flocks not exceeding 500 sheep each. Ownin^ up to 1,000 sheep there are in the South 1,323, and in the North 1,300 people. Of pure breeds classed as stud sheep there are in the colony the following numbers of the respective breeds mentioned : — Merino, 53,972 ; Lincoln, 192,113; Romney Marsh, 90,262; Border Leicester, 63,395; English Leicester, 38,789; Shropshire, 19,930; Southdown, 4,782; other breeds, 17,858.; crossbreds, Merino, and others not included in stud flocks, 19,206,853. Talcing the different sheep districts we find that the number of sheep in each was as follows on April 30th, 1897. Auckland 859,4,71 Napier 4,355,590 Wellington and West Coast .. ... 4,322,356 Marlborough-Nelson 932.950 Canterbury-Kaikoura 5,193,192 Otago 4,021,065 Total .. .. 19,687,954 These figures show an increase upon those for the previous year in every district, the largest increase being shown in the Wellington-West Coast district. The total amount of sheep tax paid for the year under review was £19,687.