THE SHEEP RETURNS.

Evening Star, Issue 7233, 8 June 1887, Page 1

THE SHEEP RETURNS.

The annual sheep returns up to May, 1886, laid before the House of Representatives, inform us that the total number of sheep in Hew Zealand was 15,174,263, as against 14,546,801 for 1885, the increase being 627,462. In Auckland the increase was 13,158; Napier, 174,662; Taranaki, 1,274 ; Wanganui, 1,127 ; Rangitikei, 83,285 ; Wellington, 87,148; Nelson, 10,975; Marlborough, 12,968; Canterbury, 93,867 ; Otago, 148,998. The analysis does not - exactly tally with the total specified, but the difference is not material. During the year ending March 31,1886, the carcasses of frozen mutton exported numbered 706,967, being an increase of 132,775 for the year. Of this number Auckland furnished 19,913 ; Napier, 157,800 ; Wellington, 140,302; Canterbury, 235,631; and Otago, 153,321. Alluding to the ravages of the kea, the report says : They “ have not, been oqm- “ plained of this year as much as in some ‘ ‘ former seasons. The bonus given for their ~ “destruction by the county councils, sup- * “ plemented by the Government, has caused “considerable reduction in their numbers, “and, if increased sufficiently, would ter- “ minate the pest. It is also evident that “ although the rabbit pest is spreading over “a large area, and is taxing the sheep “industry to a ruinous extent, yet withal “ the number of sheep is annually increasing, “ nor can any great decrease be observed in * “ any one rabbit district. This, 1 submit, “shows that the repressive measures em- ' “ ployed are keeping the pest well in check, “ and a decided increase in the number of “ sheep is shown on some runs which a few ■ “yearsback could be classed as essentially “ rabbitty.”