COUNTY SHEEP RETURNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 14

COUNTY SHEEP RETURNS.

FIGURES FOR AUCKLAND, i NOTEWORTHY INCREASES. The annual sheep returns, published by the Department of Agriculture, show that for the year ended April 30, 1927, increases took place in the flocks of 20 out of 33 Auckland counties. The most noteworthy increase took place in Raglan, already the largest sheep county in the province, the gain for the » year being 21,551, bringing the total to 261,664. Next came Hokianga with "a gain of 10,123, then Taumarunui with 9732 and Waitomo with 9295, Waitomo's total of 225,775 being second on the list. It has been suggested, however, that changes in county boundaries in the King Country may have made some "paper" gains. Counties in which heavy decreases took place are Whakatane, Qpotiki, Kaitieke and Taupo. However, the aggregate gain was considerable and in four years, in the two Auckland land districts, has been 414,000. Following are the details;—

County. Sheep at Mongonui .. » Apl. 30. Inc. Dec. 64,317 4,433 — "Whangaroa .. » 17,850 — 273 Bay of Islands Hokianga 101,425 6,026 — 91,658 10,123 — Whar.garei 123,766 5.341 — Otamatea .. . 74,465 3,936 — Hobson 111,689 3,630 Rodney 77,293 5,447 — Great Barrier Island 10,478 751 — Waitemata 4S.49S — 183 Eden .. .. . 1,877 1.192 Manuka a .. . 61,374 2,082 — Franklin 63,072 1,897 — Coromandel .. » 49,269 4.247 — Themes .. -» 7,257 1,991 — Hauraki Plains . . 5,141 2.013 Ohinemuri .. » 5.434 434 — Waikato .. . 42,741 5,846 — . Raglan 261,664 21,551 — Waipa .. 47,817 .— 1.389 Piako .. » 43,028 7,354 ■ — Matamata „. 61.611 — SI9 Rotorua .. . 27,493 — 1,950 Taupo .. * 17,653 9.880 Tanmarncui .. . 94,926 9.730 -— Kawhia .. . 57.503 1,722 — Otorohatigft 30.384 2.339 — Waitonio .. . 225,775 9,295 — Ohtira .. • 114.466 - — 2,642 Kaitieke . . . 134.560 — 13.389 TVuranga .. . 20.684 5,027 — Whakatane . . . 56,071 — 14,845 Opotiki 13S,051 — 12,464