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New Zealand Mail, Issue 745, 11 June 1886, Page 16

The annual sheep returns were presented to Parliament yesterday. The total number of sheep in the Colony is stated at 14,546,801, a 3 against 13,978,520, or an increase of 568,281, on return of the previous year. In the several districts the increase or decrease during the year has been as follows :—Auckland, increase, 30,465 ; Napier, increase, 64,496 ; Taranaki, decrease, 3712 ; Wanganui, increase, 10,970 ; Rangitikei, increase, 7626 ; Wellington, increase, 43,837 ; Nelson, increase, 25 ; Marlborough, decrease, 34,179 ; Canterbury, increase, 331,213 ; Otago, increase, 97,540. Although the effects of the rabbit-pest have been severely felt during the past season, yet returns show in Otago an increase of 97,540 sheep for the year. The Counties of Southland and Wallace, originally the hotbed of the plague, and where it originated, again this year show a considerable increase. The Lake County shows again a decrease, although not so large as in former year*, and is in a great measure attributable to the present low price of wool, with rabbits as well as keas to contend against. The infected list for the year ending the 31st March shows 13 owners with an aggregate of 139,000 sheep, as against 16 owners and 112,000 sheep for last year ; one cause of this increase was alluded to in last year’s return. Subsequent again to that, at shearing time, the Kekarangu flock, numbering 50,000, were found to be infected through scabby sheep having crossed the Clarence River. With these exceptions no other outbreak has taken place, and the cause of the reinfections having been removed (destruction of wild and stray sheep), that these flocks are either now, or very soon will be, clean is an assured fact. The North Island is now stated to be thoroughly free from disease, and the several flocks having stood the test of a shearingmuster, together with a systematic and close inspection, the fact of this portion of the Colony being clean may be considered thoroughly established. Regarding the kea question, the Inspector is of opinion that a special subsidy should be allowed for the destruction of these birds. They are making their appearance in localities where previously they were unknown, and in some places are committing ravages that seem almost incredible. In one instance over 200 sheep were destroyed in one lot. It it recommended that a sum of LSOO be specially appropriated for their destruction. This might be expended in a bonus of 2s per beak, and would represent 5000 birds. The sheepowners are only too willing to subscribe as well, and by offering a strong inducement a wholesale destruction of this pest should ensue. The kea being of nocturnal habits, and its habitat being in the high and mountainous country, mostly of waste lands of the Crown, its destruction is no easy matter, and, being attended with a certain amount of risk, is one that men will not undertake unless they can earn good wages. Reviewing the work done during last season, although the 31st March shows a nominal increase on the infected flocks, yet the country has never been so free from scab a 3 at present, or so likely to keep free. Last summer having been very dry, both lung-worm and foot-rot are reported to be less prevalent than in former seasons. The lambing is reported as above the average, and the clip is n A

With reference to the New Hebrides question the Government have received a further despatch from the Agent-General, who says “ There is not now, any more than there lias been for a long time past, the slightest doubt in my mind that the time has come whan Her Majesty’3 Government will arrive at a decision, or that France will get possession of the New Hebrides. Of one thing the colonies must assuredly be convinced, that, since Mr Forster’s death, it would be hard to find among English statesmen any one with so profound a regard for and desire to safeguard the interests of Australasia as the Earl of Rosebery ; and if he, at last, comes to the conclusion, as I believe he will, that the cession of the New Hebrides, sooner or later, must be made, you may be perfectly sure that the foreign policy of the Empire has made it really inevitable. It must surely be a dream for anyone now to think that New South Wales and "Victoria will work together in this question, any more than they did about the Federal Council ; nor can anyone really suppose that France will wait for an indefinite time for a concert among the Australasian Governments, which . experience has shown; to be so utterly hopeless. New South Wales has now declared that she will Support Her Majesty’s Government in such action as Lord Rosebery may take, and it has always seemed to me certain that, in the end, her voice would prevail rather than that of Victoria. I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Colonial Office respecting the Recidiviste Bill, from which you will see that the French Government have undertaken to postpone their proposed action in regard to the sanding of recidivistes to the Isle of Pines until an answer shall have teen received by Her Majesty’s Government on the subject of the New Hebrides, which Lord Rosebery has said might be expected to arrive towards the end of April.”

Mr. Downie Stewart gave notice to ask, yesterday, Whether the Government are aware that agents of the Government Life Assurance Department (Industrial Branch) have induced persona in poor circumstances to surrender their policies by representing that no more premiums could be received, as such branch did not pay, and had been closed ; and whether the Government will cause steps to be taken by which such policies will be revived ?