SHEEP RETURNS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10919, 28 September 1897, Page 7

SHEEP RETURNS.

Tho preliminary return of the stock-tiiking of Bheep on April 30 is now available, aud we (New Zealand Tiade Kaview) append the figures as supplied by Ui6 department: — District. 1897. 1890. Increase Auckland ... ... 871.38S 819,221 52,105 Napier 4,297,070 4,2-12,518 51,522 Wellington —West

Coast ilarlborough — Nel-

,309,079 4,069,967 239,112

son Canterbury — Kaikoura Otago

932,914 589.5t53 43,051

5,198.712 5,121,39* 75,314 4,022,441 3,99ri,49G 28,945

19.e29.fi02 19,138,493 491,109 Ths figures for lbs two i-lands compare as follows: —

1897. ]83B: Increase. North TcUna ... 9.477.M5 9,131,730 315,7«9 South Island ... 10,\5i,087 10,000" 757 145,310 The following figures show tbe progress of the two islands from year to year sioco 1836 : —

South Island. North Island. Total. 1597 ... 10,152,007 9,477,535 19,629,602 IS9O .. 10 000 757 9,131,736 J9,138,4m:j ]593 . . 1U.W1.95S 8,9.11,<;4rt 19,8-O.liO* 18MI ... II '1(51,477 9,11i9,352 20.230,82!) 3593 . - ]0,«95,()(i8 8,085,381 19,350.3(5!) 1892 .. 10.:JC6 72? 5»,20t,029 15.T.70 752 JR3I ... !),09*,835 7,l- r/',<K'7 J0.754 75:2 1890 . 9,527.7iir ' (>&SS:(i(S I(;,nG,H3 188') .'9 413 081 5,990,24-1 10,<123,3-28 18SS .. 9,373,202 S,fiUS,99(J 15.W2.198 18S7 . . !1,(i4»,14l 5,50u,485 ]s,lss,tiZii IS>« ... 9,838,351) 5,255,907 15,174,20:! The increase iv the gross total for the la!est year is moderate, being at the rate of bub little over 2h per cent. That of the North Island is rathtr" hefcter than 3J, while that of the South Island is leas than 1£ per cent. In the two previous year?, however, the gcoss total showed a d-crease. that of 1895 extending to both islands. The preponderance in numbers which the South Isl.ind exhibited over the North IsUnd so UMrksdly in the earlier years is steadily decreas-

ing, and bids fair to disappear fratirely in another yesr or two. Oa the other hand, the South Island has very nearly a monopoly of the grain industry.