PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1886.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7168, 11 September 1886, Page 2

PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1886.

Mr. Spencer Cracknels, of Norfolk, England, said, during the course of the proceedings after a lunch at the Diss Lamb bale, that "ho thought mutton was likely to bo dearer, as New Zealand could not compete with English breeders ; and ho had heard from a good authority that the New Zealand supply was running short." We do not know where Mr. Cracknell got his information, but he evidently has been misinformed about the supply of sheep in New Zealand falling off ; for like another statement he made, that " after one more shipment New Zealand would shut up," he is altogether wrong in his assertions. This gentleman should have a copy of Mr. Stead's admirable address to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce sent him, when his oyes would bo opened to the wonderful resources of Ibis colony. This address would show Mr. Cracknell that notwithstanding all the sheep which have been consumed in the colony, all that have been exported, and all that have died from natural causes &c. there has been an increase of 8,010,178 in the five years. This increase in our flocks % is eminently satisfactory, and it bears a most favourable comparison, as Mr. Stead shows, with the progress made by our neighbours, as well as with that of every other country. In 1880 the sheop in Australia and Tasmania numbered 59,175,02'!, and in 1884 they hud only increased to 60,289,688, or

by barely 2 per cent. In the United States, as Bbown by official returns, there ware 50,360,2-14 sheep in 1884, ana only 48,322,331 on Dec. 21, 1885, or a decrease in the twelve months, of 2,037,918. The total number of sheep in Europe in 1884 was returned at 1 191,000,000, which shows a slight falling off as compared with ten years ago. The other countries of importance are the Argentine and Uruguay Republics. In the Argentine confederation, there were 01,000,000 sheep in 1880, 69,000,000 iv 1883, and they are supposed to have increased to 73,000,000 in 1885, but there no official returns to that date. This increase, howovor, vast as it appears, is only some 19-67 per cent, for the five years, as compared with 26-16 in New Zealand. In Uruguay there were 18,000,000 sheep in 1874, and the number had fallen to 14,536,000 in ! 1884, or a decrease of about 3,500,000 in the ten years. It is thus seen that, with the exception of the Argentine Republic, New Zealand is the only country in the world that is increasing its flocks in any marked degree. Mr. Stead has based his calculations on last year's statistics as follows :—: — Sheep. Increase. > May 31, 1880 ... 11,530,623 01 , , r May 31, 1885 ... 14,546,801 b ' lb Increase ... 3,016,168 Since then, however, there has been a further increase, for the returns taken in May, 1886, show that our flocks consist of 15,224,000 sheep, being an increase during the year of 677,199 animals. During 1885 we exported from New Zealand 286,961 cwt. of frozen mutton, valued at £359,648; but of all kinds of meat the quantity was much larger, as the following figures will show :—: — Owt. Va no. £ Beet 9,169£ 13,678 Mutton 286,964 359,648 Other kinds ... 342| 631 Potted and preserved 36,142 81,401 Fresh ..; ... 133 211 Salt beef 19,677 26,610 Salt pork 447 1,238 352,872^ £483,317 It will thus be seen that although nearly half a million of money ha's been realised from our meat alone, our stock has not diminished, but has increased nearly twenty-three per cent. In connection with sheep iv their wool, as Mr. Stead shows, the rapid inorease in our production and the advantages we possess over all other competitors are most reassuring. The following figures give the exports of wool from the countries named for the years specified ending Dec. 31: — 1880. ISB3. 1895. Argentines Re- lb. Ib. 1b public ... 213,60J,000 201,01)0,000 277/03,00} Austra in and Taßmania .., 310,153,000 310,40f1,C00 352,960,00) The official figures of the number of sheep in New Zealand in 1880 and 1885, and the corresponding shipment of wool, are as follows: — 1930. 1881. Kumbor of Shoep, May 31 „. 11.M0.623 14,546,801 1831. 188 S. Exports or Wool for year lt>. lb. endine June 30 61,494,771 68,i8\330l Ratio of Wool per Sheep ... 633 U"O7 These figures show that there has been the marvellous increase iv our production of wool of 26,770,5681 b., or over 43 per cent, within the five years, and this increase is the more encouraging in that it is partly owing to the average clip having improved from 5*331 b per sheep in 1880 to 6-071 b per sheep in 1885. "Now," says Mr. Stead, " when it is noted that the River Plate sheep average only 3-81 bof wool against 6*071 b from the New Zealand sheep; and furthermore, when we find that the average price realised in Europe during 1885 is estimated at s^d per lb for La Plata wool against 9d. for New Zealand, we may reasonably infer that our farmers must enjoy far greater natural advantages than their congeners in South America. If also wo estimate the expenses of selling New Zealand wool in London at tne extreme rate of l^d per lb, and th 6 clip 61b, we have a net return to the farmers on these figures of Bs. 9d. per sheep, whereas, deducting only Id. per lb for expenses on the Kiver Plate wool, there is left 4£d per lb lor 8-81 b, or only a fraction over Is. sd. per sheep." With such figures before them, proving so conclusively the large yearly increase in tha wealth of New Zealand, the English capitalists need have no fear for the future of the Colony. Our chief drawback is the smallness of our population ; but even that is increasing in a greater proportion than in the other Colonies. When, however, the capabilities of our soil and the extensive resources of the Colony become thoroughly known to those at Home, there will bo a steady stream of emigration in tho direction of New Zealand.