The Waipawa Mail, Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays. Thursday, October 24, 1889. THE PASTORAL INTEREST.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2352, 24 October 1889, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail, Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays. Thursday, October 24, 1889. THE PASTORAL INTEREST.

In fin articlo on the above subject the Otago Daily Timex considers that never has the state of affairs been so satisfactory in New Zealand. Our contemporary points out that notwithstanding the exports of over 1,000,000 carcases of mutton last year the sheep returns for the whole coloiiy up to 31st May last are highly satisfactory

showing an increase of 346,7*27 on the previous year, and a total of 25,383,925. Tha increase is chiefly in the North Island (280,230), and only 7450 in Otago, but the remarkable fact is that there should be an increase at all. Our wool clip has increased, and probably now exceeds 95,000,0001 b. Mr Calcutt, who had some means of judging when in England, expresses himself somewhat doubtful, says the Times , of the future prospects of the trade, but the fact that considerable additions are being made to the tonnage of refrigerating steamers seems to indicate a belief on the part of the owners that there is u satisfactory basis for further extension. There can be no doubt that a ready outlet for surplus stock enables the runholdor to keep on the average a larger number and better class of Bheep ; and if prices do not fall much below their present level, the graziers aLo can make a fair profit by fattening sheep for the market. There is also year by year a large breadth of land sown iu turnips for winter feed, and it is impossible to estimate what the ultimate limit of the export trade may be if prices keep up to a paying point. When the tra lo was first established it was not regarded as probable by any but one or two of the most sanguine growers that the export would ever reach 1,000,000 carcases per annum. That it has done so, and still our flocks have increased in one year by nearly 350,000, is strong evidence that as yet, at all events, we have not reached our maximum production After all the pastoral industry is the backbone of New Zealand, and its prosperity will largely contribute to the restoration of that confidence in our future which, during the past few years, has been so rudely shaken. Agriculture is indeed closely connected with pastoral pursuits, and the one assists the other, but the latter depends a good deal on the prices obtainable in the Home and Australian markets for grain ; and as Victoria is shutting us out by protective duties, and the value of wheat in the English market remains at a low level, the prospects of the fanners are not so good as we could wish for the coming harvest. The cost of production is, however, much Ihss than it was a few years ago, and if the mining industry takes the strides it promises to take in the next few years, there will be much more labour employed an 1 increased local demand for mauy of our agricultural products, particularly those of the dairy. All that New Zealand needs is population, and if there is a demand for labour population will come. We can only patiently wait for the turn of the tide which will bring back the thousands who, as we believe, have only temporarily left us, and there are many signs that the tide is already turning. We doubt if any other British colony can show greater attractions for both labour and capital.