H.—ls.

Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

THE ANNUAL SHEEP RETURNS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MAY, 1890.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

A.—Table showing Increase or Decrease in the Number of Sheep in each County throughout the Colony.

B.—Return showing (in Totals under Districts) — 1. The Districts into which the Colony is divided for the Purposes of " The Sheep Act, 1878;" 2. The Number of " Infected " Sheep in each District. 3. The Number of Sheepowners in each District. 4. The Number of Sheep upon which the Sheep-rate is collected. 5. The Amount of the Sheep-rate in each District. 6. The Number of Inspectors of Stock and Registrars of Brands residing in each District. 7. The Amount payable for Salaries and Allowances in each District.

C.—Return showing— 1. The subdivisions of the Districts into which the Colony is divided for the Purposes of " The Sheep Act, 1878;" and the Districts for which the Colony is divided for the Purposes of " The Diseased Cattle Act, 1881;" also the Cattle Boards appointed under the Act. 2. The Number of Sheepowners owning under 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 Sheep, also owning 20,000 Sheep and upwards; also Total Number of Owners of Sheep, and Total Number of Sheep, for the Year ended 31st May, 1890. 3. The Names and Residences of Officers holding Appointments under the Sheep, Diseased Cattle, and Branding Acts.

D.—Return of all Sheepowners, and Number of Sheep and Lambs, on 31st May, 1889 and 1890; showing the County in which owners reside and their Sheep are depastured, so far as the information is supplied in the Schedule "A" furnished by Sheepowners under section 21 of " The Sheep Act, 1878." (See Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, dated the 11th November, 1890.)