H.—2l

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with the rabbit pest, and believe that it should be made compulsory in infected districts. Babbits have made their appearance in the Pahiatua County, odd ones having been seen over various portions of it, Makuri, Puketoi, showing the strongest indications, but settlers appear aware of the importance of dealing with the evil in its early stage. Masterton. J. Wallace Smith.

South Waieaeapa Disteict. Sheep. —Owing to the continuous wet weather experienced during last winter the loss of stock was considerably in excess of the two previous years. The lambing, from the same cause, was somewhat lower than usual, averaging about 70 per cent. As a natural consequence of the wet season, the clip of wool was not up to the usual standard in this district, being light, tender, and among the heavier type of Lincoln sheep a great deal cotted. Through the great mortality among the Lincoln sheep, farmers are now crossing with Romney and Border Leicester, with the object of strengthening the constitution of the Lincoln. Lung-worm. —There is a marked improvement in the flocks as regards lung-worm, stock-owners having become more alive to the evil of this disease, and the benefit to be derived from the several specifics now obtainable, and which have been used generally with satisfactory results. In my opinion, however, owners do not pay enough attention to this disease, and the proper time for drenching. It is generally acknowledged that the lambs should be drenched twice—viz., at weaningtime and again about the month of April. Lice exist throughout the district in a mild form. Yearly dipping during the autumn months is becoming more general, having the effect of keeping this parasite under. In concluding my remarks under the above head, lam of opinion that there is a tendency to over-stock. It is also questionable if the practice of disposing of a large number of lambs (especially ewe) for freezing is in the end conducive of good, although the immediate result may be enticing. Horses. —With the exception of a few cases of influenza in a mild form, which I have noticed during the summer months, this class of stock are in a healthy condition throughout the district. Cattle. —The health of the cattle in the district under my charge has been good. The price for some time past low, has recently risen some 50 per cent., which will no doubt give an impetus to the rearing of this class of stock. Crops generally are up to the average. The Hessian fly made its appearance last winter, but the extent of damage so far is not appreciable. Babbits. —On the whole the pest has not increased, and in no instance interferes with the pastoral and agricultural interests to any serious extent. I anticipate good results will be obtained from this winter's poisoning, if united action is taken by settlers, and followed up by other means immediately afterwards. The following means of destruction have been applied—viz., poisoning, shooting, dogging, ferreting, digging out, destroying burrows, and bi-sulphide of carbon. The Natural Enemy. —Landowners have liberated this season about a thousand ferrets, and several of them have established breeding-places. If settlers would combine to have a united and systematic poisoning, employing only capable men as gangers to supervise the work, very great benefit would result. This work should be followed up in the early spring by other measures, such as turning out large numbers of the natural enemy —viz., cats and ferrets—and shooting and ferreting. James Haevey, Jun. Masterton.

Maelboeough Disteict. Sheep. —The flocks throughout the district, both cross-bred and merino, have as a whole come in this season in a backward condition owing to the unprecedented rain fall producing a flush of soft grass ; the wool, from the same reason, has been light, though, as a whole sound. Merino flocks have been, by careful and judicious breeding, worked up to a high standard, and the Wairau Valley is now depasturing sheep that will compare favourably with any merinoes in New Zealand. I will, however, draw your attention to one serious evil—viz., the immense quantity of wool about the heads of many of the merino flocks, necessitating shearing several times in the year about the eyes. This, of course, is an impossibility on the runs, and the consequence is that many hundreds of young sheep are lost annually by blindness, or are left on the run, it being impossible to drive them. There is a great increase in the number of crossbred-sheep. All the low-lying and suitable country is now, or will shortly be, stocked with them. The Lincoln is the cross mostly used, and when the country is good enough, no-finer animal can be obtained, producing as it does a suitable carcase for shipment, well clothed with a maximum of useful, lustrous wool. Farmers are, as a class, very careless in the matter of the selection of rams, and take in preference a cheap inferior male. This will, I think, rectify itself when, by comparison, the great advantage of paying attention to breed will be recognised. Lice are found in some of the cross-bred flocks, but dipping annually is getting more into general use, and if this is persisted in generally parasites will be reduced to a minimum. Foot-rot is not by any means prevalent, and where it exists is kept in check by the use of the arsenical foot-trough. Specifics mostly in use are, on the stations, bi-sulphide of lime, and, among the small holders, Cooper's, Little's, and in some few cases McDougall's dip. Lambing. —Throughout the district the percentage has been only medium, and would not average more than 65 per cent. Lambs generally are looking healthy, and with little predisposition to lungworm, which has not been seriously felt throughout the past season ; many farmers are taking precautionary measures, however, and are dosing with turpentine and milk. I will draw your attention to the serious evil likely to result from sending frozen lamb. The ewe lambs are invariably the most forward in condition, and are often selected and picked down-