C.—l

6

Weaners, 4s. to 6s. lOd. ; stores, six months, 12s. 6d. to 16s. ; stores, twelve months, £2 10s. Wool: Fleece wool, 11-|-d. to Is. 3|d. ; pieces and bellies, B|-d. to ; locks and stained, 5Jd. to 6£d. Butter-fat averages about Is. 2d. per pound to the farmer, and from the same milk the equivalent for cheese is about Is. 6d. Wellington. Crazing: The. season has been exceptionally dry in most parts, but on the whole it has been a fair average season. The East Coast suffered most, owing to the small amount of rainfall in the spring, and most of the settlers had to seek grazing elsewhere. These conditions will cause rather a bare feed-supply for grazing in several parts of the district, but in other parts feed is coming on well again. Generally, stock did very well, and more than the average number of fats were marketed, both in mature sheep and lambs. Prices of Stock : Prices for all classes of farm stock have been good, and farmers generally have experienced a very successful season, notwithstanding the dry year. The average ruling prices for stock were as follows: Fat bullocks, £12 to £18; fat cows, £8 65.; three-year bullocks, £4 to £8 155.; two-year bullocks, £5 95.; yearling bullocks, £4; mixed weaners, £1 10s. ; dairy cows, inferior, £4 15s. ; heifers, £3. Sheep : Fat wethers, £1 Bs. 6d. ; four and six tooth, £L ; ewes, £1; other sheep, 17s. 6d. ; lambs, 165.; lambs, inferior, Bs. 6d. Farmers in some of the dry areas were unable to fatten more than one or two drafts of sheep owing to feed-scarcity, and were compelled to dispose of good store lambs and sheep at low figures. Cropping : On the East Coast, on the whole, the crops have not been up to the average in the dry portions —oats, wheat, turnips, &c. In the more northern part of the district there is not much cropping done, but a larger area of wheat was put in this year than in former years, and the crops were very good indeed. The oat-crops were also good. In the Wairarapa cereal crops were light, and harvested early, while root and rape crops were in 'most parts a failure. The oat-crop generally was short and light, while the market price at present is nearly 100 per cent, in advance of the average for past years. Dairying: The dairying industry still increases, and new factories both, for the making of butter and cheese are constantly starting in different localities. Dairy-farmers have had a particularly good season, as prices both tor butter and cheese have been ruling very high. In fact, prices for all farm-produce has been good. In the more newly settled districts the factory returns show some 50-per-cent. increase in the output. In some parts, owing to early frosts and dry weather, the season has been somewhat shortened, while in other parts more dairying would be carried on but for the roughness of the country; but it is noticeable that as roads are improved and conditions are at all suitable, more and more cows are being handled. Pigs : In some localities pigs are still a very neglected line, although, farmers when spoken to on the subject seem to be thoroughly alive to the possibilities of good profits, and no doubt when increase of dairying and cropping warrant it, pork will rise to be a staple product. Taking all the factors into consideration, settlers during the past year have, on the whole, had a very satisfactory season, the dry season being more than counterbalanced by the increased prices of farm-products. Nelson. During the past year the drought in other parts of the Dominion has not been felt in this district to any great extent, therefore the settlers, both freeholders and leaseholders, have had a most prosperous season, grass being plentiful and green crops having been sown to a great extent, whilst both sheep and cattle have done well. The prices obtained for wool and stock — the former from 9d. to Is. 4d. per pound, sheep 12s. to £1 65., and cattle from £1 15s. to £2 per hundredweight — have been the highest yet received in this district, whilst high prices have also been obtained for all kinds of crops, which were of a fair average quality. There have been no new developments of any kind in the timber industry throughout the district —in fact, a general depression in the case of the export trade. Many of the mills are not working to their full capacity, and the prospect is not too good for the coming year. But this could hardly be otherwise at guch a stressful time. Marlborough. As regards the northern portion of the district the pastures in the bush portion were good throughout the year, but those in the open country suffered badly from the drought. These