LIVE STOCK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 49, 8 April 1898, Page 13

LIVE STOCK.

STOCK RETURNS.

Wellington, March 31. The total number of horses in the colony is 253,227 against 250,247 last year. Auckland has the most, 64, H0 ; then Otag-o,

53,056 ; Canterbury, 46,622 ; Wellington, 39,552. Cattle number 1,209,165, against 1,138,067; Auckland has 308,047 ; Wellington, 244,731; Taranaki, 211,158 ; Otago, 194,480 ; Canterbury, 97,386. Pigs number 186,027 this year, against 209,834 lasf year. The sheep returns up to April 30, 1897, give a total of 19,687,954. Canterbury has 4,379,249 ; Otago, 4.021.065 ; Wellington. 3,952,984 ; Hawke's Bay, 3,250,577 ; Auckland, 1,880,692. IMPORTANT SALE OF HIGH-CLASS DAIRY CATTLE. Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report having held the second annual sale of well-bred dairy cattle on account of Mr. Thomas Lee, at his farm near Highcliffe, on Thursday March 3 1st. Notwithstanding that Mr. Lees farm is somewhat out of the 'way, the sale was well attended, and this in a great measure was due to the fact that his cattle are held in great repute. Most of the buyers at last year's sale were present again to-day, which is the b^st evidence that their former purchases hnd turned out profitable and up to the vendor's representations at the sale. The competition at I this year's sale was particularly brisk for young cows and heifers close to calving, especially where these showed breeding and were we 1-grown, but where the cows offered were aged and far from profit it was almost impossible to elicit bids. The highest priced animals were sired by Young Glenham and Prince Carlo. The following are some of the principal sales: — Heifer by young Glenham, L 8 5s ; 2 cows by same sire, L 8 each ; 2 heifers by do, L 7 5s ; 1 do by do, L 6 15s ; 3 cows by I'oung Glenham at L!) ; 5 heifers by \oung Glenham at L 5 15s ; and about 20 head heifers and cows at from L 3 to L 5 10s. The principal lots were bought by Peninsula and Waikouaiti settlers.