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Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

INSPECTION OF STOCK. (ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE INSPECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1891.)

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

Sir, — Live Stock Department, Wellington, 31st July, 1891. I have the honour to hand you herewith the annual reports for the different districts of the colony for the year ending the 31st March, 1891. I have, &c, The Hon. J. McKenzie, John D. Bitchie, Chief Inspector. Minister of Lands and Agriculture.

Auckland Distbict. Thekb is now no serious disease affecting sheep in this district. The Miranda sheep were examined during the month of March and found clean. In Tauranga there is each year a considerable loss among lambs during the period between the end of November and the end of March, that is not satisfactorily accounted for, and there seems to be some other cause than lung-worm, the usually accepted reason or cause given for losses among lambs. Lice. —ln this district lice are more prevalent than they are usually found to be in other parts of the colony; it is probably owing to the practice of continually buying and selling sheep so much in favour among owners here ; and possibly the warm climate of Auckland, with its great rainfall, is exceptionally favourable to the increase of this parasite. Sheep. —This year there will again be found a large increase in the number of sheep, also a particularly large increase in the number of stockowners, for the smaller landowners are beginning to realise the value of sheep. The Waikato can this year absorb a larger number of sheep for grazing than it can obtain from Hawke's Bay, and in this part of the Auckland district an increasing acreage of land under roots is each year being laid down. This season roots (chiefly turnips) are looking remarkably well. These Waikato lands are so eminently adapted to roots crops, that the farmer there should, by their use, derive the greatest benefit from the increasing value of the return from sheep. The number of sheep exported during the past year has been: Frozen, 11,236 ; shipped to the South Sea Islands, 1,547. Cattle. —There is no special development of any disease affecting cattle to report, and visits paid to the Auckland slaughterhouses bear this out. Since the passing of the Cattle Act three head of cattle have been ordered to be destroyed for cancer, and have been so destroyed. Number exported to South Sea Islands, 335. Horses. —Among horses the bot fly has been very prevalent and persistent in its attacks, and the area affected by this fly is increasing. Its effects are not visibly injurious to well-cared for animals in good order, but in badly-fed and low-conditioned horses it is certainly serious, and renders any improvement in their condition almost impossible. There have been fifty-three horses exported to South Sea Islands. Auckland, 6th April, 1891. E. Clifton, Inspector.

Napiek Distkict. Sheep. —The sheep in this district are in a very satisfactory condition. The provisions of the Act dealing with lice have beerw enforced, and have proved of great benefit. During the early part of last winter there was in some parts of the district a heavy loss among hoggets, caused by the heavy rains at that time, following on a dry autumn, and causing a rush of green feed without much substance in it. The lambing all over the district was exceedingly good, and the clip of wool satisfactory both as to condition and quantity.

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The number of sheep exported, frozen, was 471,068 ; boiled down and used at preserving-works, 14,796. As, under " The Sheep Act, 1890," sheep going from one district to another do not require inspection, I have no means of giving accurately the number of sheep that have gone to other districts, but have given an approximate estimate of 220,000, which is rather under than over the number. . Napier, 7th July, 1891. E. C. Pasley, Inspector.

Wellington-West Coast District. Horses generally continue in good health, subject to attacks of strangles. On one farm in the North Wairarapa Subdivision this disease, followed by blood-poisoning, as a result of re-absorption of pus, caused the deaths of fourteen horses. This was, I believe, due to their being in low condition, a want of provision for the isolation of the sick horses, and general want of proper treatment. Cattle. —The health of cattle generally throughout the district is good. Cases of tuberculosis and cancer (so called) are met with occasionally, more especially, perhaps, on the West Coast. Sheep. —This district still continues free from scab. Worms. —lnternal parasites generally were very prevalent during the winter of 1890. This seems mainly due to owners not recognising that it is imperatively necessary to have their sheep in a robust condition during the latter part of the autumn. This can only be done on good, clean feed with pure water, whilst a liberal allowance of salt and sulphate of iron seem to be of great service in rendering the system proof against the inroads of parasites. There requires also to be greater care exercised in the time and mode of drenching lambs for worms. This should be done early, and preferably with turpentine and milk. Many owners now wait until lambs are so reduced and weak as to be almost unable to reach the yards, and the rough handling they are there subjected to can only be attended with disastrous results. It appears to me likely that at some not far distant date it will be necessary to compel owners to take certain precautions against internal parasites, just as at present they are compelled to dip for the external ones. Lice still continue to be prevalent during the latter part of the autumn and winter, and it has been necessary to insist on many owners dipping. General Health. —The appearance of sheep throughout the district is good, except in bush country, where, owing to the moist season and consequent growth of grass, they do not look as well as might be wished. Lambs. —The lambing was on the whole good; I regret to say, however, that on the east side of the Wairarapa Lake there was this year a large mortality amongst the lambs, said by owners to be due to wool-balling. Veterinary Surgeon McClean visited the district with a view of ascertaining the cause, but, owing to limited time and bad weather, was unable to carry out a thorough investigation. In the Taranaki-Hawera district there was a large mortality among the weaners. From Mr. McClean's report this appears to be due to anaemia, or poverty of blood, but as to how this is caused there does not appear to be sufficient evidence to show. In both these instances, if the mortality recur, further investigation is desirable. Wool. —Owing to the favourable conditions of weather and feed, the clip has been a good one. General. —The number of sheep introduced into this district from Hawke's Bay was 141,000, of these, some 30,000 went to the Wairarapa, the remainder being distributed over the West Coast. There were introduced at the Port of Wellington from Great Britain, five sheep and six dogs; from India, one horse ; from Australia, ten horses, one buffalo, and twenty-three dogs. There were exported from same port 235 horses and one dog to India; one dog to Great Britain; to Australia, twelve horses, twenty-five dogs; there were exported, frozen, 407,318 sheep and lambs, 21,375 head of cattle; there were preserved, 22,704 sheep, 4,689 head of cattle ; there were boiled down about 30,000 sheep : making a total of 460,022 sheep, and 26,064 cattle treated during the year. Wellington, 11th July, 1891. John Dbummond, Inspector.

Mablbobough-Nelson Distbict. Sheep. —All flocks remain free from scab. I have neither seen nor heard of any since September, 1889. Lice. —A few sheep were found slightly infected, and the flocks dipped as soon as detected or shorn. Owing to continual wet weather last winter the wool clip was light, and the lambing poor on several of the runs. During the year there were 20,549 sheep boiled down or preserved. Gattle. —No disease has shown itself in cattle or horses, but complaints were made from the West Coast of cattle being affected with cancer, and to such an extent that in one case the butchers gave an owner notice that they could not take cattle from him. On my inspecting the cattle I could not detect any disease, and have heard nothing since. As these reports are very injurious to cattlebreeders, I have recommended that a Deputy Inspector be appointed on the West Coast. No stock has been imported or exported except coastwise, and that not in any number. Blenheim, 30th May, 1891. . T. G. Eichabdson, Inspector.

Oantebbury-Kaikouea Distbict Cattle. —Several cases of diseased beasts have been found in the public saleyards; these have been dealt with under " The Cattle Act, 1890." Otherwise cattle have been healthy. Sheep. —The weather has on the whole been favourable for both sheep and wool. The lambing was above the average excepting, on a few of the far back runs. All the Kaikoura flocks havo been carefully examined, and that district may now be considered absolutely free from scab.

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The saleyards have been regularly attended, and there now being dips in connection with nearly all the yards sheep infested with lice are at once dipped, the result is a marked improvement in the state of the sheep exposed for sale. The returns of sheep on the 31st May, 1890, showed an increase of 7,144 sheep only. This small increase was owing mainly to the sheepowners not being prepared to meet the increased demand for sheep for export. This demand, however, resulted in a much larger number of lambs being bred last season, and it is expected that the coming returns will still show an increase. The export of frozen mutton and lamb shows a very large increase, the numbers being 472,909 sheep and 218,297 lambs, being an increase of 289,418 carcases. Thirty-eight thousand sheep were preserved. The quality has been well maintained, and is likely to improve as breeders now better understand the class of mutton best adapted for the English market. There were also 350 cattle frozen. The numbers of stock exported are: To Calcutta—Horses, 169. Australia—Horses, 87; cattle, 52; dogs, 113 ; pigs, 80. There were imported: From Great Britain—Sheep, 7 ; dogs, 2. From Australia—Sheep, 17 ; dogs, 3 ; horses, 7. Christchurch, 22nd May, 1891. E. Fosteb, Inspector.

Otago Disteict. Stock of all description continue in a healthy condition. The death of a few cattle and two or three horses in the western district, and about 30 head of young cattle on an estate in the Clutha district, have been reported, but the cause has been purely local. Very little lung-worm has been observed during the last year, and owing to systematic inspection of saleyards and proper dipping being insisted upon, lice is very seldom seen. There have been only eight prosecutions for the whole of Otago during the year. The proper branding of sheep has also been more fully carried out. There has been eight convictions under this Act. The lambing was very prolific on all low country in the southern portion of the district, but very stormy weather occurred in October, and greatly reduced the percentage among hill sheep in Wallace and Lake Counties. The long-continued drought and consequent scarcity of succulent feed also militated against the lambing in the northern portions of Otago. During the year 265,405 frozen carcases of sheep have been exported, 47,507 preserved, and 4,222 boiled down, and there were twenty-one stud sheep imported from Victoria. Three hundred and eighty-eight head of cattle, principally stud stock, and 176 horses, have been exported to Sydney and Melbourne. Dunedin, 29th April, 1891. Alfred Douglass, Inspector.

Appendix A. Comparative Statement of the Number of Carcases of Frozen Mutton exported from the Colony during the Years ended 31st March, 1884 to 1891.

Appendix B. Comparative Statement of the Number of Sheep in the Colony, returned annually, under Section 21 of "The Sheep Act, 1878," on the 31st May, 1879 to 1890. 1879 ... ... 11,693,911 1885 ... ... 14,546,801 1880 ... ... 11,530,623 1886 ... ... 15,174,263 1881 12,190,215 1887 15,155,626 1882 ... ... 12,408,106 1888 ... ... 15,042,198 1883 ... ... 13,306,329 1889 ... ... 15,423,328 1884 ... ... .13,978,520 1890 ... ... 16,116,113 Note. —The return of all sheepowners, and the number of sheep and lambs on 30th April, 1891, showing the county in which owners reside and their sheep are depastured, so far as the information is supplied in the Schedule " G" furnished by sheepowners under section 21 of " The Sheep Act, 1890," will be published in the Neto Zealand Gazette as soon as the returns are complete.

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Estiini Lte for Over Previous Year. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1.88!). 1890. 1891. 1882. 1883. Increase. Decrease, .uokland lapier Vollington 'ieton jyttelton lamarn )unedin Huff 7,968 9,003 .. ! 46,803 89,089, 130,4.36! 15,950 121,627! 18,561 ,132,700 137,964 161," 462 32,250 19,913 157,800' 140,302 235,631' 9,697 155,057 208,335 '209,785 229,466 I .. !31G,455 327,652! 63,103; 950 229 'I 134 '091! f 00 ' 9 1 40,688 7,104 279,081 238,583j I 401,7881 94,415 146,837 87,255 11,286 471,068 407,318; 691,206 88,599j 126,849 49,957 4,132 191,987 168,735 289^418; .. j 80,920 .. ' 86,781) .. j 16,297 J" •• i j 5,816 19,988 133,964 91,255 153,321' 12,702,' Totals 30,488 173988 247,772 !491,066! 574,192 706,967 j i931,6261,018,082 1,205,063] [1,846,283 Less 666,974 25,804 25,804 Total 1 increase 641,170

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Appendix C. Number of Owners on the 31st May, 1881 to 1890.

[Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation (not given); printing (1,450 copies), £2 16a. 6<3.]

By Authority : G-eobge Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9l. Price 6d.\

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) wning— Under 500 sheep 500 and under 1,000 1,000 „ 2,000 2,000 „ 5,000 5,000 „ 10,000 10,000 „ 20,000 20,000 and upwards 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1880. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 4,727 704 500 350 236 201 139 4,685 844 552 416; 225i 209! 133! 5,039 970 609 467 244 200 149 5,422 1,033 672 473 256 211 154 5,622 1,146 718 505 270 213 157 6,024 1,189 747 532 263 228 166 6,247 1,139 723 531 289 221 166 6,579 1,182 794 524 287 213 166 7,054 1,381 826 597 277 2391 151 7,66! 1,521 85' 58i 28: 23i 161 Totals ... 6,857 7,064) 7,678 8,221 8,631 9,149 9,316 9,745 10,525 11,30!