The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, SEPT. 20, 1907. A NEW ZEALAND RECORD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2190, 20 September 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, SEPT. 20, 1907. A NEW ZEALAND RECORD.

At a time when a few seconds lopped off the period occupied by a pedestrian or a racehorse in negotiating a given distance is considered as of national importance, it may not be out of place to draw attention to other achievements which -have a lmioli greater effect- on the well-being of the country as a whole. The interim return of the number of sheep in tlie colony on April 30, as telegraphed by our Wellington correspondent on Tuesday night, gives the total as 20,983,772 sheep, which is half a million more than Hie highest figures previously recorded. This was in 1902, when the total stood at 20,342,727. Following that period -the very heavy drain on our flocks as the result of the frozen meat trade and the neglect of many owners to keep a reserve supply of ewes brought the numbers down by -nearly two millions. For a time tlie position appeared serious. It seemed that it was only a matter of time when our flocks would be so depleted that we should bo unable to keep up our shipments -to Britain, with the result •that some other country would 6tep in and secure the trade. However, the difficulty lias righted itself ill a satisfactory manner, and any fears as to our inability to cop© with export demands would appear to have been set at rest. As a matter of fact the ■manner in which tho flocks have been distributed suggests that our frozen meat output is likely to show a marked advance. Some of the chief sheepbreeding districts of the South Island have parted with large numbers of sheep during the year, this course having been rendered necessary by the drought, and tlie result has been to give many localities in Hie North Island a long-desired opportunity to obtain first-class breeding ewes. Titus the Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay, and -Bay of Plenty districts have all been placed in a much better position than before to raise mutton and lamb suitable for tlie frozen meat markets. Now that rain has restored the verdure to tho parched plains of Canterbury -and Otago, tho settlers are scouring -t-lio country in search of owes, but in vain. A Southern visitor to Gisborne who recently attended a sale in .Win-toil, Southland, stated that over -a score of Canterbury and Otago buyers wore present seeking to replenish their stocks. At present everything points to a satisfactory season for tho sheepfarmer. London prices for mutton and lamb continue on a payable basis, whilst -wool prospects are particularly bright. Considering the tremendous growth that has taken place in dairying in recent years, tho fact that- the sheep-raising industry is more than holding its own is -a gratifying indication of -the country.’s productiveness.