H.—9.

Sheep Inspector's Office, Blenheim. Sir, —I have the honor to furnish my report for the year ended 31st December, 1878, and enclose return, being the only one which the law at that date required, of the number of sheep actually shorn in the District of Marlborough during that period. From this it will be seen that the total number of sheep shorn was 707,100, as against a total of 681,144 in the previous year. I anticipate the returns which I shall forward you under the new Act will show a considerable increase, from the fact that all sheep above three mouths old will be included therein. During the year 187S, 14,420 sheep were introduced into the district overland from the Amuri and Canterbury Province, 1,500 were exported to Nelson, and about 25,000 were absorbed by provincial consumption and boiling-down. The lambing during the year was very poor, and did not exceed an average of 30 per cent. The principal part of the district being of a nature ill adapted to the surface sowing of English grasses, but little was done hitherto in this respect. A considerable outlay in fencing has been caused, consequent upon " The Sheep Act, 1878," coming into force, which will doubtless have most beneficial results. The average number of sheep clean during the year would not exceed 50,000, which shows little or no marked improvement as compared with the previous four years. I have, <fcc, 11. H. Johjtscw, Chief Inspector. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

RETIRN of SHEEP Shorn in the Sheep District of Marlborough during the Year ending 31st December, 1878.

5

Name and Address of Owner. Xo. of Sheep. Connor, —, Blenheim ... Dillon, P. G., Lcefield... Biekenson, Thomas, Kaikoura ... Douslin, W., Havelock... Duncan, Alexander, The Grove ... Davidson, J., Kaikoura Doyle, W., Blenheim ... ... ... Davis, —, Kaituna Dod-:on, George.. Spring Creek ... Enton, George, Kaikoura Edwards and Co., Kekeranga Edwards and Co., Wantwood Evans, Charles, Kaikoura Eylcs, C, Wairau West ... ... Fairhall, E., Blenheim... Flood Brothers, Port Underwood Foote Brothers, Polorus Fidler, E., Tua Marina Goulter, C, Hawke's Bay Graham, Jnmos, Blenheim Grugli, C, Kaikoura Gray, James, Kaikoura Gifford, William, Spring Creek ... Gibson, A. D., Kaikoura Gibson, J. W., Kaikoura Gibson, Henry, Kaikoura Green, James, Kaikoura Gnrratt, James, Knikoura Gibson, Waller, W.-iipapa Gibson, James, Kjiikuura G.iodi, E. T., Kaikoura ... ... Green, James, Upeott ... Gibson, T. L., Kaikoura Gibson, J. W., Kaituna Gifford, James, Spring Creek Gifford, Isaac, Spring Creek Gane, J., Spring Crsek Gil son, —, Kaikoura ... Godfrey, Charles, Okakuri Uai-nctt, Jolin, Kaikoura Hillock, K., Kaikoura ... Horgan, M., Blenheim... Harris, 0. H., Pcloms ... Harvey, William, Pelorus Huge*, Messrs., Pelorus Hippolite Brothers, Pelorus Hart, —, Picton Nailer, W. K&ikoora ... Harvey, Henry, Kiiikoura Il'iwthorn, —, Kaikoura Nodson, J. E., Fairfield Downs ... Hammond, —, Bl.-nheina Hnpgard, S., Blenheim Hathaway, Mrs., Spring Creek ... Hyde, J. A., Mahakapawa llailes, Mrs.. Ocean Bay Home, Dr., Wairau West Hoaly, J., Tua Bin Harrey, AVilliani, Pelorus Hall, Thomiis, Queen Charlotte Sound Ireland, E. T., Valley Field Ingles and Party, Kineaid ... ... ' Jackson, George, White's Bay ... Jackson, A, White's Bay Jones, R., Pelorus ... ... ... ■ JefferieSj W.,' Blem:eim Jellyman, J., Blenheim Jackson, James, Queen Charlotte Sound Kerbj, James, Kaikoura Kelly, J., Kenwiek Town Keene, G. and C, Kaikoura Kinzett, —, Spring Creek Kenniiigton, —, Kaikoura Lambert, J. A., Onamalutu Law, Joseph, Picton Litchu'eld, A. J., Blenheim Ijoomip,—, Pelorus Luxford, J. E., Te Arowhenna Love, —, Queen Charlotte Sound Laney, —, Picton Low, W. A., Bare Fells Landall, Is:iac, Queen Charlotte Sound ... McDonald, K., Kaikoura Maher, Mrs., Kaituna Monro, Alexander, Bank House... Mills Brothers, Havelock Monro, George, Valley Field 36 9,023 830 130 351 270 520 120 760 128 40,378 10,000 SOO 43 971 1,300 150 80 7,500 191 50 30 90 900 G3 110 84. 60 20,560 300 1,000 11,780 20 64 152 812 500 63 612 112 500 35 500 450 eoo 250 16 256 300 60 14,3(iO 200 103 355 700 305 225 00 450 63 i 500 8,970 1,000 213 100 280 COS 700 200 100 5,808 68 400 250 610 200 250 3,400 1,500 120 22,000 1,248 300 745 13,351 1,075 11,030

Xame aud Address of Owner. No. of Sheep. Atkinson, W., Burtergill and Molesworlh... Allport, T. Pioton Adams, William, jnn., Langley Dale Archer, P., Kenepuru ... Avery, W., Kairh:ill Atwood, Join:, Blenheim Allen, Kobert, Blenheim Baillie, Captain, Para ... Brydon, J., Fairhall Bowler, S., Xua Marina Brindle, C. Blenheim ... Brydon, William, Fairhall Baldick, George. Port Underwood Dell and Son, Erina Eun Beaumont, R., Starborough Boon, John, Pelorus ... Bullen, X. and G\, Kaikoura Barratt, I., Kaikoura ... Boyd, I)., Kaikoura Beatson, C. and R., Clovernook ... Beaueliamp, A., Picton Blick, E., Blenheim ... Bomiington, H., Wairau Vallev... Bell Brothers, Wairau Valley ' ... Ulitford and Weld, Flaxhourne ... Cameron, John, Spring Creek Chaytor, .1. C, Woodbank Creaeh, Thomas, Pelorus L'nwte Brothers, Maliakipawa Cullin, W., Mahakipawa Ouoper Jotm, Pelorus ... Clement, C, Kaikoura... Collins, A. S.. Mount Fyffo Curtain, J., Pelorus Cameron, John, Kaikoura Carter, Thomas, Hellesden 8,?60 300 1,520 150 130 846 260 296 200 4,140 410 ] .200 134 3,230 39,092 850 42,7*60 180 250 600 420 03 150 3,230 49,500 200 5.810 100 450 2,130 200 200 6,0u0 100 G5 25,230