H.—ll.

Lice I have found very prevalent all over my district, and have impressed upon the settlers that they will have to be more careful in keeping their sheep healthy and dipping them ; and I trust that next season I shall not have so much cause of complaint. Foot-rot and Lungworm have not been very bad, except in a few places. Flock-masters are realising more and more the importance of clean pastures and a general liberal treatment of young stock. The increase in sheep altogether in my district has been very great the last year, on account of the carrying capacity of the land improving, more people going in for sheep, and more land being taken up. The average increase in merino sheep was about 50 to 60 per cent., and cross-breds about 90 per cent. Cattle. —With the exception of three cases of cancer which came under my notice, and which in each instance the beast was destroyed, the general health has been good. Invercargill, May, 1892. H. T. Turner, 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 1892.

Appendix B. Comparative Statement of the Number of Sheep in the Colony, returned annually, 1880 to 1891.

Note.—The return of all sheepowners, and the number of sheep and lambs on 30th April, 1892, showing the county in which owners reside and their sheep are depastured, so far as the information is supplied in. the Schedule " C " furnished by sheepowners under section 21 of "The Sheep Act, 1890," will be published in the New Zealand Gazette as soon as the returns are complete.

Appendix C. Number of Owners, Year 1882 to 1891.

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10

Est—ni ate for 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. Over Previous Year. In- Decrease, crease. 1882. 1883. Auckland Napier Wellington Poverty Bay New Plymouth .. Wanganui Picton LYyttelton and Ch'eh Timaru Oamaru.. Dnnedin Bluff and In'cargill 7,968 9,003 46,803 18,561 89,089132,700 130,439137,964 19,913 157,800 140,302 155,0571 209,785 ! 9,697 208,335 229,466 7,104 279,081 238,583 11,236! 471,068' 407,318 18,558 282,181 320,615 50,061 8,195 40,842 13,507 531,873 153,734 118,701 109,963 119,825 7,322) 188,887 86,703 50,061 8,195 40,842 13,507 80,920 15,950 121,627161,462 235^631 316,455 327,652 401 * 7SS 691^206: 159,333 32,250 133,964 91,255 63,103 f134,091 ■ 40,688 94,415 140,837 37 ,.255 88,599: 120,849, 49,957: 153,734 30,102 86,7811 16,297/ 153,321 250,229 69,808! 16,886 Totals 30,488 173988| 247,772 491,069 574,192 |700,967: ,931,526 1,013,032 1,205,063 1,846,233| 451,809 1,708,055 373,631

.880 .881 .882 .883 .884 .885 11,530,623 12,190,215 12,408,106 13,;306,329 13,978,520 14,546,801 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 15,174,263 15,155,626 15,042,198 15,423,328 16,116,113 16,753,752

) wiring— 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 1882. | 4,685: 844! 552! 416 225! 209: 133 1883. I 1884. J 5,039 5,422; 970 1,033 609 l 672; 467! 473 : 244' 256< 200 211 ! 149 154 1885. 1886. 5,622 6,024 1,146 1,189 718 747 505 532 270 263 213 228 157 166 1887. 6,247 1,139 723 531 289 221 166 1888. 6,579 1,182 794 524 287 213 166 1889. 7,054 1,381. 826 597 277 239 151 1890. 7,662 1,528 854 586 ! 283 236j 160 1891. 8,272 1,691 969 666 287 239 169 Totals ... 7,064| 7,678 8,221 8,631 9,149 9,316! 9,745. 10,525| |11,309 il2,293