B— 15b

4

(11.) Cattle. These have also been sold in greater numbers at an average advance on last year's prices of 6 s. 9d. per head, or £1,419.

(12.) Stock on Hand and Valuation at 31st March, 1899.

Sheep. —The valuation of sheep at the 31st March shows an all-round advance on previous year of lid. per head, but since that date a further substantial rise has taken place, and to such an extent that may lead some to conclude that we have either very much under-valued or that our stock is inferior. The valuations were made on the basis of market valuations current at the time. Cattle show a decline in valuation at the 31st March of Is. 9d. per head, or £1,805.

(13.) Wool-clip (including all Stations working during the Two Years).

Net Return for Two Years.

1898. 1899. No. on Hand. Valuation. Average. No. on Hand. Valuation. Average. 'heep. £ £ s. d. £ £ s. d. North Island— Waikato . Other estates 131,888 60,566 60,875 22,200 0 0 9 2 7 4 126,872 65,252 60,272 27,947 0 9 6 0 8 6 South Island 192,454 141,543 83,075 45,556 0 0 8 6 7 5 192,124 100,437 88,219 37,887 0 0 9 7 2 6 333,997 128,631 0 7 8-43 292,561 126,106 0 8 7-45 ■attle. North Island — Waikato Other estates 14,906 7,077 45,912 24,025 3 3 1 7 7 10 14,589 5,966 44,416 19,195 3 3 0 10 4 4 South Island 21,983 128 69,937 347 3 3 2 14 7 2 20,555 84 63,611 239 3 1 10 2 16 11 22,111 70,284 3 3 7 20,639 63,850 3 1 10

1898. 1899. Number Shorn. Average Weight of Fleece. Number Shorn. Average Weight of Fleeoe. Sheep shorn Lambs shorn 298,187 20,727 lb. oz. 7 14 2 4 Sheep shorn Lambs shorn 280,514 43,152 lb. oz. 7 12 2 13

18' )8. 1899. Net Weight. Net Return at Port of Shipment (excluding Insurance). Average per lb. Net Weight. Estimated Net Return at Port Average of Shipment (exclud- per lb. ing Insurance). Greasy Scoured lb. 1,933,682 275,134 £ 48,784 10,574 d. 6-05 9-22 lb. 1,978,845 206,076 £ 50,282 7,345 d. 609 8-55 2,208,816 59,358 6-45 2,184,921 57,627 6-33