Number 34.

847

SUPPLEMENT

TO THE

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

OF

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1897.

Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1897.

"The Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Act, 1895."

Department of Agriculture, Wellington, 9th April, 1897.

THE work of collection commenced on the 10th November, and the figures may therefore be taken as showing the acreages under the several heads on that date. An interim return of the acreages under corn crops, with an estimate of the probable yield of wheat, oats, and barley, was published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 28th January last. The returns for last year, being the first collection under this Act, were taken in January, 1895, or, say, two months later; an allowance must therefore be made in some instances when comparing the figures. In future the returns will be taken in November of each year.

The method adopted is for the enumerators to present a form to each owner or occupier of a holding over one acre, with the exception that should a holding over one acre have a quarter of an acre or more under orchard this has been taken. The total number of horses, cattle, and pigs has been obtained in the same way; but for sheep the returns as taken under the Stock Act at the 30th April, 1896, have been accepted.

The enumerators are now busy collecting the actual yield of a few of the representative crops in each riding of every county, and so soon as these are to hand an estimate will be made of the total yields for the season.

Before proceeding to deal in detail with the different crops, I would here state that the very dry weather which prevailed over the greater part of the colony from November to January had a very disastrous effect on the corn-crops especially, consequently the area given under the headings of “For Threshing” cannot be taken as that actually reaped. In the interim return a deduction was made, and it is here shown again. Attention should also be drawn to the grain on hand, and if it is remembered that the returns were collected for last year in January, 1896, and for this in November, 1896, it will be seen that the difference of, say, two months is sufficient to account for the apparent discrepancies. It is proposed to deal only with the corn-crops returned “For Threshing.”

WHEAT.

The areas given under the heading “For Threshing” were—1896–97, 281,608 acres; 1895–96, 245,441 acres: increase, 36,167 acres.

Owing, however, to the excessively dry weather, it is estimated that at least 23,000 acres returned “For Threshing” has been cut for chaff or eaten off with stock; the surplus will therefore be about 13,167 acres. It was estimated a week or two before harvesting commenced that the average yield all over the colony would be 25 bushels per acre, but it is doubtful if this will be realised.

The quantity of wheat on hand is given for 1896–97 as 1,310,027 bushels, and 1895–96, 608,364 bushels; increase, 701,663 bushels: but, as already stated, the difference in date of collection accounts for this apparent increase. The estimated consumption for two months is 600,000 bushels: adding to this quantity on hand per last returns, 608,364 bushels (taken in January)—total, 1,208,364 bushels—it will be seen the increase is only some 101,663 bushels.

A