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Messrs Sutton Bros., Wright’s Bush, Waianewa. These are pure Lincolns, and a really splendid lot. I do not believe that these sheep can be surpassed by anything of their class in any of the colonies. These sheep were picked by the best judges. One of the rams and three of the ewes are worthy of especial notice.

I may mention that the whole of the stock enumerated are intended for stud purposes, and are a valuable addition to the stud flocks of the province. There were also sixteen rams landed at the Bluff, but these passed on to Mr Brunton, of Otago.

The sheep brought by land from the other provinces during 1867 were all of the merino breed. Out of the number were about 5000 young ewes of a very fine description, and a small lot of fine rams from Messrs Julius Bros.

From the returns enclosed your Honor will perceive that the number returned as diseased is 30,500. I have lately visited the diseased stations in order that I might report with confidence as to their condition, and I think I may safely state that of the above number over 12,000 are clean, and that the disease in the remainder is rapidly disappearing, now that prompt attention is being given to the operation of dipping the whole. If fine weather would only set in, I have every reason to hope that in my next report I shall be able to declare the whole province clean. The only drawback to this desired end likely to arise is from infected sheep being allowed to stray on to clean runs, or stragglers on the present diseased stations not being strictly mustered. Great care is, however, being taken by the runholders in fencing and, otherwise, and the risk thereby much reduced.

I regret to have to report that the lambing this season is not so satisfactory as could be desired, falling short I fear of previous years. As far as I can obtain information, the average will not exceed sixty per cent: this is to be accounted for by the unusually severe weather during both winter and spring, which was not only bad for lambing, but also for the shearing, which is later this season than I have ever known it to be. The flocks, however, which appeared to have suffered most during the severe weather are now beginning to look well.

The large importation of superior stock is especially worthy of notice. Sheep and cattle of the highest class have been brought to this province, among which the most valuable are the long wool sheep of Sutton Bros., and the short-horned cattle imported by Messrs Holmes and Barnhill, of Castle Rock Station, G. M. Bell, Esq., of Waimea Plains, and Messrs Wentworth and Hill, Hokanuis. I do not think that any of the provinces can now surpass Southland in stock of a pure breed. It is a fact worthy of record that all the live stock shows held in the various provinces, the Southland exhibits took every prize for which they were entered, and this prize stock, when exhibited at the recent Exhibition of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, were excelled by others within this province. Several valuable stud entries of both breeds have also been added during the past year to the horse stock of the province.

The attention that is now being given by the settlers, both agricultural and pastoral, justifies the opinion that in a few years Southland will stand in the highest position as an agricultural and pastoral province. I have no hesitation in stating if the same enterprise that has characterised the past year, in the importation and breeding of stock of the very highest class, is continued, that at no distant period it will become noted for the superiority of its live stock.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

Henry G. Felder,
Chief Sheep Inspector, Southland.