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and the chance of some stray infected Sheep coming out of the bush and mixing with the flocks is to be dreaded, and until the above mentioned period has expired there is danger of the scab again appearing.

According to instructions received from your Honor, I beg to report the following information regarding the per centage of lambs per one hundred (100) ewes, yield of wool, Sheep best adapted for the Province, and the capacity of the grass lands to carry Sheep per acre.

The average increase of lambs in this Province per one hundred (100) ewes, has been nine-five (95) per cent., the yield of wool per Sheep three and a-half pounds (3½ lbs.), and the breeds of Sheep best adapted for the soil and climate are the Leicester and Southdowns; the Leicester Sheep having the advantage over the Southdown in that their lambs are not so subject to diarrhoea as Southdowns, and in wet seasons that is a great point of advantage.

The grass lands in this Province carry three and a-half Sheep to the acre all the year round. The total numbers of Sheep in the Province to this date are nineteen thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine (19,739). I beg to draw your Honor’s attention to the necessity, ere long, of reserving quarantine grounds in several parts of the Province.

The disease called pleuro-pneumonia still exists in various districts, but by immediately separating the diseased animals from the healthy and by destroying and burying those badly infected, prevents its spreading; eight cases have occurred within the last six months. The pleuro confines itself to working bullocks.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

WM. HATELY,
Cattle, Sheep, and Brands Inspector, Taranaki.

To His Honor
The Superintendent,
Taranaki.

List of Sheep owners and number of Sheep in the Province of Taranaki, up to 31st December, 1866.

No. of Sheep.

Messrs. Atkinson .................. 2,400
Allan ............................ 50
Billing .......................... 54
Bishop ......................... 130
Bayly .......................... 360

Carried forward .................. 2,994

Brought forward .................. 2,994
Bayly .......................... 681
Billiald ....................... 77
Brown .......................... 360
Barridell ...................... 200
Berridge ....................... 380
Brighty ........................ 460
Bassett ........................ 41
Curtis ......................... 102
Clare .......................... 350
Cutfield ....................... 255
Collins ........................ 25
Dingle ......................... 670
Davy ........................... 108
Elliot ......................... 270
Everett ........................ 130
Free ........................... 108
Foreman ........................ 78
Gilbert ........................ 260
Greenway ....................... 100
George ......................... 1,200
Greaves ........................ 480
Geddes ......................... 40
Greenwood ...................... 300
Hoskin ......................... 500
Harrison ....................... 288
Honeyfield ..................... 100
Hawken ......................... 330
Honeyfield ..................... 350
Hoskin ......................... 290
Hoby ........................... 470
Harley ......................... 109
Hayes .......................... 870
Hamblyn, C. .................... 124
Hamblyn ........................ 320
Kingdon ........................ 79
Kelly .......................... 320
Long ........................... 509
Lepper ......................... 60
Mace ........................... 400
McKellar ....................... 1,130
Newsham ........................ 202
Oxenham ........................ 290
Priske ......................... 118
Pearce ......................... 255
Rowe ........................... 133
Snell .......................... 187
Steer .......................... 110
Smart .......................... 260
Street ......................... 298
Sutton ......................... 43
Skinner ........................ 300
Smith .......................... 160
Sampson ........................ 400
Shuttleworth ................... 350
Trim ........................... 97
Tate ........................... 700
Wright ......................... 189

19,739

WM. HATELY,
Cattle, Sheep, and Brands Inspector, Taranaki.