.jpg)
The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 66
Pastoral Pursuits
Pastoral Pursuits.
and the production of a superior class of wool, caused the attention of the first settlers to be much given to pastoral pursuits, so that at a very early date all grass lands were taken up as sheep or cattle runs. The success attending the pursuit enabled the runholders to a large extent to purchase the freehold of their runs, or the best portions of them; and by improvements in fencing and sowing with English grasses, which thrive remarkably well in the colony, the bearing capabilities of the land were increased many-fold. While in the North Island there are considerable tracts of grazing ground with natural herbage, a large extent of the country consists of hill land of varying quality, covered with forest, or bush, as it is called in the colony. This land, after the bush has been cut down and set fire to, if grass seed be sown upon the ashes, is converted in a few weeks into good grazing land. Much forest has already been destroyed in this manner, and the land supports large flocks and herds; and the same system will doubtless be extensively followed, as a large portion of country that would be so used is not available for agricultural pursuits. In the South Island the bush is chiefly confined to the western slopes of the dividing range; the open hills, plains, and downs to the east of the range being available for grazing purposes. The extent to which pastoral pursuits have been followed may be estimated by the quantity of stock in the colony in 1881 (when the census was last taken). The numbers of the undermentioned kinds were as follows :—
| Horses | 161,736 |
| Cattle | 698,637 |
| Sheep | 14,056,266* |
These numbers do not include the animals in the possession of aboriginal natives, no estimate of which can be given; while, however, possessing a considerable number of horses, they own but small numbers of sheep and cattle.
| lb. | |
|---|---|
| 1873 | 42,233,470 |
| 1874 | 47,424,882 |
| 1875 | 49,942,148 |
| 1876 | 55,975,177 |
| 1877 | 56,520,278 |
| 1878 | 62,166,251 |
| 1879 | 62,643,497 |
| 1880 | 62,586,189 |
| 1881 | 60,477,151 |
| 1882 | 65,356,867 |
| 1883 | 68,149,430 |
| 1884 | 81,139,028 |
While much of the country is only suited for sheep, a considerable portion is well adapted for the grazing of cattle. Much attention has been paid to, and capital expended on, the improvement of the various kinds of domestic animals; and some of the sheep and cattle fattened on grasses only may well bear comparison with the animals fattened on artificial food for the English markets.
The horses in the colony vary much in quality: for some years they realized such low prices that but little attention was paid to the breeding of good saddle-horses, and, as the Maoris possess large numbers of mares (not included in the census numbers), and breed from them without much regard to the improvement of stock, there has been a large increase in the number of small weedy animals. Where care has been taken excellent results have been obtained. As both draught-horses and thoroughbreds of the best strains of blood have been imported, first-class animals of either sort are obtainable, and always command a good value.
The various large agricultural shows periodically held in different parts of the colony, and heartily supported by farmers, stockowners, and the general public, have done much to encourage the good breeding of horses and cattle, and all other kinds of stock.
* As returned by the Stock Branch of the Colonial Secretary's Department, on 31 May, 1884.