Stock.

The pastoral and agricultural lands provide grazing and fodder for a large number of sheep, cattle, horses, and other stock. Of late years the value of the plains has been much enhanced and the carrying-capacity thereof greatly increased by the water-race system, which supplies water throughout the length and breadth of the dry areas, and enables the country to be occupied in smaller holdings than would otherwise be possible.

The sheep in the Provincial District of Canterbury, in April, 1896, numbered 4,301,300. In November, 1896, there were 45,782 horses, 94,930 cattle, and 46,034 pigs.

The district has a well-deserved reputation for the classes and splendid quality of its sheep. On the mountains and higher lands the merino still predominates; page 66 but on the richer low-lying ranges, hills, and plains the prevailing types are crown between the merino and Leicester, Lincoln, Romney Marsh, and other breeds. Is proof of the superior character of the flocks, pasturage, and climatic conditions is the Middle Island, the following percentages of lambing returns are quoted—these are "fair average returns, but much higher might have been exhibited": Mountain native pasture—pure merino, 75.36; pure merino and Border Leicester, 88.94 English-grass pasture—crossbred and Border Leicester, 80.8; half-bred Border Leicester, 82.79; Border Leicester, 90.77; Lincoln, 88 08; Romney Marsh, 111.46; English Leicester, 93.34.; Shropshire, 97.41; Southdowns, 96.87. It must [unclear: bor] in mind that the flocks and herds are supported by the natural and artificial postures without housing.

Owing to the development of the frozen-meat trade a great impetus has been given to sheep-breeding. The bulk of the primest meat exported from the colony is supplied by this district, with Marlborough, and commands the highest price it the London markets. In the year 1896 the number of carcases frozen was 609,359 of the value of about £358,000, being over two-fifths of the total output of the colony in this line. Large quantities of preserved meat, tallow, bonedust, neatsfoot and trotter-oil, are also produced annually.

The total quantity of frozen meat exported from Canterbury during the year ended 31st March, 1897, was 484,103 cwt., valued at £566,075. At Belfast, Islington, and Timaru, freezing-works are established, each containing a complete plant for carrying on the industry, as well as departments for curing, preserving, boiling-down, fallow rendering, fellmongering, and the manufacture of manures. The Belfast Company have at their command steam-power equal to 500 horse-power, and employ about 220 men. They have storage for 26,000 sheep, and can put through 3,000 a day The Islington and Timaru works, which are owned by the Christchurch Meat Company, employ from 250 to 300 men. The former can put through 2,000 sheep and 1,000 pigs per diem, and have storage for 36,000 carcases. The latter can deal 1,000 sheep in a day. At Hornby there has recently been established by Messrs, Nelson Brothers (Limited) a well-equipped factory for freezing only, with engines of 300 horse-power, and a capacity of dealing with 1,000 sheep per diem. Than factory has storage room for 50,000 sheep.