Trade of Australasia. 



463 



the other colonies of the mainland. New Zealand ranks next 

 to New South Wales as an exporter of wool, her cargoes in 

 the three years mentioned above having amounted, on the 

 average, to the sum of ^4,000,000 per annum, this being the 

 estimated value of the fleeces exported out of an annual clip 

 obtained from a sheep stock of 20 million head. In New Zealand 

 the merino has been displaced to a large extent by cross- 

 breds, which are now the most numerous breed in the colony. 

 This change was mainly brought about by the inauguration 

 of the trade in frozen mutton. Formerly the fleece was the 

 main consideration of the flock-master, the carcase being ot 

 little value except for boiling down for tallow ; but in order 

 to meet the rapid growth of the demand for frozen mutton, a 

 heavier type of sheep was required, and thus a great impetus 

 was given to cross-breeding from long-woolled rams — 

 Lincolns and Leicesters — with merino ewes, while Down 

 breeds and Down crosses have also been encouraged owing 

 to their value in producing early lamb and mutton for 

 freezing. New Zealand cross-bred wools find a ready sale, 

 and their reputation is established in the markets of the 

 United Kingdom and other countries. Queensland is 

 credited with practically the same number of sheep as New 

 Zealand, but she does not participate so largely as the latter 

 colony in the export trade in wool. The annual value ot 

 her direct shipments of this staple is estimated at about 

 ;£ 1,7 50,000, but her indirect exports through neighbouring 

 colonies, mainly through New South Wales, amount to another 

 million sterling yearly. The flocks of Victoria number 13 

 million head, and those of South Australia 6 millions. Wool 

 figures in the outward trade accounts of Victoria to a much 

 greater extent than is warranted by the production of 

 fleeces in the colony, but this is due, as has already been 

 stated, to the fact that the article is imported in considerable 

 quantities from New South Wales for re-exportation. The 

 total value of the cargoes of wool despatched from 

 Victoria is estimated at about ;£ 4,000,000 yearly, while those 

 shipped from South Australia are valued at about a fourth of 

 that sum. The capabilities of Western Australia as a sheep- 

 breeding colony are not yet fully known, but it is believed 



