flood waters from our property do not go into Lake Sadie and we have sufficient fall to carry it away. No drains could really have carried away the water that the settlers got here last year. We had about seven inches of rain in one night. Settlers brought this as drained land at £2 15s. per acre. I consider that the Government should give us sufficient money to drain it properly. Mr Tulloch is the engineer to whom I refer and he has already advised that it would take £200 at the least.

(The witness retired.)

THOMAS HENRY TONKIN, Farmer, Kwakkalup, sworn and examined:

11518. By the CHAIRMAN: I understood that you are the Secretary of the Lake Sadie No. 2 Drainage Board?—Yes

11519. How much has the Government spent in draining Lake Sadie?—I have only been here two years, and cannot say as the original drainage was put in before I came.

11520. Can you describe the scheme?—They cut a drain through Lake Sadie, and this has been very unsatisfactory. It was too shallow. They asked us to form a Drainage Board, and we did so. Then they advised that the Minister was prepared to repair the drains which would cost £100, after which it would be necessary for the Drainage Board to bear the cost of any further improvements. An engineer is now doing the work, and a week ago the head office asked him to submit an estimate of the cost for completing the drainage satisfactorily. I consider that is addition to the £100, a further £120 will complete this work. Two weeks ago we asked them to extend the grant by £50, and lend us a further £50. I have received no reply to this letter. Settlers have lost about £2,000 in the past two seasons. When we bought the land it was supposed to be drained, and without having any knowledge of drainage it looked to the settlers to be satisfactory. The drainage would not have been satisfactory with even normal rains. I have 210 acres, and I am leasing another 200 acres. I am paying the Government 25s. per acre for 95 acres of it. I have 130 acres homestead.

11521. How do you make a living?—By dairying. I have three horses, about 25 head of cattle young and old. Forty acres of my own land is fenced, and all of the leased land. I started with £100, when I came from England four years ago. I have been able to do without borrowing. To-day I have over £300 cash, besides improvements on the farm. Western Australia has served me very well. I came here with a wife and two children, and have been treated very well since. I have 13 cows in milk. We make butter, and send it to Albany. It pays better than sending cream to the factory. The bacon factory has not been of any use to me so far. I kill my own pigs, and sell them locally. I find the dairying pays me now, but it would not do so if I had to pay wages. I dairy all the year round. I buy a little feed and grow a lot. I grow maize, millet, oats, and a little wheat, and kale and cabbages. Japanese millet has been the best crop this year. I planted about three acres of potatoes, but they were lost in the floods.

11522-3. By the CHAIRMAN: Are there any other matters that you would like to bring under the notice of the Commission?—We consider that there should be a big drain from Nenamup Lake to Young's Siding.

11524. By Mr VENN: What fall would this give?—I do not know. It has been surveyed, and I believe that it is sufficient. Drainage is absolutely essential if progress is to be made in this district. I consider that more people should go in for dairying here. I could not have done without it. I have been dairying all my life, and consider that the district is a good one for this industry. I have only just commenced to get my herd together, and have kept no records so far as to yields.

(The witness retired.)

FREDERICK FOULDS THORNTON, Farmer, Young's Siding, sworn and examined:

11525. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been 11 years in the district. I have 160 acres. This is a homestead block. I have had varying experience in dairy farming in England. I do not consider I am however, and experienced man. The whole of my land is fenced, 16 acres cleared. I have a house, four cows, one calf, three pigs, one horse. I started with £25 capital, and I owe an Albany merchant £140. My living is derived from general farming, market gardening, dairying, and fruit growing.

11526. Can you make a satisfactory living?—Yes.

11527. To Mr VENN: I have no swamp land suitable for potatoes. I bought land for £109, and had to pay the Agricultural Bank £24, and the Lands Department £14 on it. If it had not been for two losses with potatoes, I would not be in debt now. I consider that dairying will be a profitable venture in this district as soon as settlers commence to grow the necessary crops for their stock. The people are relying too much on potato growing, and this accounts for most of the failures. There is not one-tenth of the stock in the district that there should be. People should be made to clear the land and stock it up. The results from dairying are more reliable. I have been told that clearing this high land is not payable, but in my opinion to clear the hill country would pay well for dairy cattle. The hills will grow practically anything if properly farmed. You can grow maize on the high land and millet on the low country, and Lucerne without irrigation. Clovers cannot be beaten. Cocksfoot and Paspalum will grow even on sandy hills if properly cultivated before sowing. The district wants drainage badly. Lime also is badly required.

11528. BY Mr VENN: Is there any lime in the district?—Yes, there is some at Bornholm in, I believe large quantities. The Government reported on this some time ago.

(The witness retired.)

JAMES HAMILTON, Fruit Grower, Tudor, sworn and examined:

11529. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been 20 years on the district. I was born on the land in Scotland. I have actually held land here for 16 years. I have 260 acres, one homestead block and the bal-