Mr J. W. White,

continued.

or both, as thought fit. I would make it very strict, Twelve months' imprisonment, if necessary. You find, going along Government roads, it is very seldom people leave a gate open for you. A great number of diggers have gone through from Esperance, and through they may have to go through a dozen gates, they never know a place where a gate was left open.

782. HON. R. G. BURGESS: The experience is that they often cut through fences. (The witness retired.)

Mr William John Begley, examined.

783. By the Chairman: You are a police constable?—I am a mounted constable, stationed at Albany.

784. And where were you before you were stationed at Albany?—In Perth.

785. You were stationed at Eucla at one time, were you not?—No, sir; I received instructions from Sub-Inspector Connell to proceed to Eucla to make inquiries.

786. That is from Albany?—Yes.

787. When was that?—I was in Eucla from 20th November to 4th December, 1900.

788. Where did you land?—At Eucla.

789. What was your course?—I travelled 255 mile in the time I was there.

790. Just point out on the chart the course you travelled?—I landed at Eucla and travelled to Madura Station, 120 miles.

791. You did not come further West that Madura Station?—No.

792. Did you go back on your tracks?—I returned and travelled about fifteen miles up the country.

793. Further to the North or to the South of your original line?—I went forty miles along the old telegraph line, and then I took a North-Westerly direction into the Hampton Range or tableland.

794. You went back a bit?—I went fifteen miles out of my road to visit a settler.

795. For what purpose were you sent to Eucla?—To make inquiries on different things, and also to make inquiries as the incursion of rabbits in that district.

796. Was it good pastoral country you went over?—Fairly good, from what I could see of it. There was very good kangaroo grass pretty well up to my stirrups, and there was blue grass and salt bush in abundance.

797. You understand a bit about pastoral country?—Yes ; I was brought up in the Western District of Victoria.

798. And would you call this good country?—Fairly good pastoral country at that time of year.

799. Did you hear of rabbits being in the district?—Yes; I made inquiries from settlers, and also made search.

800. Did you yourself see rabbits or their definite traces along the route you took going and coming?—Yes, they were there, very numerous.

801. Over this country you travelled?—Between Eucla and Madura Station.

802. And also on your homeward trip?—Yes, I have opened a burrow and found as many as eight, and have also shot them from horse-back at about 10 chains from the road; they are not quite so numerous close to the track.

803. By Mr Loton : You saw them daily?—I saw them daily.

804. By the Chairman : you saw them hourly?—Yes.

805. From what you could gather from the settlers in those parts, do you think the rabbits are increasing there?—Yes, I obtained information from settlers that during the last six months the rabbits had increased to an enormous extent in the district ; they say they are nearly infested with rabbits.

806. Do they consider those rabbits are being bred there, or are migrating from some other part of Australia?—A large majority of the rabbits have crossed the border, but at the same time there has been a very large number bred in the district.

807. When you were in the Western district of Victoria, were the rabbits a trouble there?—Yes ; that was about seven years ago.

808. From your knowledge of rabbits do you know anything that will lead you to suppose that they will not prosper in this State?—I see nothing to prevent them spreading all over the State at the present time if steps are not taken.

809. Are the settlers frightened about the invasion of rabbits in the Eucla district?—Yes, they are very anxious, and say that if something is not done the country will be useless to them.

810. Did you hear the settlers there had mad representation to the authorities of this country before ; for instance, were they complaining that the representations they made to the authorities had been taken no notice of ?—Yes; they were.