Mr.M.Ryan, continued.

1025. You have not heard that recently?—No. There are no travellers who come in that way except the old kangaroo hunters, who were there years ago.

1026. By Hon. R. G. Burgers: I suppose you have heard they have increased along the coast West of Eucla? —Yes, as far as the Sand Patch.

1027. There is a telegraph station there, is there not?—Yes.

1028. Have you heard of their being far West of that?—They have been seen at Balladonia, I believe.

1029. On the coast? —No; not on the coast.

1030. By Mr. D. Forrest: Have you heard of people carrying rabbits about?—I do not think they have any need to carry them about.

(The witness retired.)

Mr. Arthur Mason, examined.

1031. By the chairman : Are you in the government service now?—Not now.

1032. You were in the government service?—I was in the government service in 1898.

1033. Were you not in the government service in 1896?—I left the government service in 1898.

1034. You were in the government service from what date? —From about 1894 to 1898.

1035. You are a surveyor by profession?—Yes.

1036. In 1896 you were appointed by the then Commissioner of crown lands to undertake a trip, and to report on the invasion of rabbits in this State?—Yes.

1037. And you sent in a report to the Minister?—Yes.

1038. I see you were instructed, amongst other things, to make a careful description of the country?—Yes, that is true.

1039. And you started on this exploration, I believe, from Coolgardie?—I started really from Coolgardie ; Kurnalpi was the last station.

1040. Where did you hit into the coast then?—I hit in at Yayoudle, north of Eyre's Sand Patch—about twenty miles north of Eyre's Sand Patch, or fifteen or eighteen miles, I would not be sure.

1041. Then you went away to the north-East of a place called Boundary Dam?—But I did not quite get to the lakes just there.

1042. Then you made into Eucla?—Yes.

1043. Then from Eucla, which way did you go?—I went into south Australia.

1044. And up to the boundary?—Pretty close to the boundary, and again into my own tracks.

1045. Into Eucla again?—Into Eucla again.

1046. Where did you go then?—Then I went back along the coast.

1047 To Esperance?—To Eyre's sand patch and twilight cove, about 15 miles beyond.

1048. Then your business was finished?—It was finished, then I took the steamer and came home.

1049. You saw a very large sample of country?—Yes.

1050. Generally speaking, what was the class of country you passed through ?—I think I have described it on the map.

1051. But we want it in evidence?—Yes.

1052. I do not want any details; I want to know whether you came across a large area of pastoral country?—I consider the country equal to the Riverina country, and the best I have seen in Western Australia bar water. It is absolutely waterless.

1053. By Mr. Richardson: Where does the good country commence, and where does it end?—I think about 100 miles east Kurnalpi , roughly speaking. It is marked on the map.

1054. By the chairman : You saw millions of acres of good pastoral country? —I reckon you could run five million sheep there; there are about forty million acres of good land, judging by rough calculations of course.

1055. Did you see any rabbits on that trip?—I never saw any rabbits at all.

1056. Did you see any tracks of rabbits?—No. I saw no tracks of animal life at all.

1057. By Mr. Richardson : I but you saw rabbits at Eucla?—Yes, but that was afterwards : I am speaking of my trip through the country.

1058. By the chairman: I mean on the trip. You saw rabbits at Eucla?—Yes. I went out one morning at about eleven o'clock and returned to dinner, bringing in about thirteen rabbits. I saw about fifty.

1059. Where else did you see rabbits besides Eucla?— Just this side of Twilight cove.

1060. Did you see rabbits between Eucla and Twilight cove?—Odd ones; not many.