Rabbits

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Mr. S. Stephens, continued.

1228. In New South Wales they are taking steps?—Yes. They did some years ago take some steps, but they found that the parties they were sending out were merely receiving their pay from the Government and not destroying the rabbits. But, at the present time, I am told that the Government are spending no money except advancing to councils, et cetera.

1229. I suppose they are really at their wits' end to know what to do in regard to the rabbit question?—It has beaten them; no doubt it is a very serious question.

1230. By Hon. R. G. Burges: All over the country?—Yes; but the deputy will be here in a few days on the mails steamer, and possibly you might be able to see him.

(The witness retired.)


Mr. F. S. Brockman, examined

1231. By Mr. Richardson: You are Chief Inspecting Surveyor in the Lands Department?—Before you begin to question me, I might give you an idea of the information you are likely to be able to obtain from me by questioning, and this might save some time.

1232. We only propose to get one class of information. If you have anything you think would be a value after we have finished asking you questions, you may suggest it. What we chiefly want to know is whether, with your local knowledge of the country in and round about Esperance, you can tell us as to the rabbit invasion ; how far that extends to the East and West of that Point?— Personally, I have a knowledge of the country for about twenty miles to the Eastward of Esperance, and to Starvation Boat Harbour, on the other side, for a distance of about fifty miles from the coast. Then I know the country between Esperance and Lake Cowan, and I have been over a considerable area of the line.

1233. As far as Norseman?—As far as Norseman; a little to the North.

1234. You see the red line on the chart?—Yes.

1235. Do you consider that class of country presents any special difficulties or obstruction to a rabbit-proof fence?—I don not think so. I know this country personally, and Mr. Hogarth, of the Lands Department, has been all through the country prospecting, though he has never supplied any plans; and another surveyor (without any plan) is acquainted with the country round here. All our information points to the same conditions existing in parallel lines from the coast all the way.

1236. What is the general character of the country?—Roughly, from the coast there is about 50 miles consisting principally of sandy plains, with scattered stunted scrub.

1237. Not loose sand?—It is the ordinary sandy plain. It is loose sand immediately on the coast.

1238. By Mr. Loton : Is it subject to drift?—For not more than three miles back from the coast.

1239. By Hon. R. G. Burges : Has there not been a little trouble on the coast owing to the sand hills?—Immediately on the coast there is the drifting sands, but that is only in isolated spots.

1240. By Mr. Richardson : You think you could, by searching, hit on spots where the sand would hold together? Beyond 50 miles inland does the general character of the country alter much?—For 50 miles at least the country is principally dense mallee scrub; it is a large class of mallee, and, so far as I can gather, it appears to extend in a belt parallel to the coast for about 50 miles.

1241. It runs parallel with the coast ?—Practically so.

1242. How far East and West?—I could not tell you how far it runs in towards the railway line ; I only know, partly from my own knowledge and partly from information, that the conditions appear to be the same.

1243. Is there any great difficulty or expense in cutting a line through it for a line of fence?—No very great difficulty. In some places where there is cultivation the same class of mallee is rolled down. It is not big timber, but it is very dense.

1244. Is it timber suitable for fencing purposes ?—No.

1245. Not big enough ?—Not big enough.

1246. But beyond that there are timber belts out of which you could get fencing posts ?—There is plenty on the North side.

1247. How about water on the line of country ?—So far as my experiences goes, that is a very doubtful quantity.

1248. As to whether you get water at all?—As to whether you get water at all. In the neighbourhood of Bremer Ranges there are good rocky holes, and Hogarth had no difficulty in getting water prospecting, but this side of that it is different. I searched for water in connection with the Norseman goldfield, and found a number of good water holes, but I took these to be an exception. At that time I was there, there was evidence there had been a big thunderstorm, which had filled up the depressions.

1249. That leads us to another question. What about thunderstorms in that part of the country; do they occur frequently?—I was only there one year.

1250. What about the rainfall?—There is no rainfall that you can call good at all.