Mallee - Part 1
vi.
Missing Papers.—In connection with the report of Mr. O'Brien the Commission desires to make special reference to the fact that every effort was made to obtain Mr. Middleton's report, plans and supporting documents, but without success. A copy of the report alone was obtained from an outside source, and this Mr. O'Brien affirms to be substantially correct. Its value is detracted from by the absence of the plans prepared by Mr. Middleton. It is to be regretted that such important papers, forming a vital part of a report which, in its preparation, occupied many months and cost £1,260, should be so carelessly handled as to be now apparently lost.
THE MALLEE BELT AND ESPERANZA LANDS—AREA AND DESCRIPTION.
It is unnecessary to give here a detailed description of the land in the district, as such information is to be found in departmental reports attached hereto from surveyors who have from time to time examined and laid out the different sections of the district.
Mr. Surveyor Middleton having made the most recent and thorough survey of the country, his figures are quoted, viz.—
Acres.
Total area of land within 15 miles of proposed railway line from Esperanza to 80-Mile post .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,540,000*
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Comprised of Mallee lands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,028,000
Coastal sand-plain and agricultural areas .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 412,000
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Of the Mallee lands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,028,000
acres.
..
Estimated allowance for principal salt lakes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35,000
Principal sandplains .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22,000
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57,000
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Balance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 971,000
Deduct further 5 per cent. for small salt lakes over whole area .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 48,500
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Agricultural land worth from 15s. to 8s, per acre, average say 10s. per acre .. .. .. .. .. .. 922,500
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- (1,440,000 ?.)
In addition to the above survey, Mr. J. A. Hall, Government Surveyor, classified 844,600 acres East of Fraser Range road, made up as follows:—
1st class .. .. .. .. .. .. 326,700 acres.
2nd class .. .. .. .. .. .. 125,800 acres.
3rd class .. .. .. .. .. .. 392,100 acres.
For the purpose of his classification, Mr. Hall reckoned 1st class land as capable of producing over 12 bushels; 2nd class from eight to 12 bushels; 3rd class eight bushels or less per acre.
Messrs. Hewby and May reported on 1,872,000 acres, of which they considered 576,000 acres within reach of the surveyed railway line sufficiently good for wheat growing.
Another report is that of Mr. C. E. Watkins, which contains a good description of the country.
It should be borne in mind that there is in addition a large area of country lying to the west of the 15-Mile limit right through to Ravensthorpe, containing many patches of first-class land. In this regard special attention is drawn to Mr. Canning's evidence on page 71.
In the present Report the "Esperance lands" are taken to be those extending from Esperance to the 30-Mile and lying 15 miles each side of the railway survey. The "Mallee lands" are comprised of the area lying between the 30-Mile and 80-Mile posts, and 15 miles each side of the railway survey.
In connection with the Esperance lands, which cover 900 square miles, attention is directed to the evidence of Messrs. Irvine, Carter, Dunn, and other old-established settlers, which indicated that there is a large extent of unoccupied land suitable for mixed farming industries in various localities adjacent to Esperance.
The Commission whilst on this subject desired to point out that the land shown on Lands litho. "Sheet No. 1, Locations near Esperance," is suitable principally for grazing, and its subdivision for closer settlement at the present stage of the country's development is premature. The Commission considers it would be advisable to throw the land open in blocks of 1,000 acres under the usual conditions governing third-class country.
the report of the Commission on its visit to the district (vide Appendix No. 1) makes more detailed reference to holdings in both the Esperance and mallee areas.
SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS IN THE ESPERANCE MALLEE DISTRICT.
Date of Settlement.—Although one or two farms, such as those at Circle Valley and Grass Patch, are fairly old established, the majority of settlers in the mallee selected their land between 1910 and 1912.
Mr. Sutton's Scheme.—As the result of a conference between the Government and those interested in the district, Mr. G. L. Sutton, Commissioner for the Wheat Belt, visited the Esperance district in 1912, and subsequently submitted a scheme of development, which was adopted. Briefly, it pro-
