payments to be made. Then I have 200 acres of freehold, blocks 10, 12, 14, 16, and 27. I took up the land in 1898 and have lived on it since 1900. Before coming here I was at Grass Patch for four years. I cut the first crop (200 acres) at Grass Patch 20 years ago. It only went 5cwt. or 6cwt. No fertiliser was used. The crop was put in when the ground was very rough and it was a very dry season. The crop was merely ploughed in late in July. The other crops I saw harvested at Grass Patch were very good, especially those on fallow. In the third year we used a lot of fertiliser and got the best crop. Dealing with one crop in the horse paddock and the sheaf carrier was too heavy for the horses and I had to throw it off. The crop was all cut for hay and disposed of the teamsters on the road. It brought from £8 10s. to £13 per ton. Meadows, at Swan Lagoon, was agent for Mr. Gollan. I remember Meadows putting in a crop at Swan Lagoon which he cut with a bread knife. It covered an area of a couple of acres and was a very heavy crop. From Grass Patch I came to Myrup where I have been farming ever since, growing crops every year. With good working and fertiliser I have had an average of 15cwt. taken all round. I have sown but very little without fertiliser. The result is not good enough for hay. I have an orchard of half an acre of mixed trees and vines growing well, apples and pears particularly. Peaches do not do so well. I have 93 acres under crop. It was put in late and so is not as good as in other seasons. I sowed 140lbs. of super. It pays to sow 2cwt. I sow 45lbs. of Yandilla King, but a bushel of certain others. My present crop is not as forward as usual. In other seasons I have cut as early as 5th November. This year it will be December. I cannot estimate what it will cut. I started sowing later than usual and the rain came on and delayed us for three weeks or more. I have always cut my crop for hay. I used to grow a considerable quantity of root crops when I had 50 pigs on the farm, but of late years I do not grow so much. I used to get 11d. per lb. for the meat here for Norseman, but since the railway came that market has depreciated. I have 240 sheep on my 548 acres of land, and 14 head of horses, with three head of cattle; they all do well. There is plenty of grass, and I grow an acre of lucerne in addition for the horses. I water this by the furrow system of irrigation. I have plenty of fresh water. There are but few rabbits in my locality, but the dingoes are fairly bad. I have to yard the sheep every night. There is in my locality plenty of unoccupied land similar to my own. Last year I grew 70 tons of hay. Most of it I sold locally and the rest I fed to my stock. I got £5 per ton for what I sold. I am 10 miles from the township over a heavy sandy road, on which 32cwt. constitutes a fair load for four horses in a dray. I have had assistance from the Agricultural Bank to the extent of £100. This was 13 years ago. I have repaid £80. I have all the machinery necessary to work a small farm. I could grow a lot more stuff if I had a market for it. Given a railway I would take up more land and work it.

368. By Mr. PADBURY: What does super, cost you per ton in Esperance?—Bought direct, £6 3s. 9d. during the last two years. Bought locally it is £7 10s. Half my ground is fallowed for crop. I generally plough from four and a half to five inches and work it up with a cultivator. This is better on the clay, but I think the sand is as well left alone and simply harrowed. We have to plough up the lucerne and re-sow every third year. Couch has got into part of it. One year I cut the lucerne eight times, but six would be a fair average. My neighbour has better lucerne than mine. I tried dairying. It has been the cows that kept me on the land. It paid very well, but we had a fatal accident and have since dropped it. I started with 11 sheep and for the most part I have bred what I have to-day. Most of the poison that was on my land has been eradicated. My paddocks are sheep proof, and some are netted. I started with Shropshires, but have gone in for Border Leicesters. I am getting 10d. per lb. for mutton at present. I killed a two-tooth a couple of days ago of 42lbs., but they average about 60lbs. I have killed a full-mouth wether at 100lbs.

369. By Mr. McDONALD: Did you say you were farming in South Australia?—Yes. I was starved out from Quorn. I have never been in the Pineroo district. Quorn is a big mallee. I do not know the Murray Flats. I have been on Yorke's Peninsula. I have seen mallee in this district similar to that on the Peninsula. It is quite possible to farm successfully here on the mallee, but not without a railway. I do not know of any samples of my land having been taken for analysis. If we have any salt in the locality it has not been detrimental to agricultura.

370. By the CHAIRMAN: Did you have any money when you started farming here?—I had two horses, a spring dray, two harrows, a single-furrow plough, a pig, and £8. In point of lambing, I have had 101 per cent. for the last two years.

(The witness retired.)

JOHN REID, aged 52, Farmer, Myrup, married, 4 sons and 3 daughters—ages 6 to 25—sworn and examined:

371. By the CHAIRMAN: What land do you hold in this district?—I have 478 acres of C.P., including a homestead, locations 11, 13, 15, 17, 29, and 30. I came here in 1911 and remained 16 months, then I was away for 16 months and I have been back for over 12 months. I applied for the land in 1910 when the boom was on. The conditions started only last year. The boys had that land before me. The homestead started in 1912. I have over 30 acres cleared and in crop. It is growing well. About nine acres is ready for cutting now. It is Firbank Early wheat. I used 112lbs. of super. hand sown and a bushel of seed. I top dressed eight acres with a bag and a half and it looks better than the rest. I have a four-roomed house in frame with two rooms finished. I have had assistance to the extent of £35 from the Agricultural Department and I have a loan of £200 from the Agricultural Bank. The cultivation is fenced with two barbs and the boundary fence between Carter and myself is up. I had previous experience in farming in Scotland and in Queensland. I have been in Western Australia since 1901. Before I went on the land I was occupied in carpentering and mining. I have taken up this land with a view of making a home for myself. I have a cow and a steer, three pigs, and one mare.

372. By Mr. PADBURY: How far is your land from the railway survey?—About nine miles. I think