difficulty whatever.. The approach to Esperance is very good. The Figure Eight Island is the first to be met on approaching the harbour. The Causeway is eight miles across, and the narrowest part of it is 4½ miles wide.

513. Is it at all dangerous as a harbour?—I think it is a perfectly safe harbour. I personally follow my own course when approaching Esperance and do not use the Causeway, but one must have local knowledge to go along the course that I follow. The chart of Esperance Bay is correct, and all oceangoing boats would go in through the Causeway.

514. Are there any repairs required at the jetty to make it answer the purpose for some time to come?—it only requires a little strengthening here and there.

515. BY Mr McDONALD: Do you consider that the existing jetty is capable of carrying the traffic for several years to come?—Yes, it is very sound.

516. By the CHAIRMAN: I have heard it stated that it would not be possible to take a locomotive engine over that jetty?—Not a very heavy engine. The jetty was never constructed to carry one of that type. It is only a two-pile jetty. it will, however, carry the ordinary locomotive like the type used at Busselton and Bunbury before the jetties there were strengthened. At Hopetoun big engines are used, but the jetty there was strengthened.

517. By Mr McDONALD: Do you consider it a good harbour from the Admiralty point of view?—Yes, there is plenty of room there. There is good anchorage all over the bay. Of course in exceptional weather even at a harbour like Albany, which is landlocked, shipping will move from the jetty.

518. Would you consider it a better naval harbour than Albany?—Oh no. Albany harbour is unique. It has limestone hills around it as high as 500 feet. It is one of the best natural harbours in Australia.

(The witness retired.)

the Commission adjourned.