did not put that in the report, because it would have meant a lot of detail in which people would get lost. I had some notes of it in my pocket book. The reason why the wheat grew in such soil was because of the amount of moisture contained in it.

732. It appears from Mr. Mann's report that the samples were taken as though they were a fair average of the whole of the cultivable land ?—I think it could be put in that way. I believe we ran on quite safe lines.

733. By the CHAIRMAN : Is there any other matter you have to place before the Commission ?—I have nothing to regret in what I said in my report, and am still of the same opinion. I have not heard of anyone disproving anything I have said, and until they do so, I am not going to feel at all upset. I take no notice of opinions or hot air talk, or of party politics. We have tried to get data and information and not opinions. That is what I was paid to do. During the last few years the seasons have been upset everywhere, but I do not take much notice of that. In my report I do not call the country first class, but say that there is a large area containing fairly good soil, and that it ought to go 15 bushels to the acre properly farmed.

(The witness retired.

ALFRED WEMAN CANNING, District Surveyor, sworn and examined:

734. By the CHAIRMAN : Over what period does your surveying experience extend ?— It extends over 30 years. I was down in the Esperance district including Norseman and Ravensthorpe for three years between 1896 and 1899.

735. You made a number of surveys in the Esperance district ?—Yes.

736. Including the traverse of rivers and the Fraser's Range track ?—Yes, and out as far as Simond's Well.

737. Did you report on the country ?—I reported generally. I sent in plans and a general report at different times.

738. Can you give an opinion as to the suitability of the country for cereal growing ?—At the time it struck me as being a very fair average mallee belt, and I thought fairly productive land. The only doubtful point in my mind at the time was whether the rainfall would come in the right time of the year. The rainfall was quite sufficient and the soil seemed to me to be good enough, but the rainfall is rather erratic when one gets away from the coast. There was an English company working at Grass Patch. I surveyed their blocks. They had crops each season while I was there and I saw them on two or three occasions. Sometimes they were very good and other times they seemed to miss the rain, although during the whole season there was a sufficient rainfall. The rain did not fall during the wheat growing months. I did not recognise salt as a deterrent to wheat growing down there at the time I was in the district. I knew there were many salt lakes, but thought there was not too much salt in the soil to warrant it being absolutely a deterrent to wheat growing. I thought that wheat could be grown successfully there if the settlers had the facilities. The road from Esperance is extremely bad, and there is no possibility of anyone making a success of farming without proper facilities of transport. This English company used to send their produce to Norseman. At the time there was a good market on the goldfields. I remember one season in particular when the crop was very even and good. The next season it was not so good and the manager, Mr. Gollan, complained very much about the rain not coming at the proper time. The crop was a partial failure. I do not know whether he farmed under very up-to-date methods. Probably some of the crop was rushed in.

739. You surveyed their blocks ?—Yes.

740. It is your opinion that the blocks were much better than the rest of the mallee ?—I do not think so. Two of the three blocks I surveyed were very good, but the other was not quite up to the average. Two of the blocks were a little better than the average. Generally speaking the mallee belt on the western side of the line is better. I have driven practically all through the mallee belt. There is some very fair mallee country by Mt. Ridley, but it is in small patches. There is good country outside the mallee belt, but the rainfall is somewhat doubtful. One gets into salmon gum country there, with a few patches of gimlet.

741. There is quite a number of surveyors' reports on the mallee ?—Yes, a good number of small reports. Mr. Brown was down some time surveying, and he seemed to have a very fair opinion of the mallee, especially that to the west of the line out towards Scaddan, and running west from there right up past Grass Patch. It appeared to me to be better than the average, pretty good soil, and if it were properly cultivated good results might be obtained. I do not think ther eis so much salt as in the East.

742. Mr. Middleton made an extensive classification ?—Yes, I have seen his classification.

743. We have not been able to get hold of his plans ?—The Surveyor General brought up a copy of his plans.

744. He had a table od samples which had been taken ?—I have not seen that.

745. We have not been able to get hold of it; it has disappeared from all official sources ?—I never really saw his report. I asked for a copy of it, that is, his report generally dealing with the analyses of the soil, but I saw his report on the country. He was employed under Mr. O'Brien at that time, and I think his report went in to Mr. O'Brien.

746. Evidently Mr. O'Brien handed his papers to the Minister ?—We did not get it in our office ; I wanted it to compare with the reports we had obtained from our surveyors. Mr. White and Mr. Brown also made general reports, and I added something to it.

747. What would be the nature, the general run, of the reports of the surveyors on that district ?—Generally speaking, fairly optimistic, and that the country was suitable for wheat growing.

748. Have you any knowledge of mallee country in the other States ?—In Victoria a little, but not in South Australia.

749. By Mr. PADBURY : What part of Victoria ?—The Wimmera. I have seen a good deal of that, and I have known people interested in it.

750. By the CHAIRMAN : I understand you made a traverse of the whole of the rivers in the Esperance district ?—Yes.