growth of cereals, and they have assumed that salt is the principal detrimental matter, but you say there was nothing noticeable in the form of salt?▬Nothing to interfere with the growth of cereals.

836. You know nothing of the wet of that country?▬No, I was called away.

837. What year was it you made this classification?▬From June to December, 1913.

838. Was there any other surveyor in the district when you were there?▬Mr White was there camped near the wool shed, and Mr Brown's camp was also there, but he was not there himself.

839. By Mr PADBURY: How far is this country you were surveying away from the railway survey line?▬It starts about 14 miles from it ad runs to the East. I was not within range of the proposed railway.

840. What proportion of first class land was in that country you surveyed?▬There is a big range from Mt Ney to Mt Heywood, and beyond that it was not a fair classification because I had to run a standard traverse. The proportion therefore is not an honest one.

841. There is a good deal of first class land there?▬It is nice open mallee, and you will get as much as 10,000 acres of it in a block.

842. How far would that be from the coast?▬About 30 or 35 miles.

843. What would the rainfall be?▬Ample.

844. It is large mallee about there?▬It is small. When you are riding through it on horseback it is just a few inches above your head.

845. Are there good catchments for dams?▬There are good water holes in that country, and there is a good clay subsoil.

846. By the CHAIRMAN: You stated in your report that you classified 844,600 acres, of which 326,700 were first class, 125,000 second class, and 392,000 third class land?▬If I had run my line ten miles further north the proportion of first class land would have been greater. When I got to Mt Ragged I knocked off the classification. I just rode over it to show the features.

847. It evidently occurred to you that there was a large area of country that was suitable for growing wheat?▬That is so.

848. Have you any other general knowledge of the sandplain or land near Esperance?▬I noticed some land near Orleans Bay apparently sandplain, but which was good red soil. It struck me as being good, although I made no report on it.

849. Where is Kau Rock?▬Half way between Wittenoom Range and Mt Ney.

850. There are a good many granite outcrops?▬Yes, flat rocks with gnamma holes.

851. How long were you classifying this country?▬Nearly six months.

852. You say that West of Mt Ragged there is an area of good land, but you do not consider it suitable for cultivation?▬That is getting near Israelite Bay. There is very big mallee there. Good rains fall there, but it seems to soak right away. It is just like the morel country in the Eastern districts.

853. How far are the Wittenoom Hills east of the proposed railway line?▬About 17 miles.

854. What sort of country is it there?▬It is just breaking into good country. There are a lot of salt lakes there, perhaps a chain wide and five miles long.

855. Did you notice much poison through the country?▬I saw some sort of narrow-leaf box. That is mostly in the poorer country. In the big stretches of good country there does not seem to be any poison at all.

856. Did you try any places for water in the sandplain country?▬We went for gnamma holes, and we cleaned those out. They kept us going.

857. It looks as if Mr Middleton was the only surveyor who made a thorough classification of the mallee land?▬Mr Middleton did the extensive classification before survey. I understand he is in camp now.

(The witness retired.)

DOUGLAS COVENTRY WHITE, Licensed Surveyor, sworn and examined:

858. By the CHAIRMAN: You have made a good many surveys in the Esperance district?▬Only in the immediate vicinity of Esperance.

859. The cutting up of agricultural areas?▬The cutting up of sandplain country.

860. Tell us what you subdivided?▬A portion of Dempster's estate within five miles of Esperance. I have also done some scattered work.

861. What was the class of country you cut up?▬Third class.

862. Did you do any survey in the mallee?▬I think about two blocks.

863. Did you travel through any extent of mallee country?▬A fair amount. As there was no Government officer I undertook to inspect for conditions, and I must have travelled over between 100,000 and 150,000 acres.

864. Where was that about?▬From the 30-Mile right through the belt, through the salmon gum country, and east and west through the belt for some distance.

865. Did you write a report on it?▬Yes, there is a report of mine. The last report was placed before Parliament.

866. Did you consider the land you inspected suitable for wheat growing?▬I have only my own opinion about it. I have no practical experience. I have been pretty well over the State except the North-West, and comparing the Esperance land with other mallee belts I should think it is infinitely superior.

867. You have some knowledge of the rainfall?▬I understand it is from 14 to 16 inches, but I was not there long enough to judge for myself.

868. Have you any knowledge of the mallee country in the other States?▬No.

869. Have you done any surveying in the mallee country?▬No. When I was making this inspection I had many conversations with a number of settlers who I understood came from South Australia and Victoria, apparently practical men. They said they could not make a comparison between the two lots of land. They were quite satisfied with the Esperance land, and the only thing they had to complain about were the disabilities under which they were living.

870. Did you see anything of Mr Middleton when you were in the mallee?▬He was not there.

871. He is supposed to have classified the country from Mt Ridley westward?▬I believe some years ago.