10. Salt.—Some of the lakes have a good deposit of clear salt several inches deep where tons can be obtained.

11. Clay.—The clay underlying loam has been tested to a depth of nine feet to 15 feet, and found to be retentive and good holding ground for water conservation and free from salt in the places tested. The trial holes were on the higher land over 15 feet above the datum level of the salt lakes. Clay containing lime, that breaks out in large lumps in trenching when exposed to the change of the weather for some months, was found to generally break up into small friable particles.

12. Timber.—The timber consists principally of mallee, ti-tree, with morrell—manutea—broome bush, and various shrubs. The growth is in places too dense to get a horse through, it is usually under 12 feet high, but patches are from 30 feet to 50 feet high, and up to eighteen inches in diameter, consisting of salmon gum, morrell, big mallee, and black ti-tree.

13. Poison.—Very little poison was met with, as is usually associated with a few granite floaters and a little ironstone.

14. Grass.—Natural grasses were found on land that had been cleared and cultivated, also on land where the timber had been recently burnt or cleared.

15. Rainfall.—The rainfall at Grass Patch, 46 miles from Esperance is 15 inches, and at Swan Lagoon, a few miles southerly, 16 inches, and at 30-mile 19 inches.

16. Water Conservation.—Water can readily be conserved in excavated tanks, the clay being deep and very suitable for the purpose (see clay).

17. Clearing and Ploughing.—Parts of this land can be cleared and ploughed from 20s. to 35s. an acre. The whole of the country to westerly from railway survey can be cleared and ploughed at an average price of 25s. per acre. It is necessary to plough to thoroughly clear the land of mallee roots. The clearing and ploughing easterly from the railway survey would probably cost a little more acre, as more tall timber is met, but the lakes occur and require no clearing, but the tussock flats will be probably be ploughed.

18. Area Inspected.—The total area inspected from 28-mile to 65-mile, and easterly and westerly from 40 to 50 miles, wold be about one million acres (1,000,000); of this area nine hundred and eighty thousand (980,000) acres is suitable for cereals, and with approved methods of cultivation should give a yield of 20 bushels per acre. I measured one acre grown on new ground without manure this year, which gave a yield of 24 bushels per acre. About 20,000 acres would consist of salt lakes, flats, samphire, and tussock flats, sandy ridges, and plains which would not yield a similar return, but parts would probably be cultivated and used for grazing purposes.

19. Litho.—On litho, herewith the area inspected is coloured green.

20. Conclusion.—This large area of splendid agricultural country of uniform quality with a good loam and clay of subsoil, containing lime, is eminently suited for cereals. It has a reliable rainfall, an exceptionally favourable climate, in close proximity to a surveyed line of railway, within easy distance from a good harbour with shipping facilities, and capable of supporting a large and prosperous community, and establishing a profitable and large export trade.

C. E. WATKINS,

Government Surveyor.

30th December, 1910.