I wrote about four years ago, I would point out that no fact or statement made in that report has been shaken by any talk or published matter up to date, so far as I can see. I have not watched the seasons closely in the Esperance district during the last four years , but I know enough to say they have not been good for wheat growing , not has any large area of Western Australia been blessed with good seasons during the same period. I am part owner of a farm in the Victoria district , which is admittedly the best wheat-growing country in the State. For three years the rains were erratic either not enough or too much, and generally the whole State suffered in the same way. If there is anything wrong with the Esperance district , I am convinved it is not in the want of rain— that is , taking the seasons over a long period. The soils are described in detail in my report. Generally they consist of light loam overlying loamy clay. Too much has been heard of the salt question. I think it would be easy to prove there is more salt in the Northam , Victoria or Southern districts than in the Esperance country. 1054. By Mr. PADBURY: Are you aware that the samples taken from low-lying ground and near swamps were included ?— I only know of two. I was not there all the time the sampling was going on. I know there were two that should not have gone in the average. They were taken , I suppose , for curiosity or education. I was not aware that Mr.Middleton was taking anything but a fair average. I went round for three weeks with him afterwards. I did not go to every hole he made; i was looking for bigger things than that. He may have got , unknown toi me , samples in visible salt patches. 1055. We were told by one of the settlers that they were asked to take the samples from the low lying ground on which corn had been growing , and those appeared to us to be salty patches? — That was not right through the sampling. That was in July , when I was getting check samples. 1056. Were those analysis included with the others on which Mr.Mann reported? — No , they came afterwards . They came in the bunch from other district. ( The witness retired) _________________________

JOHN WAUGH PATERSON,further examined: 1057. By the CHAIRMAN : have you read the official report of the evidence given by Mr. Mann ?— yes. 1058. Do you agree with the statement that the 05 per cent standard for common salt is used in the other States of Australia ? — No. In Victoria there is no such standard ; in new South Wales, Mr. Guthrie , chemist to the Agricultural Department, stated that mots farm crops will stand as muh as from 1 to 2 percent of common salt in the soil , but if this amount is exceeded crops are likely to be affected. I have no information about the other States. 1059. When did you froward samples for analysis to the Government laboratory ? — On the 15th November last. 1060. Di you state where the samples had been taken from ? — No. It had no bearing upon the work of analysis , and was not asked for. 1061. Does Mr. Mann say that 05 per cent of common salt would render the soil useless? — No , although he may be understood in that sense. There has been a good deal of discussion about the 05 standard . He says it indicate only that salt might be in dangerous quantity , and admits that soul samples taken from growing crops and alongside