7 6 



and which did not require the land to be fenced within three years. 

 The result was that nothing has been done for the improvement of 

 many of these holdings, but they cannot be forfeited until the ex- 

 piration of 21 years from the date the lease was granted. It has 

 also been found that some of the leaseholds comprise choice agri- 

 cultural land ; notwithstanding that, it will be seen from the wording 

 of the clause setting out that the blocks shall be made safe for the 

 carrying of stock, the intention of Parliament was to limit the opera- 

 tion of the law r to pastoral country. 



The question of water supply, which is regarded as a most im- 

 portant one in facilitating the settlement of that part of the colony, 

 has been receiving attention on the part of the roads board of the 

 district. While it is recognised that when ringbarking has done 

 its work and the forests have been killed there will be plenty of 

 water on the Meckering area, the need of making immediate 

 provision is of the first importance. The board has made over- 

 tures to the Commissioner of Crow r n Lands to resume four wells 

 belonging to private owners, with a view to prevent stock being 

 short of w T ater in a dry season. These supplies w r ere obtained 

 before it became the rule of the Lands department to retain 

 permanent supplies of w r ater for the use of the public. The large 

 increase of the population of the neighborhood is urged as a strong 

 reason for the nationalisation of all the available water. The pur- 

 chase of the \vells would be only one step in advance of the action 

 taken by the Government some years ago, when a water conserva- 

 tion board was formed on the Meckering area. The demand for 

 water is all the greater, inasmuch as the soil is especially adapted 

 for summe^ cultivation, w r hich is necessary in order to get the seed 

 germinated by the first rains. The water supply for the horses in 

 ploughing alone is likely to make a great drain upon the slender 

 resources of the settlers during the most trying time of the year. 

 The best means of meeting the demand is under the earnest con- 

 sideration of the Government, fully cognisant as it is of the fact 

 that a bountiful water service will greatly facilitate the progress of 

 settlement from Meckering to Bainding. 



The Goomalling agricultural area, to the westward of Northam, 

 is confidently expected to become a great farming centre, particu- 

 larly as it is contemplated to make a railway in that direction. On 

 tln^ subject the views which Sir John Forrest expressed in the 

 Legislative Assembly on the 27th August, 1896, when (as Colonial 

 Treasurer) making his financial statement, carry the greatest 

 weight, for perhaps no one has such a familiar knowledge of all 

 parts of Western Australia as the Premier, who has been one of the 

 most dauntless, indefatigable, and far-reaching of her explorers. 

 Sir John Forrest said : " We propose also to make a railway 

 survey from Xortham to Quelqnelling. I am able to say, from 

 personal knowledge, that there is no place in the colony where an 

 agricultural railway would be likely to pay better. From Northam 



