8 9 



district is granite, " covered in parts by concretionary ironstone, 

 sand plains, and clay flats." The deputy surveyor-general estimated 

 there were about half a million acres of good agricultural land 

 along the route as being available for occupation, in addition 

 to 158,000 acres of similar land that had been parted with 

 by the Crown. The Surveyor-General adds : " I consider the 

 block as a whole quantity of about three and a half million acres, 

 now let for pastoral purposes, may compare favorably with any like 

 quantity taken in a similar way in one block anywhere else in the 

 central district of this colony." The survey party found that the 

 country passed through presented no engineering difficulties of 

 magnitude. The rivers and streams crossed are so near their source 

 thai bridges are small and far between. With the easiest of grades 

 the line rises from 700 feet at Beverley to its greatest altitude, 1,277 

 feet, 75 miles south of York. It then alternates between 989 feet 

 at Arthur river, to 1,250 feet at Yowangup, then down a gradual 

 decline to 815 feet at Kenclinup to the sea level at King George's 

 Sound. Jarrah forests were found in the Darling range and 

 abutting on the Gordon plains, southward of the Gordon river, and 

 elsewhere to the westward. 



The report which Sir John Forrest made 16 years ago as the 

 result of personal inspection of the country between Beverley and 

 King George's Sound, is a reliable guide for, as he says, he wrote 

 from " careiul examination," and he is a witness of special know- 

 ledge and experience of the geography and characteristics of 

 \Yes:cni Australia. Some extracts from his report may, therefore, 

 be advantageously quoted: "The soil within the area colored 

 yellow on the maps is mostly of a light chocolate color, grows ex- 

 cellent grass in ordinarily good seasons, is timbered generally with 

 eucalyptus loxophleba (York gum), acacia acnuiinata (raspberry jam 

 trees), and acacia microboliya (manna gum), and is well adapted 

 for the growth of cereals. In the vicinity of Moojebup, Yowangup, 

 Ettakup, and Martinnp, etc., there is at present a better opening 

 for agriculturists than in any other place between Beverley and 

 King George's Sound ; the land is of the richest description, the 

 clearing is tolerably easy, and the climate salubrious, and it must 

 eventually be a large wheat producing district. It is within 100 

 miles of King George's Sound, being in that respect nearer a port 

 than Moorumbine, which has for many years produced a large 

 quantity of grain. In the vicinity of Staunton springs, Kechualling, 

 \Vag.-garriip, Collanilling, Dumbleyung, Coompetine, Moojebup, 

 Camoallup, Moordinnp, Jackatnp, etc., are also admirably suited for 

 agriculture and, with increased facilities of transport, would no doubt 

 provide the colony with large quantities of wheat and other cereals. 

 The water supply along the route, although in some places scarce, 

 may, I think, be considered as tolerably good, and in many places 

 water is plentiful. The Palinup river has in the past been very defi- 

 cient in this respect, and a fine country has been almost deserted in 



