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parts free from any misgivings on the part of strangers that they 

 will be cut off from communication with the railway by impassable 

 roads in the winter." (2.) "What capital do you consider essential 

 for a successful start on, say, a free homestead farm of 160 acres, or 

 on a conditional purchase of, say, 500 acres ?" "A man who intends 

 to stay on his land from the start until it will provide him with a 

 living, and who has no intention of taking contracts or working for 

 his neighbors, should have 1 per acre of the area he applies for. 

 No doubt it would be possible to eke out a scanty subsistence after 

 the first year on a smaller capital, but many serious disadvantages 

 would have to be combated. For example the purchase of a double 

 furrow plough and three horses will not leave a large balance out of 

 .100, and without this equipment a man is always late in 

 getting in his crop, even if he is fortunate enough to get it in at 

 all on the hire or contract system, because no ploughs and 

 teams are available until all the owners of them have finished 

 their season's work. The plant and horses purchased, and 

 the ground, or a part of it, fenced, a man by doing his own 

 improvements can keep going with the 50 per cent, of their value 

 that is advanced by the Land bank, and after his first harvest should 

 be fairly on his feet. On the other hand, if a man goes on to his 

 block with only a few pounds, he is kept back for two or three 

 years in getting his place into an income-earning order." (3.) " Are 

 there any surveyed agricultural areas in your district ? " u Along 

 the Great Southern railway there are the following agricultural 

 areas : Beverley, Moorumbine, Narrogin, \Vickepin, Wagin, 

 Darkan, Katanning, Ewlyamartup, Tenterden, and Pallinup. It is 

 believed the Lands department will survey another agricultural 

 area at Tambellup, near Mount Barker." (4.) " What settlement 

 has taken place on these?" "The Katanning area is nearly all 

 occupied ; in fact, it would not be possible to get a good sized 

 farm there of eligible land. Settlement on the areas lias been going 

 on steadily, but the resumption of the Great Southern land grants 

 has so greatly enlarged the territory that selectors may apply for 

 that ; tliere are more blocks now being chosen outside than inside 

 the proclaimed agricultural areas. While there is plenty of land on 

 the areas still available, it is satisfactory to be able to say that a new 

 population is arriving every week. Probably in no part of the 

 colony would the returns of the Lands department show so rapid 

 an iniliix of farmers as in the southern division." (5.) "What 

 schools are there in the cultivable territory?" (< Not as many 38 

 have been applied for as the result of the impetus that has of late 

 been given to settlement. As a general summary the question may 

 be answered by >aying that most of the children are within three 

 miles of a school ; a few families are not nearer a teacher than live 

 miles, but steps are being taken to open two new schools, which will 

 place education within the reach of all." (6.) u What area would 

 you recommend a man of small means, say from ^100 to ,200, to 



