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native couch. The extent of arable land that can be found in one 

 piece is, we should think, from about TOO to 1000 acres. This esti- 

 mate includes the mallee country. The country is well watered 

 within 15 miles of the coast. Within this limit of the sea there is 

 an abundant supply, but outside that range the supply is 

 indifferent. The cost of conserving water on the coast is very small, 

 there being no scarcity. The quality of the water is excellent. It 

 can be obtained in wells at a depth of from 3 feet to- 10 feet. 

 Beyond 20 miles from the coast very little has been done in the 

 conservation of water. In a dry season there has never been a water 

 difficulty on the coast. Such a difficulty has occurred in the mallee 

 country. In the mallee the only way of obtaining water known at 

 present would be by condensing. Possibly artesian water might be 

 struck if bores were put down. There are facilities for irrigation 

 almost anywhere within 10 miles from the coast. The general 

 character of the soil and configuration of Esperance territory is : 

 (i.) Sandy near the coast ; (2.) in the mallee country, rich loam with 

 clay subsoil ; (3.) the general configuration of this division of the 

 colony is undulating. The country here is sparsely timbered on the 

 coast with paper-barks and yates ; there are also peppermint and 

 eucalypti. Outside the coast is the mallee country ; the land is 

 well timbered. Cost per acre to clear ready for the plough may be 

 estimated as follows : (i.) i per acre near the coast ; 2 los. per 

 acre in the mallee country. The crops usually grown are wheat, 

 barley, and oats. These are cut for hay, the general yield of which 

 is one ton per acre. The facilities for transport of produce to 

 market are very bad at the present time. Fruit is only grown in a 

 comparatively few places. It has been tried at Fanny's cove. Here 

 grapes, peaches, and figs have been planted. At Esperance ligs are 

 grown. Very few other fruits have been cultivated. So far as the 

 experiments in fruitgrowing have gone fair success has been achieved. 

 Settlement has been progressing fairly well. The co-operation of 

 the Land bank has not yet been sought. The local annual rainfall 

 calculated for the last 20 years is 25 inches at Esperance. The 

 general character of the seasons is good. The average sixes of the 

 selection^ on Crown lands are (i.) garden areas, m acres ; (2.) for 

 fanning purposes 150 acres. The land has Ivcn taken up by old 

 sett!- far we have no recent immigration. The chief 



advantages of the Ksperance district are the splendid harbor and 

 proximity to several of the goklliekK which provide us with 

 an ample market for produce. Esperance is the port of the gokllields. 

 The country between Espenmce and the gokllielcls is of a level 

 character, and presents no engineeringdifficulties fortheconstructioti 

 of a railway ; there is also lair pastWal country between the port 

 and the goldlields. The- class of implements in general use are 

 single, double, an 1 treble furrowed ploughs, stump-jump ploughs, 

 and harrows. The Osborne side delivery, and the Massey- 

 Harris reaper arid binder are employed and give satisfaction. In 



