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same way that the butter export trade of Victoria had been built 

 up. He was sure that the turning to account of the large area of 

 second-class land in Western Australia for vineyard purposes would 

 be a great national asset for the colony. Sir John Forrest, in 

 acknowledging the cordiality with which the toast of "The 

 Ministry " had been honored, said that during the time they had 

 been in" office the members of the Government had exerted them- 

 selves on behalf of the agricultural interests ; they had made railways 

 through the cultivable districts of the colony, in order to get the 

 land settled. At one time railways were considered to be all that 

 was necessary to achieve this object, but now that nearly every- 

 one, himself included, was anxious to take some part in mining, it 

 seemed that something more was necessary, albeit the agricultural 

 Land bank had been established and liberal land laws passed. If 

 the Bureau of Agriculture would lay their scheme fully before the 

 Government, he could promise them the sympathy of the Cabinet, 

 even if the Government could not grant all the requests that were 

 made. What Mr. Harper had said about making a valuable 

 national asset of the Crown lands of the colony appealed to him 

 very strongly. What was the use of the 640,000,000 acres of land 

 in Western Australia if they were not turned to profitable account, 

 it they were not made to yield an income. The visitors then drove 

 to St. Leonards, the estate of Mr. G. B. Leonard , about live 

 miles distant, and were shown over an excellent and \vell- 

 developed property. Forty-five acres of vines were seen in superb 

 condition. St. Leonards, which is replete with all the modern 

 appliances for carrying on farming on a large and successful scale, 

 is most picturesquely situated. The energy and competent direc- 

 tion of the owner are apparent in every feature of the place, uhich 

 is one that Western Australia may be glad to exhibit to visitors. 

 An olive-shaded avenue leads to the commodious homestead. 



A very enjoyable and instructive clay may be spent in a tour 

 around the Swan distiict, and in the inspection of the various 

 valuable properties which nature and art have combined to render 

 delightful places of residence, and notable examples of the pro- 

 ductive capabilities of Western Australia. Almost adjoining the 

 Guildford station on the north is the Caversham estate, which 

 belonged to the late Mr. R. de Burgh, and which in response to 

 the demand for country homes within easy distance of the city, and 

 possessing great natural advantages, is being made the site of what 

 will soon become a fashionable suburb of the capital. The design 

 is that here shall be laid out orchards and vine-yards, and small 

 but highly improved 'pasture lands, as the adjuncts of the homes of 

 prosperous professional and mercantile men, where rural sights and 

 sounds shall exhilarate the spirits and restore the tone of languid 

 nature. The lead has been taken in this direction by Mr. Robinson, 

 whose bijou villa will occupy a very picturesque situation. On its 

 western boundary is an important heritage of the Haiuersley family, 



