196 



6560 acres, the whole of which has been surveyed into torty-three 

 lots. There is at present one settler here, who holds 144 acres. The 

 area is situate close to Northampton townsite, adjoining the west 

 boundary of same, and extending north therefrom. The land here 

 is of a light loamy nature, and should prove suitable for the growth 

 of cereals and fruit. The cost of clearing would be about 2~3 per 

 acre, as the land is not heavily timbered. As there is a prospect of 

 a revival of the mining industry at Northampton, selection in this 

 area is anticipated at an early date. The Northampton-Geraldton 

 railway passes through the southern portion of this area." 



The Nonga agricultural area contains 11,311 acres; it was 

 thrown open for selection in September, 1893. It has been entirely 

 subdivided into seventy-four blocks, but as yet no land has been 

 applied for. There is a fair amount of good soil in this area, which 

 has a frontage on the Bowes river and Nokanena brook. The 

 proximity of this area to the Northampton-Geraldton railway line 

 should lead to its early settlement. The dry seasons we have lately 

 experienced have placed a great check on agricultural development. 

 The cost of clearing here would be about <\ per acre. 



The Weeranooka area, which contains 14,500 acres, and forms a 

 portion of the original Northampton area, has not been laid out in 

 blocks, as at present there appears to be little demand for agricul- 

 tural land in this locality. 



Mullewa, which is the first township on the line from Geraldton 

 to Cue, the capital of the Murchison goldfields, is in the neighbor- 

 hood of an agricultural area that was proclaimed, in order that 

 farmers desiring to produce crops for the requirements of the mining 

 population might have an opportunity of settling on Crown lands 

 close to the railway. The Mullewa area contains 12,000 acres, and was 

 thrown open for selection in August, 1894. Of the total area 

 gazetted 6104 acres have been surveyed into fifty-four lots. There 

 is one settler on this area, who holds 138 acres. A townsite has been 

 laid out here comprising ninety-three town and suburban lots. This 

 area is situate at the termination of the Geraldton -Mullewa railway, 

 about 65 miles from Geraldton. Since the aiva was gazetted the 

 railway has been completed to Cue. As there is a large population 

 on the Murchison goldfields the land on the Mullewa area should 

 soon be in more demand, and though the rainfall in some seasons is 

 somewhat uncertain and scanty the blocks are considered suitable 

 for the growth of cereals. The cost of clearing would be about 3 

 per acre. 



The following statement has been supplied, respecting the con- 

 ditions which a settler would meet with in the Midland and Ger- 

 aldton districts : Some eligible lari^e private estates are open for 

 subdivisional sale, or for occupation under improvement leases. In 

 local fanning operations, liberal manuring from the outset is profit- 

 able ; but so few fertilisers are used that it is not easy to say which 

 kind is the best to use. In order to succeed, a selector should be 



