98 J. W. BOULTBEE. 



occupation of small areas upon land hitherto devoted to stock 

 raising, and the employment of a nomadic and restless population, 

 practically unacquainted with the steady, patient daily labour so 

 necessary for the success of this class of industry, is now to be 

 seen at Pera. The prejudice or fear as to the unsuitability of 

 artesian water for irrigation is passing away, as will be seen from 

 the following communication from Mr. Licensed Surveyor Mullen, 

 Bourke, which indicates a distinct advance all along the line : — 

 "I have just returned to Bourke after a trip of eight weeks through 

 my district. I feel I must draw your attention to the fact that 

 the Pera Experimental Farm has been the means of giving a great 

 start to irrigation works on large and small scales throughout the 

 Bourke district. I now have more irrigation farms to design and 

 lay out within one hundred miles from Bourke than I can cope 

 with this year, unless I give my whole attention to that business 

 alone, and that I cannot do, as my hands are fairly full of Govern- 

 ment work, which must be first attended to. About ten weeks 

 ago I was engaged at Weilmoringle, adding to their present 

 irrigation area of forty acres ; all this was under a very heavy 

 wheat crop when I was there at work, and for two years running 

 they have taken over one hundred tons each year off this small 

 area. Their water supply is a bore of one and three-quarter 

 million gallons per diem. The scheme was designed and levelled 

 by me some three years ago. It is now intended to increase the 

 area to one hundred acres, and I am engaged upon the plans for 

 that scheme. They have carried their bore water for miles north, 

 east, south, and west, in drains, to water their sheep in many 

 different paddocks. 



"At Kerribree I have instructions from the lessees to lay out 

 forty miles of drains and an irrigation farm, and I hope to be 

 able to tackle it this year. Nearly every station, and where they 

 have the means, many small holders, practically recognise the value 

 of home grown fodder in times of drought, and it is a pleasing 

 relief to the eye to see the green patches on the banks of all the 

 rivers in the districts of Bourke and Brewarrina, and nearly every 



