a shipment of fruit Home before the war, and averaged 15s. per case. On another occasion I averaged 16s. per case with the shipment that I sent to Colombo. I believe the English market will always offer a good price. I do not like cool storage, however. The shipment to which I referred was sent round the Cape as deck cargo. I sent a shipment to the Eastern States, and my agent unfortunately put them in the cool store, and a lot of them went bad.

11376. Do you treat them at all before boxing?—No, I do not consider that any processing is necessary to protect them. I sent some oranges to England to a relative, picked in July, and in October they advised that they were still eating them. I certainly believe that oranges produced in some parts of the State will carry better than those produced in others. Harvey oranges do not keep at all well.

11377. When I stated that 50 acres of my land was first class,I may say I am beginning to think that all of my country is first class as I have a lot of sandy country on which I have been experimenting, and which I find produces excellent clovers. I find the subterranean clover grows splendidly. I consider that this country right through the South-West is capable of producing all varieties of clovers. Some of my land, which in its natural state carried paper bark, the ordinary swamp and rushes is now carrying subterranean clover, paspalum, and Rhodes' grass. The couch of course grows in the summer time, and the subterranean in the winter. For this reason I consider that dairying can be carried on well here.

11378. By the CHAIRMAN: Would you describe your method of irrigation?—I pump from the river and gravitate about 14 chains to one orchard, and to irrigate further up I gravitate into a well, which is 14 chains from the river. I have another patch where I pump the water 15 chains, and gravitate it on the land. I have irrigated some of my grass lands, but benzine is now too dear to pump water on to do this.

11379. What does it cost you per acre to water?—It will cost 15s. per acre to water the sandy soil.

11380. What quantity of water do you put on for this sum?—I should say from 50,000 to 60,000 gallons to the acre, which equals about a quarter acre foot. I give my orchard generally one watering. This I find sufficient. The orchard does not take the quantity of water above referred to. It only costs about 10s per acre. If I did not have the orchard I should be growing maize and other summer crops for dairying. I consider I should have to water maize and other crops once per annum only. Millet would probably have to be watered twice, that is after the first cutting.

11381. By Mr. PAYNTER: Have you any difficulty in the matter of labour?—No. I have no difficulty in securing labour, but I may say there is very little available. Very few men in this district employ labour. Those who do, have difficulty. There are several men in the district who are working their own places, and between times to go out and work for others.

11382. By Mr. VENN: Do you consider that there is much suitable land available in the district?—There are some very good gulleys where the patches are of course small. Again, there is some very good land in Millar's concession which, however, is reserved.

11383. By the CHAIRMAN: Are there any matters which you would like to place before the Commission which, in your opinion, would be beneficial to the agricultural industry?—I consider that a lot of the country is in the South-West, now considered poor, can be made very good use of. In my experience as a surveyor, I just found out on the Western plains that there is a large area of swamp country that could be devoted to dairying, and there is land available for settlers to run their stock. They could irrigate from these swamps, and I know there are numerous swamps down in these parts that will keep a number of families.

11384. To My. PAYNTER: I consider that the value of improved land in this district is from £10 to £20 per acre, nevertheless, you can get land that has been cleared from £2 to £5 per acre. Clearing can be done cheaper now with the use of tractors and explosives. Some land pulled by a tractor has cost me only 18s an acre. This is for pulling alone.

(The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.