in the shade, these are readily saleable at from 1s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per lb. As the crop ripens about December, weeks befcre those in the coastal districts, it is not improbable that Nannine grapes will some day find their way to the Perth market, when the railway is extended from Cue. There are scores of places in the Nannine district where good water and garden soil can be utilised in combination for fruit production.

Messrs. John and James Bond are natives of Wiltshire, and came to Australia in 1883. They first tried their fortunes in New South Wales, where Mr. John Bond went rabbiting at a time when the Government was making determined efforts to keep down these rodents and paid large prices for rabbit scalps. As the fatner of the Messrs. Bond was a gamekeeper, it need hardly be said that the sons are expert with the gun. Scalping proved profitable to Mr. John Bond, but costly to the Government, and ineffectual in exterminating the rabbits; consequently, when the bonus was abolished, Mr. John Bond turned his skill as a crack shot to advantage by kangarooing. He also took contracts for well-sinking and fencing. Mr. James Bond, during this time, remained principally in Sydney. In 1890, Mr. John Bond, hearing of the gold discoveries in Western Australia, came Over to make enquiries as to its prospects. These were satisfactory, and shortly after he was joined

by his brother. The two purchased a waggonette and three horses, and visited the Ashburton and Murchison districts at the time of the early gold discoveries. They were successful in discovering both reefs and alluvial ground, but not sufficiently rich to keep them in one place long. Finally they decided to abandon prospecting, and settled in Nannine, where they established their garden and the present bakery business. Afterwards they built the North Murchison Hotel. Mr. John Bond was a member of the Roads Board for some time, and was elected a member of the Nannine Municipal Council soon after it was first proclaimed. For two years and a half he was Mayor of the town, and on retiring from that position in May, 1901, his fellow-councillors presented him with a very handsome gold medal to mark their appreciation of the manner in which he had filled the mayoral chair.

MASTERTON AND CO.

Masterton and Co.'s is one of several businesses carried on in Nannine on a somewhat extensive scale, and it may fairly claim to be the leading wholesale establishment. The managing and resident partner of the firm is Mr. L. J. F. Masterton. The firm was originally established by Mr. Masterton in 1896, who then engaged in the auctioneering and commission business; but the prospects of the district and its subsequent development led the firm to change the whole plan of its operations.

Nannine becoming an important distributing centre, and retailers increasing in great numbers, the firm were induced to become wholesale merchants. Besides the retailers of Nannine, the firm has clients extending northwards to Peak Hill and in all intervening country between Nannine and Cue. Mr. Masterton is a native of Devonshire. In 1883 he went to New Zealand, and after staying there for some time visited most of the eastern States. In 1895, when the rush to Western Aus tralia was at its height, Mr. Masterton decided to throw in his lot with this State, a step he has never regretted.

He has been almost continually since his arrival a resident of Nannine, and in 1896, at the proclamation of the muni. cipality, he was elected its first Mayor. Three years ago he retired from the mayoral office, but at the earnest request of the ratepayers he was induced again

and 202 females. Williams is 147 miles south of Perth. It has a post and telegraph office, a money-order office, and a Post-office Savings Bank.

HORDERN HOTEL.

The first house built in Narrogin was the Hordern Hotel, named after the promoter of the Great Southern railway.

HORDERN HOTEL.

The building is of brick, and was built for the present proprietor, Mr. Michael Brown. Ten rooms, also of brick, are about to be added. The owner of this hotel is an Irishman by birth, having been born in Kilkenny in 1851. He has been in Western Australia, however,

M. BROWN.

since he was six years of age, and at an early age went in for farming, in conjunction with his brother. They took up a place which they named Noombling, and which is being still carried

on.

was

JOHN THOMAS WHITBY CHIPPER, the proprietor of the Narrogin Store, and of other valuable property, was born in Perth, Western Australia, in December, 1855. He used to drive the coach between Perth and Albany for his father, who had the mail contract. This journey of 254 miles at first took seven days in the "Red and Yellow Van," as the first coach called. Eventually, however, the time was shortened, until the trip was accompiished in sixty-two hours. When the Government took over the contract, Mr. Chipper, who had joined the police force, drove the coach for the Government for ten and a half years, until 1888, when the mail was taken by train. He then took up the position of lock-up keeper in Albany, to complete the twelve years' service necessary to enable him to receive the usual Government gratuity. In 1891 he bought his present business from Messrs. F. and C. Piesse.

THOS. PATRICK O'CONNOR, blacksmith and wheelwright, was born at Kapunda, South Australia, in 1871. In 1896 he came to Western Australia, and carried on business as a blacksmith at Coolgardie. In September, 1897, he came to Narrogin, and there commenced business as blacksmith and manufacturer of ploughs and farm implements. In addition to property in the town, Mr. O'Connor has a farm-holding of 370 acres near Narrogin, which he has named Quailalling Farm.

CHAS. EDWARD STREET was born at Lincoln, England, in 1868, and was for some time in the service of the Great Northern Railway Company. He arrived in Western Australia in 1890, on the day Responsible Government was proclaimed, and shortly afterwards joined the West Australian Land Company, being appointed clerk at Katanning. From Katanning he went to Cranbrook as station-master, and subsequently filled similar positions at Narrogin and Spencer's Brook. From this latter place he returned to Narrogin in charge of the station there, which position he now holds. As evidencing the advance made in the agricultural industry, Mr. Street points out that the amount of produce sent out of the district six years ago did not exceed 210 tons, whilst last year over 4,200 tons were sent away.

CHIPPER'S FARM.

Mr. Chipper has a farm in conjunction

with his store, consisting of 2,000 acres, 300 acres being cleared. There are 150 acres under cultivation, wheat and hay being raised principally.

There are three acres of excellent vines and assorted fruit-trees, and 1,000 additional vines are now being put in. Eight hundred sheep (merinos and crossbreds), 30 head of cattle, 30 Berkshire pigs, and 50 horses are also upon the farm. Horse-breeding receives special attention, and Mr. Chipper has purchased an imported stallion, "Vegetarian."

Mr. Chipper is a Justice of the Peace for the Katanning district, and was chairman of the Roads Board for five years. He was a moving spirit in all local matters until failing eyesight compelled him to relinquish his public duties.

DOOKNING.

George Staniford Frances Cowcher, the owner of Dookning, a well-fenced property of 7,500 acres, was born at Pinjarrah in 1854. He has been farming and grazing all his life. On Dookning he runs 5,000 sheep (cross-bred merino and Lincoln), 20 head of cattle, 70 Berkshire pigs, and 15 horses for farm use. He has also cleared an area of 100 acres, and placed it under cultivation, hay and wheat being the crops grown.

acres of which are cleared and used for This the growing of wheat and hay. holding is well fenced. A son of the proprietor Mr. Robert Cowcher-is of great assistance in the management of this property.

EDEN VALLEY.

James Hollis, a native of Nelson, New Zealand, is the owner of Eden Valley, a property of 800 acres, distant five and a half miles from Narrogin. Two hundred and fifty acres have been cleared, and of this area 230 acres are being cropped for wheat. Stock-rearing has not been gone in for to any great extent. Mr. Hollis, after spending some time in farming pursuits in New Zealand, left that colony about 1883 to go gold-digging at Temora, New South Wales. Having remained there for a short period, he migrated to South Australia, where, for a considerable time, he was again engaged in farming. Finding that his efforts in South Australia were not successful, he determined to try Western Australia; and accordingly, in 1894, he landed here, and took up his present holding. Mr. Hollis takes considerable interest in local affairs, and has been a member of the Williams and Narrogin Roads' Boards.

NOOMBLING AND BOONDINE. Noombling, the property of Mr. Michael Brown, is situated on the Hotham River, some thirty miles from Narrogin. The property consists of 27,000 acres, the most part of which is fenced. Two hundred acres have been cleared, and are used for wheat-growing purposes. The land is also carrying 3,000 merino sheep, 600 head of horses, and 100 Berkshire pigs. The property has an unfailing water supply, and has on one side a river frontage of six and a half miles, while on the other side it has a river frontage of four miles. A good homestead, built of brick, and containing six rooms, has been erected.

Another property being carried on by Mr. Brown is Boondine, an estate of 3,000 acres, fenced and subdivided, situated four miles from Narrogin. One hundred acres have been placed under cultivation, while 1,000 merino sheep, 50 head of cattle, and 100 head of horses are also carried. This property is under the personal supervision of the owner.

In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Brown is also possessed of some 1,700

The town of Newcastle is beautifully situated on the left bank of the river Avon, about fifty miles due east from Perth. It is the terminus of a branch line of railway, some fourteen miles in length, which taps the Perth trunk line at Clackline Junction. As the business centre of the rich Toodyay district, Newcastle is a place of considerable importance, and there are several fine business establishments in the town.

The town site is not the one first selected as the centre of the Toodyay district. Originally a town was formed about three miles from Newcastle, and to this the name of the district was given-Toodyay. Some thirty-seven years ago, however, it was found necessary to declare a town site on the present location of Newcastle, owing to its more convenient situation on the main road to the metropolis. As a consequence, the old Toodyay township was practically abandoned.

Newcastle was declared a municipality in the year 1877, the first chairman of the municipality being the late Mr. Charles Monger, who filled the office for a number of years. Ten years after the proclamation of the municipality, its

pied the mayoral chair are Messrs. W. J. Stewart, E. Holiday, J. A. Wroth, and B. Connor, the present occupant.

The annual rateable value of property in the municipality is £2,865 10s., the capital value being assessed at £51,800. There are some four miles of streets, the whole of which are macadamised, and the council is arranging for the introduction of a sanitary system. Owing to its position on the side of a hill, the town is healthy and dry; and, in order to provide a water supply for the residents, a reservoir of a capacity of 4,000,000 gallons has been constructed, from which water is to be reticulated to every part of the town. Among the chief buildings are churches, schools, a Mechanics' Institute, a Western Australian Bank, a hospital, and a handsome hall, the property of the Oddfellows' Society.

The surrounding district is eminently adapted to the growth of cereals, while the cultivation of oranges and stone fruits, as well as of vines, is carried on by the settlers. Wineries have also been established, Messrs. Bull and Stevens having last year made 10,000 gallons of wine, and the Coorinja Vineyard Company 7,000 gallons in the same year.

The roads of the district are under the supervision of the Toodyay Roads Board, and have a total length of 216 miles. There are numerous large homesteads

for some six months. It is, how. ever, sixteen years since Mr. Piesse entered the Government service in the Telegraph he Department, and was, in turn, telegraphist at Esperance, Israelite Bay, Bremer and Albany. Some cight or nine years in this service, however, undermined Mr. Piesse's health, and he was compelled to relinquish his position. For two years Mr. Piesse remained in private life, but at the end of that time he again entered the Government service and received the appointment of clerk to the resident magistrate at Newcastle, and the duties of that office he discharged for seven and a half years. He was then appointed to the position of Resident Magistrate in the town wherein he had previously been clerk, and he now holds that appointment. He is a native of Guildford, though he has lived principally in Northam and Newcastle. He combines with his office of Resident Magistrate that of sub-collector of revenue. As a citizen, he is prominent in his support of local institutions, being a member of the agricultural society, race club, and fruit-growers' gociety, besides being a committeeman of the Mechanics' Institute.

W. G. LEEDER. One who has been foremost in local politics in Newcastle is Mr. W. G. Leeder, a gentleman who enjoys the distinction of having been the first mayor It was in 1878 that of the municipality. Mr. Leeder first became associated with the municipal council, he being, in that year, elected to the office of chairman of the municipality, an office which he held continuously for three years. He then retired, as provided for by the Municipal Institutions Act, but in 1883 he was again returned to the office, retaining it for a further period of three years. Mr. Lee. der was requested a third time to accept office, the chairman at this election being entitled to the title of mayor. For two years Mr. Leeder was mayor, and thereafter he and Mr. W. J. Stewart, now of Northam, alternately held the office for several years. Mr. Leeder is a native of Perth. He was made a Justice of the Peace four years ago.

MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS. BERNARD MAURICE CONNOR is a son of a well-known pioneer of the Toodyay district, the late Mr. Daniel Connor. Recognising that the office of mayor requires a little mu