Inexperience no Obstacle to Success.
Among the new settlers in the Stanwell district (Central Queensland) are quite a number who started with limited capital, and no previous experience in farming. Mr. T. P. Connor was a miner, and had £500. Not only is he dairying, growing crops, and raising pigs, but he is also breeding beef cattle and horses with much success. Messrs. J. Thomas (stockman) and J. Todman (miner) started with £250, and are now doing well out of general farming, dairying, pig-raising, &c. Portion of the farm is irrigated, the water being lifted by a pump from Neerkol Creek, and conveyed in galvanised iron piping to the cultivation areas. They estimate the cost to irrigate an acre at 8s., exclusive of their own labour. Mr. W. H. Teakel (a Victorian farmer) started with £400, and says that he is doing better than he did in Victoria. Every year he is getting good crops of maize, lucerne, wheat, pumpkins, potatoes, &c. He has a small herd of grade Ayrshires, and a few pigs.
The Plunkett family have been farming for three years, and are getting splendid returns from their farming operations. They have a fairly large area under maize, lucerne, potatoes, &c., milk 15 grade Ayrshires daily, and breed horses and pigs for market. Mr. Plunkett paid £1,400 for the farm of 411 acres as a going concern for his sons.