Started Cane-growing with £147.
Mr. Robert P. Sneesby started sugar-growing on the Maroochy River, North Coast Line (South Queensland), with only £147. Four years ago he arrived from the Clarence River (N.S.W.), where he was a dairyman and maize-grower. He took up 80 acres on the Maroochy River, for which he paid £8 per acre. This he cleared and cropped, and then sold for £1,800. Then he purchased his present holding of 153 acres of dense scrub, the price paid therefor being £4 5s. per acre. Other expenditure—House, 18 ft. x 24 ft., £30; plough, £4 10s.; harrows, £4 10s.; scuffler, £2 12s.; hoes, mattocks, spades, &c., £1 10s.; 2 horses, £50; harness, £8; slide for cane haulage, £1; total, £102 2s.
Estimate per acre for getting land ready for first crop—Brushing, felling, burning, and clearing scrub, £4; holeing with mattock, £1 17s. 6d.; plants, £1; planting, &c., £1; chipping (3), £3 15s.; total, £11 12s. 6d.
In 1912 he cut 215 tons of cane, and his crop of maize yielded 450 bushels. From 12 acres of cane last season (1913) he harvested 370 tons. The contract for cutting cane and haulage by punt across the river entailed an expenditure of 6s. 9d. per ton. Mr. Sneesby has also a dairy herd of twelve, consisting of grade Ayrshires and Shorthorns. Regularly every week he sends 13 gallons of cream to the Caboolture Butter Factory. A dairy and separator is also established on the farm. About 6 acres have been planted with bananas, 2 acres with pineapples, and 1 acre with citrons.