“There were never better opportunities than the present in Queensland for young men and women who have energy and ambition, and are not frightened of honest work. I came from Scotland when a baby with my parents (emigrants) during the fifties to Adelaide, South Australia. My father worked as a blacksmith, and afterwards as a carrier taking goods to the Victorian goldfields, and subsequently began farming in New South Wales. I had seven brothers and three sisters.
“I left home without a shilling, and took to shearing during the season, and did contract work at other times until I had enough money to select a half section (320 acres) in New South Wales. There I married, and in time increased my area sufficiently to carry on sheep-grazing and wheat-growing. In time I sold out to good advantage, and came to Queensland, where I am now a grazier. My brothers are all employers of labour. I have reared and educated three sons and two daughters. If I were a young man now with my usual health, I would not be afraid to start life again under similar circumstances and present conditions. I attribute my success to perseverance and ambition, and using the proceeds judiciously. Australia is a good field for any industrious man or woman who sets his or her mind to honest work and tries to give satisfaction, as there are employments to suit nearly all classes of labour, as also for a man of moderate means, to take up a small farm in a suitable locality, especially after getting some experience in one of the State Agricultural Colleges. I have been in the State now nearly twenty years, and consider it a very good field for emigrants.”
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.
Another Successful Sugar-cane Grower.
One of the most successful growers in the Johnstone River district (North Queensland), is Mr. David Hunter, of Goondi. Prior to starting cane-growing eight years ago, he was overseer of labour for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company at Goondi. He started with very little capital, but the terms on which the Colonial Sugar Refining Company sold him land were so reasonable that he had no difficulty in not only meeting his engagements, but also making a profit out of his labours. Good cultivation and manuring with mill refuse were the reasons for his success. His first season’s crop in 1906 yielded 1,820 tons, the net profit therefrom, after paying all liabilities, being 3s. 4d. per ton. In 1907 he cut 1,910 tons, and realised a net profit of 8s. per ton; in 1908, 1,861 tons, net profit, 10s. 11d. per ton; in 1909, 2,134 tons, net profit 11s. 6d. per ton; in 1910, 92 acres yielded 2,832 tons, net profit 12s. 5d. per ton. His average yield per acre for six years was 28 tons. In addition to mill refuse, he used green and dry manures to fertilise his land. He paid his permanent field workers 30s. per week and found. Yields for 1911–12:—1911: 90 acres, 2,423 tons; 1912: 64 acres, 1,365 tons. The best yields per acre were 43 tons in 1910 and 40 tons in 1911.
Arrived with an Empty Pocket.
Mr. H. Denning, in responding to the toast of “The Pioneers,” at a banquet at Mount Tarampa, in the Lowood district (South Queensland) in 1913, said:—“It was now 35 years since he became a resident of the district. He arrived with an empty pocket, and on arrival found he was compelled to cut a road 1-1/2 miles through scrub to get to the boundary of his selection. He cleared 2 acres, and after six months harvested his first crop of maize and sweet potatoes. He hired a wagon, and took a load into a firm in Ipswich. For the maize he received 9d. per bushel, and the sweet potatoes realised sufficient to pay the hire for the wagon, leaving him nothing for his labour.” He added: “He had seen selectors compelled to walk 4 or 5 miles for water, and carry it to their holdings in kerosene tins. Numerous times he had seen children waiting for their father’s return with water so that they could quench their thirst. Those were the days,” concluded Mr. Denning, “when the settlers required ‘grit,’ and he could truthfully say that they had abundance of it.”