Started with only 100 Roubles (£10.)
“Mr. Jacob Sank, in September, 1913, took over 160 acres of land at 22s. 6d. per acre, with 20 years in which to effect payment, in the district of Wycarbah, his whole capital at the time being some £10 = Rs. 100. At the present time he has about 15 acres cleared and mostly under crop, has built a house, possesses a horse, and intends buying a cow shortly; he has also various agricultural implements. All this is very much to Mr. Sank’s credit, as, having no money on hand, he frequently had to go outside to find work while his various crops were coming up in order to make a living. Mr. Sank also intends having a mixed agricultural farm.
Russian Naval Gunner’s Success as a Farmer.
“Mr. P. Hebenko, ex-torpedo-man on a battle cruiser, native of the Black Sea district of Russia, arrived in Australia towards the end of July, 1913. He took up 160 acres of land near my farm in September, 1913; it is good chocolate soil, and is under brigalow and light scrub. Shortly after having taken over his land, Mr. Hebenko got his wife and three children from Russia, and they arrived here in November, 1913; whereupon Mr. Hebenko promptly left for his farm. I last visited his farm in April, 1914. He had by that time cut down, cleared, and under crop 8 acres, 6 acres being under maize. He had also built a house, and possessed a horse and various agricultural implements. Having expended all his ready money, he then set off in search of work, which he obtained 9 miles from his home at 9s. per day, leaving his family on the farm well provided for by the various vegetables and fruits which were growing in the orchard. All his children visit an English school at Wycarbah Station, about 1-1/2 miles from his farm.
“Both the settlers referred to above have expressed themselves highly satisfied with everything, and especially with the fate that directed them to Australia.
“In addition to those mentioned above, the following also took land in the vicinity of Wycarbah:—Messrs. Bikovsky, Pagin, and Krasnih.
We Do Not Repent having Left our Native Land.
“In order to clearly show what a Russian’s opinion of Queensland is, I will now give a few extracts from a letter written by a Mr. Godalov, of Canungra, South Coast line, dated 24th February, 1911, and published in certain Russian newspapers:—’... and so I am to be congratulated; 160 acres of superb land, with a healthy beautiful climate, within 30 miles of the sea, at an elevation of 3,000 feet, and this for 32s. an acre and 20 years to pay it in. I consider it my duty to assure you that
We do not Repent ever having left our Native Land,
notwithstanding that my present social position is different to the one I occupied in Russia, and also notwithstanding the fact that the life here, too, is quite different to life in Russia; nevertheless, I have never yet thought that I came out here on a wild-goose chase (to say nothing of the children, who cry when we, jokingly, talk of returning to Russia), in spite of the fact that my actual income—at present—is smaller than it was in Russia, life here is in no case worse. The explanation makes this assertion obvious. I do not have to pay mad sums of money for the rent of my house, its heating, the educating and upbringing of my children, expensive warm clothing is unnecessary, there is no need for you to worry about to-morrow, and at last, but by no means leastly, for your own freedom and absolute liberty. All this gives a deep reason why Russians should emigrate to Australia....’