AUSTRALIA'S CAPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1177, 12 July 1911, Page 7

AUSTRALIA'S CAPITAL.

WORK BEGUN AT LAST. Bj- TeleeniDli-l'rcss Association-Copyrirht Sydney, July, n, J. he foundations of tho first building in the Federal capital city have been laid. It will form a branch Public Works Office. Generally the scone at Yass-Canberra is one of activity. All the roads leading to the sito of the new-capital are being reconstructed in a substantial manner. A PICTURESQUE SPOT. The plain of Canberra, in which the I'ederal capital city is to be built, can properly bo likened to an island lake, completely encompassed by great mountain ranges. 1o the south, gays a "Sydney Morning Herald" writer, there are'drabcoloiirerl htlls, while the mountains which overlook the Murrumbidwo River appear light blue in the distance. One of these peaks—Mount Tidbinbilla—rises to a height of 5100 feet, whilo further away Mount Bimbcroi rears its table-shaped summit of 6000 ft. On last Christmas Dav this mountain was canned with snow". Ihere is uo monotony in view from tho actual site of the city, but rather the contrasts aro such as to captivate the visitor.

The area of tho Federal territory is DOO square miles, over which the Commonwealth has sovereign rights. Tho compact form which the territory now takes is the result of negotiations between the iederal and State Governments. The wrritM.y, which includes the watershed ot the Utter, from which the water supply will be obtained, has for its eastern boundary the i,ooma railway line. Tho Molonglo Eiver, which joins the Queanbeyan, has its source iu tho mountains to the east. This river traverses the heart of the future Federal city, and must necessarily be ono of the features ot the city, so that the maintenance of the purity of its waters is essential.