THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 24, 22 July 1911, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL.

A PICTURESQUE SPOT. The plain of Canberra, in which the Federal capital city is to be built, can properly be likened to an island lake, completely encompassed by great mountain) ranges. To the south, says a Sydney Morning HeraJd writer, there are dark-colored hills, while the mountains which overlook the Murrumbidgee river appear light blue in the distance. One of these ip'eaks—Mount Tidbinbilla—rises to a height of 5400 ieet, while further away Mount Bimberei rears its table-shaped summit of 6000 ft. On last Christmas Day this mountain was capped with snow. There is no monotony in view from the actual site of the city, but rather the contrasts are such as to captivate the visitor. The area of the Federal, territory is 900 square miles, over which the Commonwealth has sovereign rights. The compact form which the territory now takes is the result of negotiations between the Federal and State Governments. The territory, which includes the watershed of the Cotter, iro'in which the water supply will be obtained, has for its eastern boundary the Cooma railway line. The Molonglo River, which joins' the Queanbeyan, has its source in the mountains to the east. This river traverses the hesurt of the future Federal city, and must necessarily be one of the features of the city, iso that £lie maintenance of the purity of its waters is essential.