PRAISE FOR CANBERRA

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1928, Page 11

PRAISE FOR CANBERRA

"IDEAL HOLIDAY RESORT.” “A perfect holiday resort,” was the description given of Canberra, the new Federal capital, by Mr. F. C. Ewen, of Auckland, who, Mrs, Ewen, returned from a visit to Australia by tho Maunganui. The mission of Mr. and Mrs. Ewen was a sad one. Their son, Flight-Lieut-enant F. C. Ewen, was killed when his aeroplane crashed while manoeuvring at the opening ceremony of Canberra last year, and they made tho trip principally to se© his grave. "Canberra, has the best water supply I have ever seen,” Mr. Ewen stated. “It is drawn from the Cotter River, 14 miles away from Canberra. The water is pumped from the river to a height of several feet, and then finds its way by pipes to th© capital by gravitation. The impounding dam at tho Cotter River holds 380,000,000 gallons of water, and it is a fine piece of engineering. When it reaches the capital tho water is beautifully clear and is pure in every respect.” Canberra was the nucleus of one of the model cities of the world. The parks, roads and footpaths have been laid out to the best advantage. Mr. Ewen was particularly impressed with the drainage system. Canberra had sft. sewers, the sewage then being carried ten miles from th© eity and filtered. “It is high time Auckland had some system of filtering sewage,” added Mr. Ewen, "in my opinion, it is the only way to get rid of it in the interests of public health.”

“Canberra has its critics, but those who criticise should remember that it is only a city m the making,” Mr. Ewen added. "I believe that some day Canberra will be a magnificent city. It is an ideal holiday resort. The air is wonderful and. the elimate good, while the capital has much to interest and erterJsria’ th# visitn»?»