MAKING A CITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2717, 24 January 1910, Page 2

MAKING A CITY.

THE COMMONWEALTH CAPITAL. The actual work of preparing for the capital city of the Commonwealth is -at last being taken up. Mr. C. R. Scrivener, wit 11 a staff of surveyors, has been despatched to the site, and will proceed with his task forthwith. The work of Mr. Scrivener is to delimit the boundaries. After this is done a contour survey of the site of the city ptoper will be made. This will be done by Mr. Scrivener personally. It is proposed to print lithographic plans of the city, and send them to various parts of the' world, so as to give the fullest possible information to tho.se who wish to submit competitive designs. Provision lias to be made by dividing the city into sections for the location respectively of the vice-regal residence, Parliamentry houses, the public offices, a university, military barracks, and other group of buildings. The. Minister is giving serious thought to the question of housing members of Parliament- in the city, pending its growth to -a. sufficient size to meet all residential requirements. Mr. Fuller finds this rather a difficult problem. He points out that there is no accommodation at the site at present, and some arrangement. will have to be made to accommodate 111 members and the official staff of Parliament. The Commonwealth will have to provide large boarding houses or else to arrange with some private persons to do it. Legislation will be carried on in temporary chambers pending the erection of 0. Parliament. house suitable to the dignity of the Commonwealth. Mr. Guilfoyle, late curator of the Botanical gardens, Melbourne, will be asked to advise the Commonwealth respecting the afforestation of the Federal territory.