CANBERRA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19160, 17 November 1927, Page 4

CANBERRA.

NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. GREAT POTENTIALITIES. "Canberra will probably grow into a large city, with a population of at least 250,000," said Mr W. H. Winsor, secretary of the Canterbury Builders' As ociation, who returned to Christcl.urch yesterday morning with the New Zealand cricket team in the capacity of manager. He found time, while in Australia, to pay the new Federal capital a brief visit. Excavations were just being commenced for a huge administration block, which will take four years to build. Queanbeyan is about six miles away, outside Federal territory, and, being in a "wet" district, is the rendezvous for mr ay residents of Canberra, when opportunity occurs. Mr Winsor was struck by the great difference between the two towns, a comparison being al! in favour of Canberra. For the water supply of the capital the Cotter river, 15 miles away, is tapped, and the water is pumped to a reservoir on the top of Eed Hill, about 400 ft above the town. Canberra is magnificently situated, and should become a fine, large city. It has one drawback —no river of suitable size »s through it. The Molonglo is a very poor stream, or,' rather, apparently nothing but a chain of waterholes. Yet the Federal Government is forced to make provision to cope with floods, which occasionally increase its volume to a raging torrent from 20 to 30 feet above normal level, and about a mile wide. The beautifying of the riverbed and its banks is a problem. "However," said Mr Winsor, "money seems very plentiful and a solution may be found." The country in which Canberra is situated is of a gravelly nature, with the familiar red colour. It has been looking very well lately, as a result of the recent rains. Strong winds are experienced at Canberra, and snow fell and lay on the ground last winter. 1830 Feet Above Sea. The elevation of the Federal capital is 1830 feet above sea-level. Eucalypts are growing all round, but their maximum height does not appear to be more than 30ft. They give the locality an appearance very similar to the view from the hill top of Barry's Bay, where the shingle is dotted about with trees, but without the harbour vista. There is a magnificent panorama from Eed Hill, looking north of the whole city area across to Mount Ainslie, 2500 feet high, and about six miles away- To the east of Mount Ainslie and on the flat is the Duntroon Military College, which may be in one of Canberra's suburbs some day. The whole area is undulating and most admirably suited for city amenities. Some of the main sewers are 100 ft deep, with the shafts sunk about 100 yds apart, and tunnels driven, from their bottoms at the necessary levels. The mains are so large that a man could walk through them without difficulty. A tremendous amount of tree-planting has been done, and a large area still remains for afforesting operations. To the south-west 1600 acres of conifers are growing. Mr Winsor was struck by tlie arrangement of the suburbs, which have been built to accommodate the different sections of the community according to salary. Typistos are leaving Canberra in dozens. They cannot endure the loneliness, and pine for the jazz halls of Sydney and Melbourne. Over 200 men are gardening, digging up, and laying out the sidewalks. No public conveniences have yet been built. The present bus service is very unaccommodating to j strangers, and Mr Winsor considers that ii will soon be in private hands. Reflectors have been placed at street corners and blind ends, and fire hydrants every few chains. Electric lighting has been provided in some areas, the wires being underground. " GHOSTS" IN THE DECORATING TRADE. An American paper publishes some interesting revelations concerning the "lady interior decorator," who seems to acquire her knowledge "at long distance, by mail, in the course of a few months." She skims the cream of the job, as far as painting and decorating are concerned, absorbing the profit, and then hiring a master painter to do the actual work. Social acquaintance with persons of wealth and influence brings ber plenty of work, and "equipped with a goodly share of nerve and volubility, she manages to land many a job on a percentage basis." As one might expect, between these lady decorators and a numerous class among the architects, "the boss of the brush wielders has a pretty hard time of it." Of course, we have nothing of that kind here. Master painters never act as ghosts or jackals to commission hunters of social standing. Business operations are all fair and _ above board. One has to go to America for revelations of such a nature. —"Decorators' and Painters' Magazine."