COMMONWEALTH CAPITAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 47, 24 February 1913, Page 8

COMMONWEALTH CAPITAL.

Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] (.United Press Association.) (Received 9.25 a.in.) Sydney, February 24. The Hon. “King” O’Malley (Minister of Internal Affairs; performed the ceremony of driving the central peg in connection with the laynigout of the Federal capital. WHAT’S IN A NAME? Suggestions for the, naming of tin Federal capital are still being received by the Department of Home Affairs. The Sydney Daily Telegraph states that Sir John Quick has forwarded to the Minister the recommendation*, of the Australian Natives’ Association, Bendigo, that the capital territory should be called the district of Cool, and that the name of the city should he Southern Cross. The association had a referendum on the naming oi the capital,, and the voting was:— Southern Cross 35, Peroomba 25, Myola 15, Austral 12, Hopetoun 12, Flinders 11, Bartonia 6, - Parkesville 0. Sturt 5, Watson City 5, Canberra 4 Wentworth 2, Kingfisher 1. A resid ent of Hurstville, New South Wales, suggests Gamelyn as a name lor tin Federal capital. He states that tin word, of Scandinavian origin, was or iginally Gameling, meaning the young son of an old father, and he suggests that it might not be inappropriate, inasmuch as the Australian people are the youngest off-shoot of the Brit ish race. Another suggestion is La bourne, or Labour City, and a corns pondent in Toowoomba puts forwarc an awkward word, Bamphsua, tin first six letters standing for the capi tabs of the States, and the final as in dicating United Australia. TWO CEREMONIES ON MARCH 12 TebGovernor-General of the < 'emmonwealth will he present at the cere mony of laying the foundation-stone o! the Commencement Column at the Federal capital on Wednesday, Maic: 12th. His Excellency has consents to go into camp on ope of the bills overlooking the Molongol river, am will take up his quarters there a few days prior to the ceremony for the purpose of inspecting the 3rd Australia! Light Horse, which will be in camp, near Duntroon, under the command of Colonel Kenneth Mackay, C.B. There will bo two ceremonies al the Federal capital on March 12th. One is the laying of the foundation stones of the Commencement Column by the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Horn* Affairs, and the second will he tin christening of the capital city. Arrangements for. the' function arc in the hands of the Home Affairs De piWbment, and it is expected that 400 guests will he invited to ho presenf at the ceremony. ' Special trains iron Sydney and Melbourne will carry their to Queanbeyan, whence they will drive eight miles to the site of the capital/ There will be an official luncheon, at which speeches appropriate to the occa sion will be delivered by the GovernorGeneral, Mr Fisher, and Mr O’Malley.