THE FEDERAL CAPITAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 March 1913, Page 5

THE FEDERAL CAPITAL

CHRISTENING CEREMONY. A BRILLIANT GATHERING. (Received Last Nig.ht, >6.30 o'clock.) SYDNEY, March 12. The Federal capital was named Can. l>erra by Lady Den,man, wife of the Governor-General, who opened a golden casket containing a slip of paper on which the name was written. Lady Den-man also performed the christening -ceremony. Lord Dfn.ni.an laid the foundation stone of the city, in the presence of a great and representative gathering The weather was fine, a.nd there was a great display of bunting, while a fine military display added to tho spectacular effect. Special trains conveyed -many prominent citizens and- a strong Parliamentary party to Queanbeyan. Thence they were motored to the site of the Ctioit-nl. _ The ceremonies were most impressive, and there was much enthusiasm. The first stone was laid bv, Lord Dennian, the second bv the Hon. A. ffife *" a * v '? »r King 0 Ma I ley, each using a- trowel of trahan gold made by Australian workmen and ornamented I,y typical Auetraban flower®. During tho ceremony, Lord Denman despatched a cable to King Geor"*x announcing that Lady Denman lmd christened Canberra and he had laid the foundation stone. Lord Denman, in the course of a sne°cih, there were people who M-mil-d a sic. whv have a- Federal capital: Why not let the seat of Govbe in MeUienrno or Svdney? Iho "best answer wa« that Federation would have b?en impossible had nnf, a compromise been reached over this matter. Sr/me argued that "a erleral capital would "b'o too covtlv an undertaking; but when they consider:fd the great advantages accruing from Federation, the hotter thi on ah the abolition of int.er-Stal* l duties, the building of the annv and navy, nnd, above all, the creation „of a national Australian -smi-it, it seemed ungenerous to cavil at the expense. Then, hi said, it wa.s not to the advantage of Australia that such a large proportion of its people should be massed in Sydney and Melbourne. "We want other cities," he said. Canlverra would also open a new port in Jervo'is Bay. With the great future ahead of Australia, it was lln' l duty of all patriotic Australians to do their utmost to malce the capital worthy of the Commonwealth—a city bearing perhaps some resemblance to the "City Beautiful''' of our dream*. The tension was intense a<s Lady Denmain, standing on a specially-erect-ed platform, opened the casket and pronounced in clear tones, "I name tho Capital of Australia 'Canberaa.' " The announcement was greeted with prolonged cheering and hat-throwing. The foundation stones laid to-day will carry a commemorative traclivbe column twenty-feet in height. The base will consist, of six blocks of granite, representing the States of the Co mm onwie.nl th, nlac:d ion an a.vis line and Joining in the -centre. The. site of Parliament Kou.-e- will be on Cmberra Hill, and the site of the capital on Mount Kurrajong. Salutes of twenty-on? guns were fired at the opening and conclusion of the christening functions. The Hon. A. Fisher, wiho presided at .a luncheon at which there were four hundred "•nest*. said that the wrangle over the home of the Governinert over. He believed that all narties de-sired to ma-Ve a worthy country and nation. TTrre the- best, thoughts of Australia-, legislatively and administratively, would be exnres- . He hoped, also. that. Canberra would be a seat of learning and a home of arts. The Prime Minister read a cable from the Hon W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of Ne.iv Zealand, congratulating Australians on the important event. and 'hoping that the new city would be worthy of the great Commonwealth in whose welfare and prosperity New Zealand take>« the keenest and most friendly interest. Mr Fisher, in reply, voiced the hope that the two countries would prosper side by side, and work together in all things essential to the common welfare.

The Hon. King O'Malley. in a characteristic peroration, predicted that Australia, woutrl boenme one of the world's' greatest nations. A letter was read from .Sir Edmund Barton, the first Federal Prime Minister, expressing the hiope that in her new seat of Government, Australia would be the mistress in her own house. He l\ a lieverl that •memibers would prove true Federalists, and would make Australia ever stronger as a portion of an Empire whose watchword wn.s duty, and their justice and wisdom would be a, pride to generation after generation. CONGRATULATIONS FROM CANADA. CLOSE IN IDEALS AND ASPIRATIONS. (Recvived Last- Night, 10.30 o'clock.) OTTAWA, March 12. The Prime Minister (Mr Borden) in congratulating the Hon. A. Fisher on the christening of the Capital, said that the two sister Commonwealths, although far removed by miles, were very close in ideals and aspirations of a democracy, and in the common tie which binds the two kindred nations iri a, firm allegiance to the Empire,

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