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- In the case of the bricks I saw and handled at the Federal Capital site, one could take off the corners with finger and thumb. I had made complaints before in regard to the deficiencies of the selected Capital site, and so I wanted, by my own personal observation, to rectify any mistakes I had made or to justify my statements. I admit that I saw the Cotter river under charming conditions, which left an impression which is hard to remove ; but, at the same time, I find from the figures that the flow of 160,000,000 gallons a day is often reduced to 4,000,000 gallons. In the Sydney Bulletin of this week appears the following little poem, which puts the case very much better than I could : - Rock, and gorge, and dust; Scrub and fatten tree - Kerosene tin - bust ; Lizards running free. Here and there a tent, Shows a dingy peak, Where the dwellers went Hunting for the creek. Hungry is the land - " Stony, brown and bare ; Thirsty is the band Stuck forlornly there ! Desolate and dry, Round and round about - Winds that whistle by, Speak of Coming Drought. Should it strike next week On the Site of Fools, With Molonglo Creek Just a chain of pools. What, oh, what the tale That we shall be told? " Rivers never fail . . . Mountains full of gold! . . . Scenery superb! . . . Cataracts and lakes . . . Pools no winds disturb . . . Not a sign of snakes. . . . Thus - and thus - and thus - Through the Press that rules, Comes the tale to us, From the Site of Fools ! It would appear that even the Department of Home Affairs is much in doubt as to the desirability of the site that has been chosen for the Federal Capital, judging by the following circular issued by the Minister for the information of persons, undertaking work there - The greater part of the city area lies on the Molonglo River, and during periods of prolonged dry weather the river ceases to run. It is readily fordable at short intervals during the greater part of the year, though subject to sudden alterations in volume. In 1891 the highest recorded flood took place, when the waters overflowed the selected site for the Federal Capital. The maximum record summer temperature is 104 . deg. During winter the temperature frequently falls below freezing point.