Last, but far from least of im-
Pertance, Lord Stonehaven, mention ed the steps towards uniform gauge communications round and across Austr The work has begun "with comparatively small endeavours, The. present mai inter-state ines permit direct communication between the five capitals over a distance of some 3,475 miles, travelled at an average speed of, inclusive of changes and stoppages, 21 miles per hour. At the present! time Queensland' and Western Awtralid, with the North. ern Territory and some portions of South Australia have 26" gauge, all the States have oddments of line a different gauge to that used on their main lines, which" seems rather absurd and unmethodical them, The entire cost of unifiention throughout the Commonwealth ould be something like £57,200,- 000, while direct " communication, unification would cost at least £21, 600,000; This estimate provides for continuous main trunk line from Fremantle, the port of Perth, to the soutiiast' roughly following the coastal contour running as far north Brisbane. The commencement announced by the Governor-General in his reference to the 0- operation of New South Wales and Queensland on a section of permanent way from Brisbane to: Kyogle Jeonnecting. with the New 8 Wales 484 gauge, and so forming coastal communication from Bris-bene to Bombala in the southern Jecrner New 'South Wales. 'The trona-continental line also 4.85 follows the coast from Port Augusta most of the vay till very near to its present terminal, Golden Ridge in W. A, and' New South W: Linked with South Austral Till, leaving a short in Yening apace between Broken Hill and Port Augusta to be traversed, Victoria has so far hell aloof from all attempts to contribute to this obcommercial and defensive the cold.
leaves Tasmania more out in the cold than ever as it. affects their communication with the other states, 'The Governor-General has annouineed, that in addition to the! work on the east coast of Queensland, tenders have been called for 4 lise to connect the Katherine river areas which are being. thrown open, and taken up for grazing, ith' Daly Waters, roughly midway between the Gulf of Carpentaria, ud Wyndham on the west coast of North Auctralia. This may induce ther capital to return to the ttitory, and at any rate allow stock men to get their animals to port without months of weary!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.