ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. XXV1L 



conclusion, states that rain is shewn for three periods of nearly 19* 

 years each, 'to come in times of abundance when the moon is in 

 certain degrees of her motion south, and when the moon begins to 

 go north, the droughty conditions prevail for 7 or 8 years,' which he 

 said is ' either a marvellous coincidence, or it is a law connecting 

 the two phenomena,' and he is convinced that there is some con- 

 nection between the two. 



2. "The theory of City Design," by G. H. Knibbs, f.r.a.s. 



The duty of designing and setting out an important city (the 

 Federal Capital), is one which, in the near future and in the 

 ordinary course of things, will be cast upon the Commonwealth 

 of Australia. An elaboration of the principles which should 

 govern the design of such a city, and a statement of the several 

 matters which call for systematic consideration in connection 

 therewith was undertaken by the author, pointing out that a. 

 capital city, its general design, its utilitarian and aesthetic features, 

 constitute and enduring monument of the intelligence and fore- 

 sight, the nobility of the sentiment, and the dignity of the artistic 

 idea of the people creating it ; that in order to prevent poverty 

 of conception, or present limitations, so operating as to make 

 it forever impossible to create a beautiful city, it is absolutely 

 necessary that the requirements and probable developments of the- 

 far-distant future should be fully considered and liberally provided 

 for in the design. 



The subject was then systematically treated under the following 

 headings: — 1. Introductory. 2. General idea of a city. 3. 

 Radial street-system. 4. Position of radial centres. 5. Com- 

 bination of radial and rectangular street-systems. 6. Curved 

 streets. 7. Cardinal direction of rectangular streets. 8. Width 

 of streets. 9. Localisation of the various types of street. 10. 

 Grade and cross-section of streets. 11. Engineering features of 

 streets. 12. Size of blocks between streets. 13. Height of 

 buildings. 14. Theory of aspect. 15. The aesthetics of design. 

 16. Sites for monumental buildings and monuments. 17. Treat- 

 ment of streets from the standpoint of aesthetics. 18. Public 



