XXX11. ABSTRACT OP PROCEEDINGS. 



the reason of failure is that no great scheme for the creation of 

 the city was ever heartily entertained. 



Given a complete abandonment of the present practice of lightly 

 regarding the matter of city design, and a really exhaustive study 

 from every possible point of view of any selected site, we have a 

 reasonable prospect of noble and far-seeing designs, and the future 

 cities of the Commonwealth will bid fair to be all that we could 

 wish, so far as the art of city building is concerned. And unique 

 among them, said the author, should be that which will be known 

 as the Capital of Australia. 



EXHIBITS. 



Aboriginal rock carvings. — Mr. R. H. Mathews, l.s., of Parra- 

 matta, exhibited five large plates containing a series of photo- 

 graphic copies of aboriginal carvings found on some flat rocks 

 situated on the Burnett River, at the confluence therewith of Pine 

 Creek, Wide Bay district, Queensland. Many of the drawings 

 are scarcely distinguishable owing to long exposure to the weather, 

 and it was found necessary to freshen up the lines with chalk 

 before taking the photographs. The objects are very numerous, 

 and vary in length from a few inches to upwards of two feet, 

 representing native weapons, animals, human foot-marks, and 

 nondescript devices. The mode of execution was to make a row 

 of punctures along the outline of the drawing by repeated blows 

 with sharp-pointed pieces of hard stone; the spaces between these 

 indentations being then chipped out, making a complete groove 

 along the exterior of the drawing. The positions of these punc- 

 tures are still easily discernable. Mr. Mathews stated that by 

 the courtesy of a friend he succeeded in getting a portion of the 

 rock chiselled out and removed ; this block of stone, containing a 

 very distinct carving of a human foot, was exhibited at the meeting. 



