One hundred years ago today…….

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of this time in 1913, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

HOSPITAL BEE. – It is computed by Mr. Dawson that fully 35 tons of earth were ploughed and shifted with barrows by a bee of eight workers at the hospital on Wednesday in the preparation of hospital tennis court. Two more Wednesday afternoon bees will about complete the charitable undertaking. The names of the workers at each bee will be published when the tennis court is complete. 16/8/1913

BUCKENBOWRA WATTLE BARK COMPANY. – On Saturday last our special representative visited the above Company’s wattle bark, grinding and extracting works just erected on their big estate purchased some four years ago from Messrs. Mater and Cork at a fairly large sum. For the information of our readers not acquainted with the geography of this district we may state that Buckenbowra is situated about seven miles nor’-west of Mogo and 17 miles from Moruya by vehicular road, although it can be reached by rough bridle tracks via Lynch’s late mills along a leading range, or from Moggendoura Estate, in about half that distance. Buckenbowra was originally cleared by convict labor and was noted in the early days for the excellent quality of its fat cattle and its attraction for horses that had once tasted the sweetness of its pastures. Since the days of the late Donald McLeod and G.D. DuRoss the whole of the once lovely estate has been swept at various times by bush fires, with the result that the major portion of its once grassy hills and dales, estimated at over 4,000 acres, are now covered with the very best quality of tannin wattle in the State. It was owing to the quality and vast quantity of its wattle that the present Company purchased, and if the tannin extraction comes near to what is estimated by the new process, well, then, the Company will not only make two fortunes but a great boom will take place in the district. Mr. Julius Vider, Manager of the Estate, has control of the big new works. The mill was erected under the supervision of Mr. W. Dutton of the Sydney Machine Co., in a great forest of young wattle about 1 ½ miles north-west from the homestead and close to a never failing stream of pure running water. The mill boiler is 25 h.p. of colonial type, and the engine a Tangye of 12 h.p. The bark plant consists of chopper and mill capable of putting through six tons daily. When ground the bark is ready for tanners’ use without any further trouble. Fifty tons have already been treated and bagged… 16/8/1913

A BIG DAY’S SPORTS will be held on MR.E. RICHARDS’ SPORTS GROUND, EUROBODALLA, on Friday 29th Aug., 1913, to commemorate the opening of SCHOOL OF ARTS. – £20 Prize Money. – EVENTS: – Eurobodalla Handicap…, Hunting contest…, Rescue Race…, Flag Race…, Hurdle Race…, Gretna Green Race…, Lady’s Flag Race…OTHER EVENTS: – Obstacle Race, Egg & Spoon Race, Sack Race, Bowling At Wicket, Stepping Competition, Hop Step and Jump, &. A GRAND BALL To Follow in the Eurobodalla Hall. – Good Music & Refreshments Provided… 16/8/1913

Fourteen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1912 are available ($5 ea) from the society’s rooms. Copies of local newspapers from the 1860s to date can be viewed at the society’s Family History Research Centre (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Pioneer Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (mdhs.org.au).