Not Quite a Lady ‘Booby’!

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

Editor’s note: One hundred years ago today – October 25. The euchre party sounds like great fun. I certainly remember family stories of keenly -fought euchre tournaments! The picture in the header of this post  is of  eucalyptus radiata. This is the type of eucalyptus used in the still at Nerrigundah.

BURGLARY. – On Sunday last some sneak thieves gained access to Mr. T. Mitchell’s fruit shop and abstracted about £20 in notes and gold from the till and a gold ring.  The thief evidently had a fair knowledge of the position of the side entrance to the shop, as well as being rather daring, as he had to enter two doors and traverse a long hall before he could reach the till.  Everyone sympathises with the genial “Tom” in his loss, as he is a good natured fellow and would give double that amount to anyone he thought was in need of it, but he strongly resents it being taken from him in that surreptitious fashion.    25/10/1913

WALDRON Swamp property for lease by tender.    25/10/1913

A PREDICAMENT. – What may have been a serious accident was averted last week by one of our local expert rodmen.  It appears that a party set out for a day among the finny tribe, and while in the endeavour to catch prawns for bait one of its members had the misfortune to sink neck deep in black mud, and had it not been for the timely rescue of his comrades no more thrilling fish yarns would be heard.  We are often in trouble through our steamer getting stuck, but when our Agent has to be dredged out it is quite time that some more up-to-date and effective means were devised to clear our river of its many pitfalls.  25/10/1913

EUCHRE PARTY. – There was a packed house at the Mechanics’ Euchre Party and Dance on Friday night of last week.  Mrs. P. Lynch turned up trumps by euchring all the ladies present for the first prize, a biscuit barrel; and Mr. J. Hammond did the same with the sterner sex and claimed a set of military brushes.  Miss O. Black wasn’t altogether a lady “booby” as she won a pretty silver-mounted jam dish, and Mr. W. Barber an L.&Co. pipe for gent’s booby prize.  Mr. P. Strahan was consoled by winning a set of sleeve links.  The Mayor, Mr. T. Flood, sat and kept his keen eye on the king table, whilst Messrs. E.J. Egan, Somerset and G. Gordon saw that all players had a fair deal.  Mr. G. Hanscom kept count of the door money and Mr. E. Watts was dealer in the admission cards.  After play concluded stacks of cake, generously supplied by the ladies, were cut, everyone holding a “flush” in this round.  Dancing was then indulged in, Mr. O. Clarke, a visitor, being the “right bower” at the piano.  The committee’s return for their efforts was £8 after deducting £2 for expenses.  25/10/1913

EUCALYPTUS. – Professor H.G. Smith, assistant Curator and Chemist of the Technological Museum, Sydney, paid the district a visit with Mr. Foster Harrison last week, and was greatly interested in the species of trees.  He also tested the oils now being made in the vicinity, pronouncing them to be of excellent quality and conforming to the B.P. Standard.  He also visited the dredge and was courteously shown over the same by members of the syndicate.  We understand that Messrs. Wilson, Fraser and Hatterley are also starting to work their lease next week.   25/10/1913

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).