One hundred years ago – 29 November, 1913

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

FIRST WEDDING – Mrs. Grundy says that the first wedding in the Kiora Church will shortly take place, the contracting parties being the acknowledged belle of that pretty little village and a Tilba gentleman.  29/11/1913

CLOSE CALL – On Sunday last whilst surf bathing on the north side of the Moruya River entrance, Mr. P. Lynch, of Mullenderree, and one of our most enthusiastic and daring surfers, had a close call from a watery grave.  As usual ‘Pat’ was a long way out from the shore when he was carried still further out by a strong current.  Noting his signs of distress Messrs. Herb Davis, Eric Rogers and Mrs. Kenningham sent out a poll to which the almost exhausted man clung until he was floated within reach of the rescuers.  29/11/1913

TO ALL CONCERNED – Young, November 18, 1913. – Having noticed in copies of newspapers published in the Bega electorate that there are some statements which reflect on the character of Mr. H.R. McWilliam, who is a candidate for the forthcoming elections, we hereby beg to inform the electors  of Bega that, having been connected with the Burrangong electorate at the time Mr. McWilliam stood for that constituency, and having been in close contact with him right through the contest, that never in the history of election matters for the past twenty years has the Liberal candidate worked so hard and successfully as Mr. McWilliam did.  Night and day, right up to the close of the poll, he worked with zeal to win the seat for the Liberals, and we regret now to find that exception is being taken to his efforts on that occasion, and also that the records of the Association – which should be held sacred – are being used against him in his present appeal to the electors.  We have cognisance that the Central body advanced £50 to finance the election, but we also know that the money was not used by Mr. McWilliam for his personal comforts, but was used by his committee for the purpose of the election.  We regret that Mr. McWilliam did not see his way clear to contest the Burrengong seat again, as we now feel sure that if he had done so, after the work he put up in the 1907 contest, he would almost have had a sure seat.  At that time he put up a good clean fight, regardless of the tax on his business and private interests, and reduced the majority of the Labour vote much greater than it has been before or since. – Yours faithfully, CLARENCE H. ELLERMAN, HENRY SPEER, HENRY SHEATTER, F. BEARD, J.T. CHEW, C. WRIGHT.

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).