One hundred years ago – 31 January, 1914

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of this time in 1914, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

MCCAULEY’S BATHS– The enclosure of a spacious salt water bath and the erection of two dressing sheds on the north side of the river and close to his Criterion Hotel by Mr. V. McCauley, – which are to be publically opened today – givesanother strong evidence of the pluck and progressiveness of our Mullenderree bona face.  The cleanliness, up-to-datedness and general excellent management of the Criterion Hotel has become a household word all along the Far South Coast, as well as on the tableland, and to complete its comforts and convenience the enterprising proprietor in addition to a commodious motor launch has now added the bath and dressing sheds.  A dip in McCauley’s baths will quickly become a popular pastime with the public to whom they will be open on a small membership fee.   31/1/1914

VISITORS to Moruya for either show or races would do well to remember that they do not own the town.  The police have a say in that.   31/1/1914

LANGUAGE – Charles Duggan, a stranger in Moruya, was arrested on Tuesday night in Vulcan Street, and on the following morning was fined £2 by Mr. Crowley for indecent language.   31/1/1914

HOLIDAYS – An application by the Moruya Race Club for a public holiday on the opening day of the annual races, Monday next, has been granted.  The application of the Show committee for two half holidays on the 11th and 12th has not been complied with, but the usual one day has been gazetted.  31/1/1914

DISHONEST – We regret being forced to almost believe that there is a dishonest person in this district.  Some four weeks ago a valuable saddle-cloth was lost in the vicinity ofGundary, but not withstanding the fact that it was well advertised for it has not yet come to light.  Perhaps some hungry bovine ate it. – Perhaps!   31/1/1914

CLOSED HOTELS – Now that fresh licenses have been granted to closed hotels under the Local Option vote, would it not be an opportune time to make application for the re-licensing of Nerrigundah and Mogo hotels.  By the closing of these hotels the travelling public have been greatly inconvenienced and sly-grog selling assisted.  31/1/1914

HUMANITARIAN – We are pleased to see that the Minister for Education is launching out on the blazed lines of the LaborParty’s humanitarian platform, which so strongly appealed to so many of us three years ago, and is now considering the case of school children suffering from adenoids whose parents are unable to pay high fees for performance of an operation by surgeons, some of whom ask as high as £12.

A LITERARY VISITOR – On Sunday evening we were honoured by a visit from the well-known and popular Australian composer of prose and poetry, Mr. E.J. Brady.  This genius is now travelling throughout the State writing a book for the Commonwealth, and although the mammoth work was undertaken as a private enterprise the whole of the States are now subsidising the compiler, as they recognise itsfar- reaching potentialities.  Mr. Brady, who was at one time a journalist of note, at present has his residence in Melbourne, and is accompanied by Mrs. Brady, who turned her back on the odoriferous Yarra for a health recruiting tour of Sunny New South Wales.  Mr. and Mrs. Brady, who had put up at Keating’s Hotel, proceeded south on Monday per medium of Mr. O. Harrison’s private motor car.  31/1/1914

Sixteen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1913 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).