Enlistments, Hotel Windows, a Death and a Sale – News from 100 years ago

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of this time in 1915, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

TO THE FRONT – Mr. D.A.B. Pollock, solicitor, who has been on a visit to Nerrigundah, informs us that two of its residents have left for Sydney to enlist for the war, and that four others had visited Bodalla with a view of obtaining medical certificates of fitness for the front. Now, Moruya, isn’t it up to you to send a few more volunteers? 16/1/1915

VERY IMPORTANT SALE – Special attention is invited to the announcement appearing in this issue of Mr. A. Millikin’s sale of his private residence and business premises in Church Street. The residence is without doubt one of the best in the town or district. It has eleven large airy rooms with a spacious hall, all lofty and pine lined throughout, all requisite out buildings with water laid on in the kitchen, laundery and bath-room, and in every detail is provided with conveniences for the comfort of the most fastidious occupier. The allotment upon which the residence stands contain ½ an acre with a double frontage, having a width of 60 feet fronting Church St. and a similar area overlooking the town esplanade and Moruya River, the situation being healthy and convenient. Persons desirous of purchasing this lovely residence are requested to make immediate application to the auctioneer, R.H. Harvison. We need hardly make special mention of the business premises as the name of “A. Millikin’s coach and buggy factory” is so popular and widely known throughout the whole State. Such a splendid business as this should be snapped up at once. 16/1/1915

OUR RIVER – Owing to representations made by the Eurobodalla Shire Council, the dredge Tau, which was being dismantled in order to be taken round to Narooma, has been ordered to continue dredging for another month in order to deepen the shallow part of our river where the s.s. Bodalla got fast the week before last. 16/1/1915

OBITUARY – Before going to press yesterday (Friday), we received word of the death of Mr. William Hawdon, at his residence, Kiora. The deceased gentleman had suffered great agony on and off for the past 40 years from rheumatism, and for many years had been confined to his home. He leaves one brother, Francis, of Coila, and one sister, Mrs. Wilson, mother of Mr. Athol Wilson, of this town. Nurse Ethel Emmott was in attendance since Tuesday. Deceased’s age was, we are informed, 83 years. 16/1/1915

HOTEL ALTERATIONS – Moruya publicans are greatly incensed through the drastic enforcement of the Licensing Act by the powers that be. The latest orders are that the licensee must insert additional ventilators in his hotel rooms, and have the windows to open from the top and bottom on rollers. The carrying out of the last-named order will not increase the architectural beauty of the hotel, neither will it add to the present fresh air capacity of some of them. Take for instance Keating’s fine spacious hotel with its extra large and airy front windows which open from top and bottom alike, and which for the simple reason that they don’t run on rollers the proprietor is compelled to expend a large sum of money in having them pulled down and re-erected. 16/1/1915

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).