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

MOGO (From a Correspondent.) – We notice you never have anything in your paper about Mogo, but I suppose that we have lost prestige since we have lost our pub. Well, we can only entertain contempt for the asinine legislation that closes the only hotel in one village and leaves six in another. Apart altogether from the convenience of having a Hotel in a village there is the social side of it. Men can gather together and have a talk and a game of cards and prevent themselves from germinating consumption and other symptoms of “wowserism.” As it is we just have to sit down on the earthenware curb and curse the German Kaiser and amuse ourselves.

It’s a strange thing that some one doesn’t raise coin to have the land about Mogo made available for dairy farms. The hills about Mogo are good sweet grass land, and bullocks and horses turned out in the bush here in winter get fat, which is a thing wouldn’t happen them in many other places on the Coast. There could be a good dairy factory in Mogo in full swing. And there is no reason in life why such land should be locked up on one hand for a gold field reserve that has long since been bottomed and on the other for a timber reserve that has already been depleted when it can be put to good use and provide a living for more people.   27/2/1915

BATEMAN’S BAY (From our Correspondent.) – The one time dreaded task of crossing the Clyde at the Bay has given place to a pleasure trip for the reason that the much-looked-for motor punt is now in active service for the past month, and it is pleasing to know that since the hour of launching not one hitch has been experienced in her work. It is said in some circles that the success can be attributed to the fact that our old and esteemed friend, Mr. Harvison, was the first to board her on her trial trip and silently dedicated her as she glided along the water. Be that as it may, she is a pronounced success, and makes travelling to and from the Bay a pleasure. The cattle drovers are loud in their praises, as they at one time were subject to much vexation in getting their mob of cattle across. To give some idea of the carrying capacity of this new punt Alex Latta informs the writer than 100 head can easily be taken on board at a load, she being 45 x 22ft. with a roadway of 14ft. She carries 6 motor cars easily or 2 7-horse teams without unyoking, in fact Alex puts it as a matter of impossibility to overload her. She is fitted with a fine 16 horse-power engine, and can easily cross in three minutes. The construction was carried out by Mr. Turnbull, of Parramatta…27/2/1915

VICTIMISATION – Sergeant Bond of this Station has asked us to warn the public against two men, one tall and well built, about 30 to 35 years of age, the other a short man about the same age, who are travelling around the country selling a powder mixture for cleaning clothes, hats etc., called “Ammoniac.” The powder is in coloured packets and is being sold by these two men at 2s each, with a promise to deliver six tea cups and saucers to each purchaser, at a later date. The cups and saucers are not delivered as promised, and, in consequence the public are being victimised by means of a false promise.   27/2/1915

Seventeen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1914 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).

Our latest book entitled Kiora Kith and Kin, by Shirley Jurmann is also now available from the Society for $20.