The Moruya Examiner – The Facebook of 100 years ago

Featured image: “The Sirdar’ Lever Watch from the MDHS collection. Watches were a common gift given to men going away to war.

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 8 January 1916, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society

DEATH – Mr. Ryan of the Queanbeyan district, and father of Mrs. “Chris” Lynch of the Burra, passed over to join the Great Majority this week. Mrs. Lynch and Mr. R. Carden went up to attend the funeral by special car on receipt of the sad news.

VISITOR – The Very Rev. Father Quilter, arrived from Melbourne on Thursday, on his annual visit to his brother, Dr. Quilter. This popular priest, we are pleased to report, is in excellent health.

OBJECTION – Mr. A. Veitch of Shallow Crossing Saw Mills, has objected through Mr. Morton, member for the district, to the reduction in frequency of the Nelligen-Brooman mail service to twice weekly. Mr. Chapman informs us the objection is being considered and that Mr. Veitch will be further advised.

AUCTION SALES – Today (Saturday) , Mr. C. Keating’s 300 head of cattle will be offered in the Moruya yards, and on 21st M. & J. O’Reilly will hold a monster sale of 1000 head in Gourlay’s yards, Cobargo. Next Wednesday H. J. Thomson will hold Mrs. F. Hawdon’s clearance sale at Coila and on the following Saturday the various privileges in connection with the Annual and Pony Races will be offered at 2 p.m. and the “Moruya Tilba Times” on the same afternoon at 3 p.m.

NAROOMA WARRIOR – Narooma has added another to its grand list of brave young men who have enlisted for the front in the person of Mr. Walter, son of Mr. George Fuller, of that district. Young Walter was very anxious to enlist from the very first, and has been waiting for his parent’s consent which he has now obtained. He left by the Merimbula last Saturday, accompanied by his father, for Sydney. Good luck to you Walter, you are wanted by your comrades, as are also many more of your countrymen.

NEW STARTING MACHINE – Mr. Robert Miller, in charge of the Head’s Pilot Station, has invented a new starting machine which was used for the first time at the ½mile post on New Year’s Day with entire satisfaction. The machine is ball-bearing and when released the webb flies up with such lightning like momentum that it would be impossible, it is claimed, for a horse to get caught in it. This new invention, which some say is better than Grey’s Beat, is to be known as “Constable’s Machine,” and the inventor, Mr. Miller, holds protective patent rights for the Commonwealth under that title.

FAREWELLED – At his parent’s residence on Tuesday night Mr. Arthur Thomson, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Thomson, of Church Street, was the recipient of a send off and presentation in the shape of a radium wrist watch, military brushes and a pair of razors. The side verandah was curtained in, where a long supper table was set out with a most sumptuous repast. There were over 40 friends present and a most delightful evening was spent in singing, dancing and speechifying, the principal performers being Messrs. G. A. McDonald and P. Knight, Misses Tyson (Newcastle), N. Mylott, Lynch (Narooma), A. E. Kennedy and Olive Thomson. The brave young Australian left for Sydney the following morning.

QUEEN OF THE DAY – Moruya is to have a Queen but who is she to be? On Wednesday last the Allies Day Committee decided to have an election to test the matter. Look at the advertisement in this issue, and, boys, get busy and let Mr. Dixon have the name of your nominee by Wednesday next, and then do all you can to get her at the head of the poll. We hear Bergalia is going to run a candidate and that two or three local popular ladies have consented to let their friends snatch the crown for them. There’s no time to be lost. A fortnight’s good work and Moruya will put the Bay in the shade. 3000 votes a day will do it.

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 Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (www.mdhs.org.au).
A New DVD entitled Soldiers of the Eurobodalla, Stories of our Locals is also now available from the Society.