A lady bank clerk comes to Bega and other news from 100 years ago.

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 2 September 1916, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – Miss Simpson of “Carolyn” who recently forwarded a large parcel of old kid gloves has received the following acknowledgement from Mrs. E. A. Harris, 283 George St, Sydney : – “Please accept my earnest thanks for your very kind contribution of old kid gloves for making into Aviator’s jackets. You will be pleased to hear that last shipment per R.M.S. Malwa amounted to 3750, making in all twelve thousand five hundred shipped to date.

LADY BANK CLERK – Bega is to have its first lady bank clerk. Miss Florrie Jauncey of Angledale and niece of Mrs. T. Walter and Messrs. Jeffrey Bros of this town, having been appointed to a position in the local branch of the Bank of New South Wales.

THE WEATHER – Unless this district is blessed with a bounteous fall of rain within the next few weeks everything will be looking exceedingly blue for both man and beast. From Braidwood on the tableland away back north-west there has been a superabundance of the watery element, but, unfortunately, Jupiter Pluvius has turned his back on Moruya and the coast districts further south, with the result that at the present time they are in a very bad way for both water and grass.

SYMPATHY – Very much sympathy was expressed for Miss Elliott, Assistant Teacher at the Moruya Public School, when news was received in town that her second brother, Angie Basil Elliott, had been killed in the firing line in France. The Elliott family, apparently, are of a highly strung and patriotic nature, as the father of that ilk, the Rev. Robert Elliott, is a recruiting enthusiast, is Chaplain of the Snowy River Volunteers, and was down in Goulburn when they were leaving for the front.

SAD NEWS – Profound and widespread was the sympathy expressed for Mr. and Mrs. Crayton Burns and family when the sad news became known that a cable had been received by the Rev. Mr Walsh announcing the death of their third son, Corporal Ralph Whitely Burns, in the firing line in France. He enlisted in December last at Cootamundra and marched with the “Kangaroos” to Sydney. He received his training in Goulburn and left Sydney in April with the rank of Corporal.

NERRIGUNDAH – (From our Correspondent.)   During the week there happened two very severe accidents. Master George Warren was driving a horse in a sulky when the horse swerved suddenly and struck the wheel against a post, throwing the driver out. The horse then bolted up the street and jumped a wire fence leaving the wheels behind a careering up the creek with the shafts and seat. George, who had run after the horse, headed him and in trying to stop the animal was struck by the seat and knocked over some rocks and severely bruised about the legs and body. He is now on the way to recovery.

Mr. W. E. Guest, while distilling eucalyptus oil at “Grass Tree” was severely scalded about the face and arms by steam. The stills were boiling fiercely when Mr. Guest noticed the steam escaping from one of the tanks and went to put on another clip. While driving the clip on the other clip flew off and the steam rushed out, scalding him severely on the face, neck and arms. He immediately bathed the scalded parts with eucalyptus oil which eased the pain almost immediately.

TOWN TALK –

– That a grampus was killed at the bay, Eden, by killers last week.
– That Mr. T. M. Royd, the squire of “Durham Hall” near Braidwood, motored to Moruya with two lady friends on Monday, and after surfing at the Heads returned home via Bateman’s Bay and Nelligen; and
– That the sight of friend Tom’s two fair companions caused more than one Moruya fair lass to turn green with jealousy.
– That Pte. Les. Ross, eldest son of Mr. J. L. Ross, is now learning Wireless Telegraphy at the Moore Park camp.
– That if some of our able-bodied single men, who do not pay their honest debts but prefer clandestinely carrying drink to the homes of married men in their absence, would enlist, there would be fewer unhappy families, even in this district. Nuff said.

Seventeen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1915 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).