Moruya was blessed with over 5 inches of rain in one week!

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 6 December 1919, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

TERRIBLE AFFLICTION. – A shocking tragedy occurred at Kyogle on Sunday morning, when three children – Bertha Amy Arnett (16), Eva Maude Arnett (13) and Francis Ernest Arnett (11) – were drowned in the Richmond River.

They went to the river where it is believed the boy went in to bathe, and getting out of his depth, his sisters went to his rescue. No one actually saw them, and it was not until a search was made that the boy’s clothes were found on the river bank. The three bodies were recovered in 13 ft of water. The girls were fully clothed.

The waterhole drops suddenly from 3 to 12 feet, and it is assumed that the boy walked over the edge and getting into difficulties, the sisters attempted to save him.

They were the children of Mr. E. L. Arnett, who had recently arrived in the district. One son was killed at the front and another has just returned.

Much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Arnett in his terrible affliction. The three victims were natives of Moruya.

PUBLIC MEETING. – The public meeting convened for Tuesday evening in the Mechanics Hall was well attended. The object for which the meeting was called, viz., the formation of a Progress Association was unanimously decided upon and the membership fee was fixed at 2/6 per annum. Mr. Thomson suggested that a suction dredge we secured at once to make the river navigable, and it was decided that a letter with the request be sent to Capt. Millar.

MORUYA was blessed with over five inches of rain this week.

NEW COMPANY. – The Nerrigundah Dredging Syndicate have sold their dredge and leases to a company formed in Sydney and the purchase money was paid last week. The new company has been registered as “The South Coast Gold Dredging Company, No Liability.”. E. B. Wareham Esq. Manager of the Adelaide Steamship Company has been appointed Chairman of Directors. Mr. C. Roberts, who has spent several weeks prospecting the property, has been appointed Dredge Master and has every confidence for the future success of the undertaking. Mr. Roberts comes with a good reputation, having had considerable experience in similar positions in New Zealand.

RED CROSS meeting on Tuesday next.

DON’T MISS the grand dramatic entertainment in Mechanics’ next Monday night.

WEDDING. – An extremely pretty wedding was solemnised at Coila Presbyterian Church on Wednesday afternoon last between Constance (Connie), eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Cantlay, of “Fern Hill,” Coila, and Henry James, second son of Mr. and Mrs. McDonald of Sydney, the Rev. E. S. Henderson officiating. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked very charming in a beautiful gown of ivory crepe de chine and georgette embossed with crystals, the court train of shell pink crepe de chine lined with ninon of the same delicate shade, and richly embroidered with beads and true lovers’ knots. The handsome bridal veil, wreathed with orange blossoms, was a gift of her cousin, little Miss Mary Behl (Bega). The bride carried a shower bouquet (presented by a girl friend) of white carnations, bride’s blossoms and asparagus fern, with just a touch of pink. A reception, followed by a social was held in the Coila-Turlinjah Hall. Later Mr. and Mrs McDonald left by special car for Sydney en route to Melbourne, where the honeymoon will be spent.  

CRICKET. – The following team will represent Moruya against Mogo on the local wicket today: Flanaghan, Carter, Seldon, Bastian, Knight, B. Coppin Senr., B. Coppin Jnr., Jones, Latham, Dixon, and McDonald. Match to start at 2 p.m. sharp.

Do a good turn – yourself not a bad one- and buy your Xmas gifts at the Methodist Xmas Tree and Market Dec. 13th.

FEATURED IMAGE: Coila Presbyterian Church

The Moruya Museum houses a collection of furniture, books, artefacts and memorabilia that is intended to show visitors something of the lives of the ordinary people of this community from the middle of the nineteenth century. Most items on display were donated by local families. 

To explore the museum’s online collection click HERE.

Click to read a copy of the current museum brochure.

Twenty 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1918 are available ($6 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/publications.html).