The new Eight Hours Act came into force on Monday. The 44-hour week applies to all businesses.

Mr. and Mrs. E. Lawrence, who, on the former’s retirement from the police force, went for a six month’s trip to England, have just returned and have taken up residence in the cottage purchased from Mr. Cheeseman in Campbell Street. [No. 62]

New Years Day witnessed a sad drowning fatality. Miss Betty Brown bathing in the Tuross River with other girl friends suddenly disappeared beneath the water. On alarm being raised the elder members of the party rushed to the spot and immediately Mr. J. Jermyn, Shire Clerk, and Rev. J. J. Campbell, Acting Rector, of Bodalla, not stopping to undress plunged in and made many heroic attempts to reach and find the body. Unfortunately the depth, fifteen feet, was too much for both gentlemen. That both these well-know and beloved citizens should risk their own lives at their advanced age is beyond the praise of those who could only stand on the bank helpless.

Two tourists who belonged to the Sydney life Saving Society happened along half an hour later and were quickly in the water diving in all directions without result. They then raced to their car and got great shark lines to drag the river. The line caught the bathing costume and the body was gently dragged out. They were expert in resuscitation methods and worked for over half an hour. Betty Brown was just 14 and was the fourth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Brown of Bodalla. Next morning her pretty white coffin was conveyed to All Saints’ Church which she had had helped to beautify for Xmas festival, and at 2.30 the bell tolled. A large cortege proceeded to the cemetery. The deepest sympathy is expressed here for the family.

Mr. Mills, C.P.S., has kindly supplied us with the vital statistics for the quarter ending 31^st. Dec., as follows: – Births, males 14, females 6, total 20; marriages 7; deaths, males 8, females, 1, total 9.

A very quiet wedding was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday afternoon, 16^th December. The contracting parties were Lancelot, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Sly, Turlinjah, and Clarice Irene, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Walsh, Public School, Turlinjah. The wedding breakfast (at which only immediate relatives were present) was held at the residence of the bride’s brother, “Craiglee,” Rawson St., Waverley. Later in the afternoon the happy couple left for Katoomba, the bride wearing a smart frock of navy crepe-de-chine, with a biscuit hat.

It is rumored that the Police Station and Court house is to be removed from Nerrigundah to Bodalla. A public meeting is called to protest against this injustice to the goldfield.

Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc. If you are interested in history why not join us and become a volunteer at the Museum or our library. Check us out at https://www.mdhs.org.au