Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of Date 1917, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
LIEUTENANT R. F. Cork, Recruiting Officer, attended Moruya Shire Hall on Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. for the purpose of enrolling recruits, but unfortunately, there were no Patriots present to offer their services for King and Country.
DISAPPOINTMENT. – Private Joe Smith, who got his hand smashed in the fighting at Poizieres, is very much disappointed that the injured member has not sufficiently mended to allow his going back to the front. Joe was on a visit to friends in this district, and was called back to Sydney during the week to receive his discharge.
MEETING LAPSED. – The public meeting, convened by the President of the Shire Council, Mr. Flood, for Monday night to establish a branch of the “Citizens’ War Chest Fund” in Moruya collapsed through paucity of attendance. The Convenor & Messrs J. R. Milne, and W. Ryan, Club House Hotel, were the only attendants.
TIMBER INDUSTRY. – Owing to the stoppage of railway extensions and other public works the demand for timber is slumping to such an extent that it is now being found difficult to keep our regular timber workers in employment. Mr. James, Manager for Allan Taylor & Co. left Moruya in his private car for Sydney on Wednesday morning with a view to securing Queensland or other contracts in order to keep his employees here at work.
DOWN FROM THE NORTH. – Mr Coffey, a brother of the recently deceased Mr. Paddy Coffey of Braidwood, arrived in Sydney, on New Year’s Eve. He is reputedly the owner of an immense pastoral area in the Northern Territory while his livestock assets are set down at 750,000 head of cattle and 80,000 horses. – Braidwood “News.”
A WARNING. – The Hon. Sec. of the Red Cross Society is in receipt of the following letter from the Head Office Sydney: - Dear Madam, - Owing to the fact that a good many of the garments forwarded from Australia to the Commissioners in London find their way in prisoner’s parcels to Germany, it is particularly requested that no letters we enclosed with any of these garments. Serious trouble might ensue if communications, possibly containing references to the enemy were found in parcels on arrival in Germany. We are directed to ask if you will be so good as to make this known as widely as possible amongst your workers. Yours faithfully, GLADYS OWEN and MARJORIE MORT, Joint Hon. Secs.
BODALLA. – (From our Correspondent.) On Tuesday last the picnic in connection with the Church of England Sunday School was held at Dalmeny Beach, where a very enjoyable time was spent by the children and parents, who were driven out by Mr. J. Duncan per motor. Unfortunately after bringing the first load of passengers home the car went on strike and other local cars had to be requisitioned to bring them home.
A very pretty wedding was celebrated at the All Saints’ Church on Wednesday 17th. Inst. when Miss Phyllis Ravallion said “I Will” in reply to the usual question. The bridegroom was Mr. A. J. Berriman of Bodalla. We wish the young couple all the happiness and good luck they deserve – Rev. Lewin was the officiating clergyman.
TOWN TALK. – That Moruya is now recognised as the best fishing ground on the South Coast.
That the tasty whiting is now biting very freely on our beaches.
That “Goldy” Lambert, Heffernan (2), Ireland, and C. Williams comprise a camping party at the Broulee Beach who are having a shining time amongst the finny tribe and the breakers.
That Mr. Dan Skehan, local foreman for the Harbour and Rivers Department, has re-started mending the river training wall where injured by the late floods.
Mr MICHAEL CORRIGAN. – (A native of Moruya) – The last of “Mick” Corrigan’s coaching plant was sold at auction on Tuesday by W. Rixon. The big passenger coach, so familiar here for many years was knocked down to Mr. Frank Behl, of Pambula, for £8. Its disappearance from the roads is a result of the ever increasing motor traffic.
Eighteen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1916 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).
