Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 30 June 1917, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
ACCEPTED. – After many unsuccessful attempts to do his bit for his flag and country, Mr. W. H. L. Brooke, formerly assistant at St. John’s Church, Moruya, has been accepted for active service, and will go into camp on 18th July. Brave boy, Brookie!
FRANCE’S DAY. – As “France’s Day has been fixed for 14th of July, which falls on a Saturday, The Red Cross Society members and others attending the public meeting, held on Wednesday night, decided to observe the day on the preceding day, Friday, the 13th July. Open your heart Moruya!
RECRUITS WANTED. – Recruits are still urgently needed to fill up the gaps in the lines of our brave Australian comrades at the front, particularly as infantry reinforcements. Men on enlistment may apply to be allotted to any battalion in which their comrades may already be fighting in. Members of rifle clubs are reminded that they can distinguish themselves as snipers in the N.R.A. 150, which are, when the unit is full, going to the front under Captain Dakin, late secretary of the N.R.A.
FREEZING WORKS. – These works under the management of Mr. J. Mckeon, are settling down on the even tenor of their way. The supply of rabbits, which was very fluctuating for some time, is now running with satisfactory regularity, totalling over 300 pairs or over daily. When Bodalla and Tilba start supplying this average will be considerably increased, the drawback at present being the want of a motor lorry – a good opening for a speculator. The Company has not yet taken on the purchase of fish but answers the convenience of fishermen by storing their catches at so much per basket. Last week the storage amounted to 150½baskets, the high total being due no doubt to the delay of the steamer. Besides fish storage fees there were 60 blocks of ice sold at 2s per block totalling £6. The supply of poultry is beginning to improve, 31 pairs of fowls and 9 pairs of ducks being last week’s supply.
PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. –
Five or six inches of snow on the Monaro last Thursday.
Pte. A. Barclay of Bateman’s Bay is amongst the list of wounded, second occasion.
Efforts are being made to invest the Municipal authorities with power to censor picture films.
A large number of pigs were shipped from Eden on Saturday, including a mob of 180 from Genoa.
A good haul, a trapper at Krawarree one night last week secure 111 pairs of rabbits from 65 traps.
DEATH. – On Monday last the fatal call came to one of the district’s most endearing and beloved women, in the person of Mrs. Keyte, wife of Mr. John Keyte of Turlinjah. The deceased, who if she had lived, would have attained her sixtieth birthday next week, had been suffering from an internal complaint for a number of years. Although obtaining the best medical advice in Sydney her sufferings were unrelieved until the inevitable summons came and she was taken to her eternal home. The late Mrs. Keyte was the daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Cook, of Goulburn, and her kind and charitable disposition endeared her to everyone who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. She leaves to mourn their irreparable loss a devoted husband, three sons, Driver Harry and Gunner Rowley on active service, and Austin, and eight daughters, Medames A. Louttit (Mullenderree), S. Louttit (Gundary), S. Milgate, (North Coast), Sinclair (New Zealand), McDonald (Sutherland), and Misses Alma, Clarice and Lily , to all of whom the “Examiner” extends its deepest sympathy.
BEGA SHIPMENT. The s.s. Merimbula was out in the height of the gale on the coast last week. She left Sydney at 9 on Wednesday night and had a rough time to Jervis Bay, which she ran into for shelter on Thursday morning and remained there until Friday. Captain Swanson states that it was the worst sea he had experienced for 20 years. The vessel reached Tathra at about 1 a.m. on Saturday and the cars landed the weary passengers in town at 2.30 a.m.
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).
