Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 9 February 1918, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
BODALLA PUBLIC SCHOOL. – The following pupils of the above school succeeded in passing the recent Q. C. exam: - George A. Brown, E. Illingworth, Ivy Milliner, Annie C. Brown, Mervyn Hogan, George McIntyre. This result reflects much credit on Mr. Hogan the former teacher. Hopes are entertained that one at least of the above will secure a bursary.
NO MORE RABBITS. – Mr. B. Box (manager of the Wagga Freezing Works) stated on Friday afternoon that Messrs. Curtis and Curtis (one of the largest exporting firms) had advised him of a cable from the British Government intimating that owing to all available shipping being diverted to America, it will not require any further supplies of rabbits from Australia.
RISKY TRIP. – Last week Mr. Weatherby, our speculative chemist, selected two Buick motor cars in Sydney, one, a six cylinder, for his own passenger traffic, and a four cylinder for Mr. A. F. Emmott. Notwithstanding the torrential rains Mr. Weatherby, accompanied by Mrs. Weatherby, his Chauffeur, and another lady and child, left Sydney at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and despite the rain, gales and flooded creeks made a dash for Nowra, which they reached at 2 a.m. on the following morning. After a few hours rest the adventurers started for Moruya, which was reached the same day. At Wollongong, where nine inches of rain had fallen, Mr. Weatherby was warned not to attempt to cross a number of creeks, which were named, but, being buoyed by the bravery of his chauffeur, he plunged through at full speed, followed by his game lieutenant, and altho’ the wheels for a time were completely covered with water, every creek was safely negotiated.
NARROW ESCAPE. – Mr. D. McTavish had a remarkably narrow escape from a serious accident on Saturday last on the Araluen Mountain. He was driving his motor car with six or seven passengers on board, up the mountain. The road was in a terrible state as a result of the heavy rain. All went well, however, until after Blatchford’s turning was reached. There the car ran into a hole of mud. The passengers all got off excepting a lady and child, who were sitting in the front seat with Mr. McTavish. Mr. McTavish reversed his engine with the object of backing out of the hole into which the car had got, instead of pulling out. He succeeded in doing this, but his car got pace on when it left the hole, and ran into the fence, and smashing it, went over the side of the mountain, which is very steep at this spot. Fortunately the car had only gone a very short way when it struck a large tree which completely blocked its downward career. The car was damaged in several parts but Mr. McTavish may consider himself lucky having any of it left to tell the tale.
DEATHS. – News reached Moruya yesterday of the death of two old identities of the district in the persons of Mrs. Ryan, of Bateman’s Bay, aged 90 years, an aunt of Mrs. C. Johnson of the Vulcan Street stores, and Mr. Thomas Gildea, of Sydney, and formerly of this district, which occurred at Narooma, where he had been on a visit.
ANGLING. – A party of local residents and a couple of visiting friends, who have been camping down at Broulee Heads during the last couple of weeks, have been having the most glorious time among the finnies at all times so plentiful in that locality. The party comprise Messrs “Goldie” Lambert, Cecil Williams, Cletus Heffernan and B. Ireland. Fishing has been done from off the beach and rocks from the North side, and the catches, which have been so plentiful that curing has been resorted to with many scores that could not be used or given away. The varieties principally hooked consisted of Schnapper, Bream, Whiting and Flathead, over 100 of the latter being landed on Sunday morning.
Nineteen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1917 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).
