The Beagle
Feb 28, 2019
Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 1 March 1919, provided by the Moruya &
District Historical Society:
At Bateman’s Bay on Tuesday, last week, the marriage was solemnised of Mr Clyde Ladmore and
Miss Olive Balcombe. The ceremony was performed by Rev. E. W. Hyde.
KIORA BRIDGE. – The Kiora Bridge, which was to have been closed to traffic for one week, has now
been in the course of repair nearly three weeks, and the road has been barricaded. It is very
necessary work, but it is also proving a very slow one owing to the flood waters and Kiora residents
will be relieved when it is completed.
SLAYING THE GERMS. – The Influenza Authorities agree that a mouth and throat spray of Sulphate of Zinc is a preventative of influenza. Many Sydney houses are installing inhalation chambers. Pitt, Son & Badgery Ltd., for the benefit of their staff and also country visitors, have fitted up a room for this special purpose.
INOCULATION. – One hundred and fifty nine residents, including children and adults, have been
inoculated by Dr. Quilter, assisted by Nurses Field and Beatsel at the local Depot.
OYSTER-RABBIT DIET. – Mr. Claud Smith, of Mynora, informs us that during the late dry spell cattle
have been seen pulling oysters off the rocks, down Pedro way, and trying to eat them, with the
result that several of the brutes were seen with blood oozing from their mouths. The same
informant states that he has seen cattle pulling live rabbits out of traps and eating them. We can
understand cattle licking oysters or endeavouring to eat them to appease their craving for salt, but
to pull bunnies out of the trapper’s trap and eat him all-alive-O’, must certainly be a species of
hunger madness, produced by starvation of a long duration.
GENEROUS PATRIOT. – Mr. D. Forbes Mackay, who has given many unmistakeable solid evidences of his Patriotism and large hearted generosity since the war began, nearly five years ago, is once more in strong evidence in this connection. This week Mr. Jermyn, Secretary of the local Repatriation
Committee, received from Mr. Mackay, for the Society, the liberal gift of four acres of land situated
opposite the “Mackay Park” (a gift to the inhabitants of Bateman’s Bay by Mr. Mackay) and the
munificent sum of £50.
THE WEATHER. – After one of the longest and most severe droughts with which this district has been visited for many a long year past the weather broke on Sunday evening, when light rain began to fall intermittently. About noon on Monday, however, the long-looked-for elements began to fall in a
most cheerful and decided manner, continuing almost uninterruptedly, the pleasant downpour until
on Thursday morning the rain gauge recorded 12 inches 24 pts.
PAINFUL ACCIDENT. – On Wednesday morning whilst engaged at his usual occupation on the
Nelligen Punt, Mr. Syd Harkus accidently got the indent figure of his right handcaught between the
wire rope and the wheel which was crushed almost to pulp, up to the first joint. The sufferer at once
came to Moruya and was attended to by Dr. Quilter. The doctor is hopeful of saving the finger
without having to resort to amputation, and is keeping the patient in the Cottage Hospital for a few
days so as to devote the attention necessary.
RABBITING ACCIDENT. – On Wednesday morning, tempted no doubt by the heavy rains of the
previous night, young Allan, son of Mr. Bert Coppin, went out rabbiting, but unfortunately his
morning’s sport resulted in a most painful accident. It appears that when about getting a rabbit out
of his burrow, his dog knocked him over, young Allan striking his bare foot against the splintered end
of a log, two large splinters penetrating his foot. Mr. Coppin brought the sufferer to Dr. Quilter, who
after a painful operation, extracted the wood.
Twenty 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1918 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).