Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 20 September 1919, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
HOSPITAL BALL. – The initial meeting of ladies to make arrangements for the Annual Hospital Ball was held on Wednesday afternoon. Messrs. T. Flood (chair), A. Wilson, W. Jermyn and Mesdames Sanders, G. Mercer, J Louttit, A. W. Constable, Matron Constable and Miss L. Luck were present. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Mesdames Quilter Flood and S. Ryan. The ladies present were appointed a committee of management with the names of Mesdames Flood, Quilter, S. Ryan and Jermyn added. Mrs. A. W. Constable was appointed Hon. Secretary. It was decided that the Ball be a plain and fancy dress one, the date fixed being Tuesday, 21st October.
PARK TRUST. – At a meeting of the Trustees of the Moruya Park, held on Tuesday night, two applications for the absolute control of the park for certain days were considered. After discussion and careful consideration it was agreed to allow the Pony Club, which had applied for four days, the right of three, viz., Nov. 8th, Jan 1st and the day following the Moruya annual races, provided that the Club agreed to donate the profits of one of the three days to the Moruya Hospital. The amount per day to be charged the Club towards the upkeep of the course and other appointments was discussed. The sums of £10 and £5 being incidentally mentioned but no decision was arrived at. Mr. P. Flynn, Hon. Sec., applied on behalf of the R. C. Church committee for the sole control of the park on the day following the annual show. The request was granted.
SILICA FIND. – Quite a stir has taken place in Moruya during the last week or so, consequent on the discovery of Silica at Congo. Mr. J. McKeon, one of our most persistent mining enthusiasts and party took up an area about three-quarters of a mile south of the old red paint mine discovered some years ago on the bluff overhanging the ocean on a block of land known as Barber’s. This area was pegged out by McKeon and party and a company of silica experts were brought from Sydney to inspect. But the outcrop of silica was not extensive enough. In the meantime Messrs. Fox, H. J. Thomson and G. Barling got busy and had the good luck to drop on a big outcrop on the southern side and close to the red paint mine. Judging from appearances there is an immense quantity of silica, and of the very best quality in this find. Silica is a highly valuable mineral used in blast furnaces.
A BIG GATHERING. – A representative of this paper visited Araluen a few days ago and when his car stopped at Leyden’s Hotel he was greatly impressed by the large gathering of well-dressed people on the hotel verandah and its immediate precincts, that he was inquisitive enough to ask “Is this a Salvation Army meeting, ladies and gentlemen?” “Yes, sir,” came the reply from a smartly dressed gentleman, “and the Captain is in there,” pointing to a room around which the crowd was congregated. The Captain turned out to be Dentist Bull, of Moruya.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH. – WE regret to report that whilst Mrs. Twyford, of Cobargo, mother of Mr. Joe Twyford, Bank of N.S.W., Moruya, was looking from the second floor balcony of a Sydney hotel, she became light-headed, fell and was killed.
HONORS FOR MORUYA. – A recent cable message was published stating that two Australian airmen – Lieutenants Douglas and Ross- were about to commence the flight from England to Australia. Lieut. James Stuart Leslie Ross, who will be 24 next month, was born and educated at Moruya. He is the eldest son of our esteemed townspeople, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Ross, of “The Gunyah,” Gundary, Moruya.
Twenty 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1918 are available ($6 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/publications.html).
