Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 5 July 1919, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
TILBA GRANITE. – Some weeks ago a very stirring and pointed article from the pen of J.T.B. appeared in these columns pointing out the latent repository of wealth lying in our fine and extensive quarry of granite now locked up and unworked at deep water on the edge of our river, between Malabar Creek and Garlandtown. Speculators who recognise the present and future value of this superior class of granite for building purposes have gone further south along the coast, with the result that a company under the title of D. W. Custer and Co., Ltd, have unearthed a quarry of stone of extra fine and beautiful quality at Tilba. We have been favoured with two small blocks of this granite by the Coy.; both blocks are polished on one side and are of distinctly different texture and color. One quality, marked by the proprietors as “Tilba Grey,” resembles in colour, altho’ finer in grain, our Moruya quarry granite, from which the large pillars around the Sydney Post Office were taken.; the other piece named “Tilba Black Pearl” is very much darker in colour and finer in texture and is sure to become of high commercial value.
LATEST TELEGRAMS. – SYDNEY FRIDAY.
The Department of Instruction granted an extra week’s holiday, resuming on July 14.
2360 deaths from influenza occurred in the city for the quarter just ended. They exceeded births in June.
The British airship R34 has so far covered a thousand miles towards America and is going safely.
PROCLAMATION. – On Thursday evening Dr. Quilter and the Shire Council received the following wire in connection with the ‘flu outbreak from the Minister for Health.
“Proclamation will be issued imposing the following restrictions on all persons within Moruya Police District on and after 4th inst.: Masks to be worn by every person in public motor cars, public lifts, shops, in workrooms and at auction sales. No person to remain in any licensed hotel bar for longer period than five minutes except such person be the licensee. Billiard rooms, reading rooms, libraries, music halls picture shows to be closed and kept closed. “
INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC. –
Mr. Matthew Keating, of Mullenderree, a son of the late Mr. John Keating, who was taken to the Moruya Hospital in a very bad state on Friday suffering from influenza, and died on Sunday.
There were seven influenza patients in the Hospital on Wednesday, viz: Willie Simon, M. Honan, Jack Rogers, Lex. Johnston, - Ivelt, Nellie Ivers and Eddie Bartlett, all of whom were doing well.
The influenza scare has got into Nelligen and many families are suffering with it. Dr. Quilter has been summoned up as far as Shallow crossing.
Coming nearer home Moruya has had a fair number of cases. The Heads (Newstead) has had the full strength of the present wave, which we are pleased to say, is so far only in a mild form.
There is no doubt whatever that Bega, Bermagui and Braidwood have had the “dinkum” ‘flu (pneumonic influenza) as each place has had a number of deaths.
DEATHS. – We have again to record with sincere regret the untimely demise of another esteemed young resident of this district in the person of Mr. Matthew Keating, second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Keating, of Mullenderree, which sad event took place at the Moruya Cottage Hospital on Sunday afternoon. Deceased, who was only 38 years of age, leaves two brothers and two sisters, the only one now residing in this district being Mrs. Bert Taylor.
PIONEER GONE. – At the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Sid. Harkus (Nelligen) another old Australian pioneer, in the person of Mrs. Samuel Kimpton, for very many years a resident of Deua River, passed over the great Divide on Tuesday at the age of 77 years. The late Mrs. Kimpton, who was a member of the Jessop family of Nerrigundah gave birth to no less than 18 children, 14 of whom are still alive.
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).
