SHOULD YOUNG GIRLS MARRY SOLDIERS? A HOT TOPIC FROM 100 YEARS AGO

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 19 February 1916, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

SALE OF NEWSPAPER – R. H. Harvison reports the sale of the Moruya-Tilba “Times” newspaper, in the assigned Estate of the late Mr. George Haslock, to Mrs. J. Lindsay.

QUICK TRIP – Messrs. Kable and G. H. James left Moruya the other afternoon in the former’s motor bike with side car, visited Araluen and returned the same evening, the up journey being accomplished in two hours.

Mr GH James of Lynwood, Moruya owned the first Ford on the south coast as well as the first Triumph motorcycle.

PARK TRUST – There was a full attendance of members of the Park Trusts on Tuesday night. Minutes of the previous meeting read and adopted. Correspondence dealt with included letter from Sanitary Inspector re suggested improvements. This was left in the hands of the Secretary to attend to. Letters were received from the two Pony Clubs enclosing a cheque each for the use of the race course. As both race meetings were held absolutely for patriotic purposes the amounts tendered were refunded.

FAREWELLED – Mr. G. A. McDonald, Evangelist, who is leaving for the front, to-day, had an immense farewell tendered him in the Mechanics Institute on Thursday night.

FISH LOST – Owing to the local Steamer, Bodalla, being detained in Narooma harbour from Saturday until Wednesday, through ebb tides and rough seas, our local fishermen lost £100 worth of fish.

SHOULD YOUNG GIRLS MARRY SOLDIERS? This is a rather crude way of summarising a proposition in the February issue of “Everylady’s Journal,” just to hand. But war marriages form a very burning topic just now, and out of a discussion upon war and marriage rose this query, which was put by a representative of “Everylady’s Journal” to a number of noted people. Mr. G. H. Knibbs, C.M.G., the Commonwealth Statistician, said in reply that to marry late was perhaps economically sound, but it was selfish and unpatriotic.

DEATHS. – MR. PATRICK STAUNTON On Friday afternoon last there passed away, at his sister’s residence, Church Street, Moruya, one of our very oldest district-born residents, in the person of Mr. Patrick Staunton, in his 71st year. Mr. Staunton was born at Mullenderree, Moruya, and when about 20 years of age went to Congo , on the coast, two miles south of the Moruya Heads Pilot Station, where he resided up to six months ago, when he decided to spend the remaining years of his life, with his sister, Miss Maria Staunton, in town. Deceased, who never married, leaves one brother, James Staunton, (Congo), and five sisters, Medames Deegan, Quilty, W. McGrath (Wollongong), and Misses Kate (Sydney) and Maria (Moruya), to all of whom we extend our deepest sympathy. The remains were interred in the R.C. portion of the Moruya cemetery on Saturday afternoon, the Very Rev. Father Cassidy performing the last sacred rites at the graveside.

MRS. ELIZABETH SKEHAN On Friday 11th inst., at 7.45p.m. at her late residence, Mullenderree, Mrs. Elizabeth Skehan, relict of the late Mr. John Skehan, passed away to the reward of her exemplary life at the age of 75 years. The news of her death came as a severe shock to her large circle of friends, as only a few of her near neighbours even knew of her illness. It was only the previous Sunday that the deceased lady walked over to attend Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, of which denomination she had been a faithful adherent. Mrs Skehan was a native of Queen’s County, Ireland, and came to this country, where she married, nearly 50 years ago. Her respected husband predeceased her about 3½years. Deceased leaves four sons, Michael, William (Sydney), John and Daniel (Mullenderree) and two daughters, Misses Elizabeth and Brigid (Mullenderree), to all of whom the Examiner tenders its deepest sympathy. The funeral took place on Monday, the lengthy cortege giving ample testimony of the love and esteem in which the Skehan family is held. The Rev. Father Darby performed the last sad rites.

Both Mr Staunton and Mrs Skehan’s funeral services were held in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Moruya

Seventeen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1915 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).