This week in 1920: January 22

Opening of the Numurkah Convent—On Wednesday, 4th February, the formal opening of the new convent at Numurkah will be performed by Archbishop Mannix, who will visit the town for that special purpose. After the ceremony there will be a procession to the show grounds, where a monster carnival will be held. Special bodies of horsemen are to take part in the procession, and a prize is to be awarded to the best equipped contingent.

Special trains, the time-table of which will be published at an early date, are to run from Mooroopna,Cobram, and Picola, and altogether the day promises to be unique in the history of Numurkah.

NUMURKAH SHIRE COUNCIL

TUESDAY, 18th JANUARY

Present.—Crs. Schier (President), Ross, J. H, and Geo. Tuckett; Ball, Thornton, Campbell, Dudley, Gordon, Moss, McLean.

Correspondence.

From Shire of Deakin, re destruction of cormorants, and asking what municipalities were paying a bonus, as anything but combined action was considered useless.—-Received

NUMURKAH COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS

WEDNESDAY, 14th JANUARY

(Before Messrs C. J. Rogers, P.M.,

and H. J. Glenny, J.P.)

Alleged Embezzlement

Gilbert Dane was charged on the information of O. J. Muller (Messrs Muller Bros, and Co.) that he did on or about the 17th day of October, 1919, at Numurkah embezzle the sum of £9 13/3.

Senior-Constable O’Donnell, who arrested accused, asked for a remand until to-day, as the audit of the books of the firm had not been completed. Further shortages had been discovered, it was stated, and other charges might be instituted.

Mr D. Tunnock (Messrs D. Tunnock and Son), who appeared for the accused, consented to the remand, which was granted.

Accused was admitted to bail in one surety of £50 (Mr D. J. Reilly’s bond being accepted) and himself in £50.

Drunk and Obscene Language.

Constable DeLaRue charged James Carlisle with having been drunk on licensed premises, and also with using obscene language

Constable DeLaRue deposed that he saw the defendant at the Cumberland Hotel, Wunghnu, in a drunken state. A little later he saw him again, when he put him inside his (defendant’s) gate. Defendant made use of obscene language to him which could have been heard some distance away.

The P.M. stated that in deference to the wish of his colleague he had agreed to adjourn the case for a month in order that defendant might appear, it having been suggested that he was not present that day owing to a misapprehension.

The Licensing Act.

Inspector Bretherton proceeded against the licensee of the Cumberland Hotel for allowing drunken persons on the premises on the 18th December, 1919.

Senior - Constable O’Donnell stated that inspector Bretherton had been seized with a serious illness and was unable to attend court and asked for an adjournment for two months, which was granted.

NATHALIA

There are already two aspirants in the field for the council seat rendered vacant by the resignation of Cr McLean — Mr John Collins and ex-Cr. 0’HanIon. It is understood a public meeting will be called at Kotupna to consider the choice of a candidate.

At the police court on Thursday last Charles Carpenter and  C. V. W. Butler were presented by Constable Knopp on a charge of the larceny of two bags of chaff, the property of the Forestry department.

Evidence was given to show that the accused removed the chaff from a hut at the Cherry Tree yards, and accused, who admitted their guilt and who said they would have paid for the chaff had they known the owner, were each fined £2, with 5/- costs.

To celebrate the State Library of Victoria’s digitising of the war years editions of the Numurkah Leader, each week we will include the news of the week, 100 years ago.

To view these editions online go to trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/title/591