This week in 1919: November 20

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS TO-NIGHT.

CONCERT AND PICTURES

It is expected that the Mechanics’ Hall will be packed tight to-night, when a large number of returned soldiers will be presented with gold medals by the Soldiers’ Welcome Committee, acting for the townspeople.

A concert programme will be contributed by several of Numurkah’s best singers, who are always ready to assist at these functions, and a programme of pictures will be shown also. Though the concert is advertised for the hall, arrangements have been made to hold it in the open-air picture theatre should the night be mild enough. Medals are awaiting presentation to the soldiers mentioned hereunder, and it is particularly asked that in the event of the soldier not being able to be present, a member of the family attend to receive the token of the townspeople’s gratitude and appreciation on his behalf.

The soldiers to receive medals are:—Ptes. A. E. Farrands, E. Pyke, D. Clarke, Sgts. D. B. Tunnock, H. A. Lee, Ptes. W. Crozier, F. H. Tuthill, I. R. Jackson, Cpl. L. McCleary, Lieut. G. Selleck, L.-Cpl. R. A. Stevens, Pte. L. O. Tymms, Cpt. L. L. Patterson, Air-Mechanic A. Hilet, Sgt. W.  Hussey, Ptes. P. Mann, S. Brodribb, S. Coates, Sgt. J. Coonerty, Ptes. S. Lambert, W. Jaffray, Lieut. R. Callander, Gnr. C. Allison, Sgt. A. Blackley, Pte. A. Frampton, Tpr. F. Needham, Mrs Robinson (mother of the late T. Robinson), Ptes. J. Bowden, R. Crusell, Sgts. J. O’Beirne, R. Harper, Pte. M. Barritt, Lieut. J. Meiklejohn, Tpr. A. Bentley, Ptes R. Anderson, C. Patchell, Tpr. T. A. Johnson, L.-Cpl. R. R. Robinette, Ptes. W. J. Williams, J. Callander, Cpl. W. R. Grant, Pte. J. Jordan, Cpls. S. Selleck, C. R. McKenzie, Ptes. J. Campbell, J. Carlisle, J. Davis, J. Rockliff, Sgt. R. McCaskill, Pte. T. E. Draper, Sgt J. Coxon, Ptes. M. Bolland, N. Raff, H. Blackman, S. Callander, W. Stratton, J. Campbell, R. Jones, J. Weir.

NUMURKAH WATER TRUST.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11.

Engineer’s Report.

Mr Hay Ower reported:—

A partial failure has taken place in the Kaarimba weir, but fortunately it was noticed in time to enable temporary repairs to be made .—Received.

He had on several occasions referred to the abnormal quantities of water used at Nathalia, but as the attitude of the commissioners more directly interested seemed to be, “The water is there: let it be used,” he was diffident about mentioning the matter. However, he had had so many complaints of late that he had no option but to again draw the attention of the trust to them. The chief complaint, to his mind, was that which stated that the tower tank was empty on most mornings, and if a fire occurred under such circumstances the result could easily be imagined. The fault did not rest with the pumper, but the residents, some of whom used the water in lavish quantities for irrigating lucerne, etc.—

Com. J. Tuckett said he had always been against meters, but was inclined to think they should be installed. More, water was used than the gardens required. —Com. G. Tuckett moved that a by-law be made making it an offence to have a hose attached to a tap during prohibited hours, Com. Ball seconded.—Com. Moss said the only way to prevent waste was to instal meters.— Com. Thornton agreed.—Com. Meiklejohn said a proposal such as the motion provided for had proved a failure at Strathmerton.—Com. Ball was against meters, and thought a by-law might be given a trial.—The chairman said it would be disastrous if the waste of water was not stopped: they could see what effect the motion would have —The motion was carried. --Com J Tuckett moved that meters be installed on all properties where the water was used other than between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.—Seconded by Com. Moss and carried.

Dr. Harbison and the Ladies. -Speaking at the wind-up social of the Comforts Fund on Tuesday night, Dr. Harbison referred to the slogan of the Fathers’ Association, and said there was no need for the cry, “Carry on, Mum.” And the reason he gave was that the ladies “were always carrying on!” To end the paragraph at this point would probably convey a wrong impression, and we hasten to add that it was to the ladies’ “stickatitiveness” in regard to war work that the genial doctor was referring.

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.