Ku-ring-gai Clippings
Being a collection of 19th and 20th century newspaper articles with a connection to the Municipality of Ku-ring-gai.
Editor: R.N.Whitaker
email: whitend1@optushome.com.au
Volume 11 - issued 14th December 2009
THE SUBURBS.
PROGRESS ASSOCIATION AT KILLARA.
Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 11th July 1903
A well-attended meeting at the Golf Clubhouse, Killara, on Monday, decided to form a progress committee tor the district. Mr. J. Upward was in the chair and on the motion of Mr. J. G. Edwards, seconded by Mr. Danvers, a committee was formed to bring forward a scheme for the advancement of the district.
KILLARA CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
THE OPENING CEREMONY.
Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 21st July 1902
The formal opening of the Killara Congregational Church was performed on Saturday in tho presence of a large gathering of residents augmented by a number of visitors from the city and neighbouring centres.
The church is an unpretentious wooden building upon brick foundations and designed to accommodate about 140 per sons The main building is about 36ft in length by 26ft and there is a vestry 14ft by10ft. It is of neat design with porch and stands in a large block of land within in easy distance of the Killara Railway Station.
The major portion of the land has been reserved for a future church building. The committee of which Mr C Bowes Thistlethwaite is the hon. secretary has, in constructing the sacred building, exercised a wise
economy. The land was purchased for £110 and the church was erected for an additional £280. The furnishing, fencing &c. have cost £140 so that £530 represents the total cost. Towards that sum £302 has been received in personal contributions, garden fete and foundation stone collection. The foundation stone was laid on May 10 last.
Tho opening ceremony was performed by Mrs. B. Palmer (president of the ladies auxiliary to the Congregational Union). Amongst the clergy present were: - The Revs George Campbell (chairman of tho Congregational Union of New South Wales), T. Roseby, LLD, R. A. Thompson, BA, R.F Becher, BA, N J Cocks, MA, E. Hutchinson, W. Morley, J. Marshall Brown, C. Whyte,
W.L. Paterson, T. E Peirce, Alex Miller (Chatswood Presbyterian Church),
J. G. Howe, St Paul’s Church (Chats wood). The attendance also included many prominent residents. After tea and light refreshments had been dispensed by the ladies, the Rev. G Campbell briefly introduced Mrs. Palmer to the assemblage and referred to the valuable assistance she had always given in forwarding the interests of the Chinch especially in regard to the home mission. He asked her to unlock the door of the church.
Mrs B. Palmer was then presented with a small gold key with which she opened a padlock attached to ribbons hung across the door. Having done this she made a few appropriate remarks and declared tho building open. The visitors then entered the church.
A short service was opened with the Doxology which was followed by prayer offered by the Rev R A Thompson, a passage of tho scripture read by the Rev. Dr. Roseby. The proceedings concluded with a short communion service.
Yesterday services were conducted by the Rev. J. Marshall Brown and the Rev. N. J. Cocks. Mrs. J. M. Jago presided at the organ and the choir was conducted by Mr. J.M. Jago.
THE "ROBBERS' CAVE."
ROSEVILLE TRADITION.
Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 5th October 1908
A large party visited Roseville Park on Saturday at the invitation of Mr E. Babbage (chairman of trustees), who met his guests at the Lindfield railway station whence by trap and motor car the trip was made to the park.
On the way, a visit was made to the Siamese twins, two extraordinary botanical freaks and the robbers cave. This new discovery would be passed by nine people out of ten as possessing no unusual attraction. It is represented by a huge boulder lying alongside of the track on the hillside.
Originally the only opening was one through which an adult might squeeze with difficulty, but of late the entrance has been enlarged so as to permit free access. One inside there is found a chamber in which 20 or 30 people could comfortably sit. The trustees have provided the cave with seats and a flat stone table, and it should become a centre of attraction and a capital afternoon tea chamber.
It derives its name from the fact that some years ago, numerous robberies were committed in the neighbourhood but the police were baffled and unable to find the retreat of the thieves. Later, a constable, on passing through the bush, noticed hanging outside of the boulder, a caged canary. His natural curiosity prompted him to investigate and he then discovered the cave, which was then occupied by a man and a woman.
It was generally believed that in former years it must have been the retreat of the robbers and that it was there the stolen goods were secreted.
The Victoria and Llewellyn falls were then visited and the journey continued on foot to the Bogey Hole and the new baths whence the party proceeded by boat to the boatshed in the park, where a landing was effected, refreshments served, and several speeches delivered eulogistic to the energy of the trustees.
KU-RING-GAI SHIRE BUILDING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 8th July 1909
Sir-I had no intention of troubling you further on this matter but as Cr. Aldworth has Issued a challenge to me through your widely-read columns, I trust you will permit me the favour of a reply.
Notwithstanding Cr. Aldworth’s impression, as expressed In his letter of 3rd inst., I disclaim any intention or attempt to direct my comments against him personally, but I do claim that my comments were directed fairly and squarely against the incorrect and misleading statement of the council’s proposal as expounded by him-it may have been unintentionally -at the Gordon indignation meeting and repeated In his letter published in your issue of 26th ult.
Your correspondent certainly stated that the “hall” could not be immediately built but he led his hearers, and he led your readers, to believe that it was a part of the council’s proposal. Else why did he close his letter by asking why the president “did not tell us how many years Willoughby was incorporated before It was decided to build a town hall' and himself give the information that “it was quite 40 years before they decided to build a town hall'.
Even now he seems to he a bit mixed, for he says “I am perfectly aware that the rate payers can petition for a poll-but why put the shire to this expense when the ratepayers are so clearly demonstrating their opposition to this expenditure of £S00 on a shire building”. Now under the Local Government Act, 50 ratepayers can demand a poll on a proposal to build a shire hall, but 50 times 500 ratepayers cannot demand a poll on a proposal to build offices for the council and its officers. In fact the latter is not a matter for the ratepayers but for the electors.
When he talks about a poll being demanded he must still mean a shire hall or his words have no meaning. I have shown the meaning which his words convoyed for the reason that even now many believe that the council Intends to build a shire hall and I A lsh to clear their minds by getting Cr. Aldworth’s admission that the proposal is to build offices only.
Your correspondent denies that the present accommodation is totally inadequate but I showed in my last letter that he himself thought so last year when there was less work than there is now and I gave full particulars of the costly, unsuitable and inadequate proposal, which he supported then. He does not deny it but simply says he cannot be held responsible for the report and quotes the minute from the council minute book. The minute, however, is simply a record of the business done though it confirms the accuracy of the newspaper report; for the report is practically in accord with the minute. After stating that “the president was not favourably disposed to the site and “Cr Slade thought the matter was too serious to be undertaken hastily and believed that if others knew of the terms proposed there would perhaps be further offers received”, the report states tint Cr. Aldworth moved “That sites be advertised for, and offers invited for the erection of a suitable building un a building lease with the right of purchase, the site to be near Pymble or Gordon station.”
His explanation in no way gets him away from the charge of inconsistency for if he did not support the offer made by Mr. Hamilton he either moved or approved the resolution calling for tenders and thus proving that last year, when the work was less, he considered the present premises totally inadequate. Now he considers them luxurious compared with other shires but he does not name one and I am absolutely certain there is not another shire In the State so poor or so mean as to ask its president and officers to work under the conditions obtaining In Ku–ring-gai.
He states that my reference to the contribution of the 88 objectors towards the cost of the £800 shire building cannot be taken seriously (by him) but that was to be expected. He has uttered so many unconscious jokes against himself and he must be chuckling so at his supporters taking him so seriously that he must appreciate the whole agitation. The greatest joke of all is his criticism of an alleged extravagance on the part of the council to which he his been an accessory, both before after the fact. The proverb of inconsistency is “the pot calling the kettle black” and it is perfect in its application.
I am etc.
W. COWAN.
Lindfield, July 7.
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