A GLORIOUS CHANGE. - After many months of dry weather, although sometimes the heavy clouds o'er head looked promising, rain commenced to fall on Monday night and without cessation fell steadily until Wednesday morning, 134 points being recorded. All nature is pouring forth her thanksgiving by developing a brighter hue and unfolding her buds.

LEASE EXPIRED. - It is expected that the "Redbank" Gold Dredging Company at Araluen will cease operations next week, as their dredging lease has become exhausted and they are unable to purchase more land.

LADY CHEESEMAKER. - Miss Jean Rankin, sister of the popular Kiora cheesemaker, is relieving Mr. Evans, cheesemaker at the Eurobodalla factory, who is at present sitting for an examination.

SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC. - On October 1st the children of the Methodist Sunday School joined with the friends of Kiora in a picnic on the River Bank. A large gathering resulted and a happy time was spent. A Xmas Tree organised by Miss E. Mason and friends in aid of the funds of the Kiora Church, brought a net amount of £6 5s 6d to the treasury. The sale was formally opened by Mrs. Ernest Hawdon, jnr.

PENSIONS RAISED. - The Federal Budget announces that the weekly rate for old-age and invalid pensions will be raised from 12s 6d to 15s per week from the beginning of January. The entertainment tax on 3d tickets will be abolished, whilst the tax on 6d tickets will be reduced to a half-penny.

PERSONAL & OTHERWISE. -

Mr. J. Bartlett, of Kiora, lost a valuable draught mare last week through bursting a blood vessel.

Mr. Roy Anderson (late A.I.F.) and Miss Lizzie Martin were married in St. John's Church, Moruya, on Wednesday.

Returned Soldiers are engaged on Shire road work between Braidwood and Araluen. Another gang will be put on the Nowra-Milton road.

Mrs. M. A. Constable, of Dignam's Creek, has been advised that her son, Corporal Harry Constable (M.M.) is due to arrive in Melbourne this week.

Mr. Jermyn and family, who left by motor car for Yass on a three weeks' holiday on Friday last week met with engine trouble at Araluen, and were delayed in one-time golden valley for 25 hours.

Mr. P. J. Heffernan, eldest son of Mr. R. Heffernan, of Yarragee, lost a valuable saddle horse the other day through snake bite. The animal was bitten on the heel as he was riding it through one of his paddocks at Candelo and died about three hours afterwards.

NERRIGUNDAH. - (From our Correspondent).

It is my painful duty to record the death of one of Nerrigundah's oldest pioneers, Mr. J. Thompson, which sad event took place on the 10th inst., at Brogo, where he had been living with his youngest daughter, Mrs. Burton. The old gentleman had been failing for some time, but was not confined to his bed until about three weeks ago, when the doctor held out no hopes for his recovery. Mrs. Lake went from here to assist in nursing her father to the last. His eldest son "Tommy" also came from Sydney to see his father before the end came. The deceased came to Nerrigundah in the early sixties from Wollongong, being a native of that district and settled for many years at the foot of Surface Hill, on which he, with his "mates," brought a race of water for miles around the sides of hills, carrying it across gullies and creeks in flumings. With this water they sluiced the surface of the hill, and for years a number of miners found employment and recovered a large amount of gold. To the family we extend our sympathy. Those living are Mrs. S. Lake (Nerrigundah), Mrs. Burton (Brogo), Thomas (Sydney), John (Kiama), William (Wandella), James (Cobargo), Alf, and Harry (Bairnsdale, Vic.) Mrs. Turner, Mrs Degenhardt and George died some years ago.

Twenty 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1918 are available ($6 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/publications.html).