August 9, 1884
'The Bega Standard and Candelo, Merimbula,
Pambula, Eden, Wolumla, and General Advertiser'
Rocky Hall Bridge. - Preparations are afoot for a great ceremony
on the occasion of the formal opening of
the bridge. When so many people are together,
steps should be taken to push for telegraphic
communication in aid of the efforts of the
Candelo and Pambula Progress Committees.
The best idea, perhaps, would be a wire through
from Candelo to Cathcart and on to Bombala.
March 16, 1900
'Bombala Times and Manaro and Coast Districts
General Advertiser'
A telephone office at Kiah River will be
established only upon a guarantee of a certain
amount of revenue being made by residents
of the locality. The matter is receiving
the consideration of the persons interested,
and it is hoped that as a result Kiah will
be placed in direct telephonic communication
with Eden and Sydney. There are now over
100 persons on the Yambulla goldfield. Over
100 acres are under lease for goldmining
purposes, and an extensive tract of country
has been pegged out for conversion into goldfields.
January 31, 1902
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
TOWAMBA
* Much inconvenience is felt at having no
telegraph communication, and indignation
is expressed at the delay in the construction
of the telephone line. A public meeting was
held here last night to urge the immediate
attention of the Government in the matter.
November 10, 1904
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
The nearest doctor is 40 miles from here,
and in case of accident or sickness the nearest
telephonic or telegraphic means of communication
is 17 miles away. Indignation is expressed
here at the neglect by the Commonwealth of
our requirements in this respect.
June 23, 1905
'Bombala Times and Manaro and Coast Districts
General Advertiser'
Federal Correspondence,
The Deputy Postmaster General advises Austin
Chapman as follows: - Referring to my letter
of the 30th ultimo, acknowledging yours of
the 26th, enclosing a communication addressed
to you on the 1st item by Mr. J. Tighe, Hon.
Sec. of the Yambulla Progress Association,
asking for further information respecting
the maintenance in connection with the proposed
telephone line between Towamba and Yambulla
by the guarantors, the Department paying
them an amount equal to 5 per cent per annum
upon the construction of the line to be mainlined.
Maintenance of the line is defined as follows:
To maintain the line in working order, to
remove all faults on the line, to repair
damage by lightning, to repair all breaks,
including the supply of new poles when required
owing to damage by lightning, bush fires
or any other cause, including natural decay.
The Department would maintain the telephone
instrument and supply wire, insulators, and
pins as required. The matter is now awaiting
settlement of the terms of agreement, which
as soon as the draft thereof has been approved
of will be forwarded, as is usual in such
cases, for the signature of the guarantors.
June 2, 1906
'Southern Star'
*
Mr. M'Hugh, the successful tenderer for the
erection of the telephone line from Towamba,
via Pericoe, to Yambulla, who commenced work
two weeks ago, has now been ordered to cease
operations. The work was started at Pericoe
instead of Towamba. The residents are anxious
the line should be completed as quickly as
possible.
'The Bega Budget'
July 14, 1906
* A southern correspondent writes: The telephone
line between Towamba and Yambulla, via Pericoe,
is being constructed, though slowly.
August 22, 1906
'Southern Star'
* The telephone between Towamba and Pericoe
is now open. Mr. Chapman sent a congratulatory
message to Mrs. Alexander, and the latter
responded. The health of the contractor,
Mr. Smith, was honored at the Pericoe Post
Office. The man in the backblocks is fast
coming into touch with the outside world,
thanks to Austin Chapman. The residents of
Wangrabelle are now moving to get telephonic
connection with Yambulla.
(excerpt)
October 12, 1907
'The Bega Budget '
* Lower Towamba, N.S.W., by Mr. J. T. Mitchell,
of that place, relative to the desired establishment
of telephonic communication direct between
Towamba and Eden, I have the honor to inform
you that as intimated to you in my letter
of 21st August last, inquiry has already
been made in the matter and it was reported
that in view of the small amount of revenue
which would probably be derived the erection
of the desired line by this Department was
not justified. With regard to the complaint
made of delays in the transaction of telegraph
business between Towamba and Eden, the following
report, in which this office concurs, has
been submitted by the Deputy Post master
General, Sydney, viz - Only 4 messages were
lodged at Towamba for Eden during the month
of August, the average time of transit being
41 minutes. Seven messages were lodged at
Eden for Towamba during the same period,
the average time of transit of which was
35 minutes. This does not show any unreasonable
delay.
October 28, 1907
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
EDEN
* Mr. Austin Chapman, M.P., has advised that
the Postmaster General has decided to comply
with the request made by the Eden Progress
Association for the establishment of a telephone
exchange at Eden, with trunk line communication
with Bega, Bombala, Dalgety, Kiah, Towamba,
Burragate, Yambulla, Wyndham, Wolumla, Pambula,
Lochiel, and Nethercote. The decision has
given great satisfaction locally.
July 1, 1909
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
YAMBULLA
* To show the absolute necessity that exists
for a constable to be stationed here, an
incident occurred two nights ago, when police
assistance had to be summoned by telephone
from Towamba, a distance of 15 miles. Today
the parties have gone to Wyndham, under police
escort. Wyndham is the nearest court of petty
sessions. It is distant 32 miles from Yambulla.
Mon 20 Jun 1910
'The Twofold Bay Magnet : and South Coast
and Southern Monaro Advertiser'
TELEPHONE.
* A movement has been inaugurated in Pambula
to have Eden and Southern Monaro linked by
telephone.
The Idea is an excellent one and deserves
the greatest support from those centres to
be benefited, which include Rocky Hall, Wyndham,
Burragate, Towamba, Yambulla, Pambula,
Merimbula and Eden, also the whole of Southern
Monaro extending out to Delegate and Rockton.
We are informed that only about 12 miles
of new line would be required between
Rocky Hall and Cathcart and that could not
be costly as the poles could be secured very
close to the line, and the balance of the
cost for construction would also be light.
We hope to see
the members of the Eden Progress Association
and other kindred bodies take the matter
up and, with the assistance of Mr Chapman,
we have not the slightest doubt that the
desired
work will be carried out.
'The Southern Record and Advertiser'
4 March 1911
* The Sec. P.M.G. acknowledges a letter from
Mr. Austin Chapman, complaining about a communication
from T.P. Shelley, re proposed Telephone
Line to Towamba and Eden, Via Kiah.
May 24, 1911
'The Bega Budget'
* The Deputy P.M.G. (Post Master General)
advises the Hon. Austin Chapman as follows:
In continuation of my communication of the
20th March last, relative to previous correspondence
respecting desired erection of a telephone
line between Eden and Towamba, including
the communication submitted by you from Mr.
J. W. Dickie hon. sec. to the Towamba Progress
Association, I have to intimate that it has
now been decided that, provided the necessary
conditions are complied with by the residents
concerned, the line will be erected as early
as possible, probably during the present
financial year. The conditions are that the
residents supply and deliver, where required,
80 24ft poles, in accordance with specification;
and that Mr. Mitchell of Lower Towamba, supplies
and erects the poles, and erects the wire
thereon for the line from Lower Towamba to
the nearest point on the proposed Eden-Towamba
line. The line being of a cheap type, the
residents will be required to maintain it
in return for 5 per cent, per annum on the
cost to the Dept. of constructing the line.
The cost in this case will be, £164. I may
add that if the residents advise when they
have the poles cut and ready for delivery,
the lineman will be sent to mark out where
the poles should be delivered.
August 4, 1911
'Northern Star'
SOUTH COAST ITEMS.
* The erection of a telephone line between
Towamba and Eden is at present being carried
out. The residents are assisting in the work.
August 5 , 1911
'The Bega Budget'
* The telephone line direct from Eden to
Towamba is now completed, and will shortly
be open for business. This line will be a
great advantage, as before it was necessary
to ring up through Bega to speak between
these places. Your scribe, speaking from
experience, can tell of the great disadvantage
it was as he was for two hours at one time
waiting in Towamba before being connected
with Eden.
August 11, 1911
'South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus'
EDEN
* Mr W. A. Robertson, who had the contract
for the erection of the telephone line between
Eden and Towamba, has just completed the
job.
September 13, 1912
'The Bombala Times'
* The letter from W. Davis, 'The Pines,'
Cathcart, covering a petition from Messrs.
A. T. Maher, T. Hogg, W. Stevens, and other
residents of Wangrabelle, Genoa, and district,
presented by Austin Chapman, for the erection
of a telephone line between Rocky Hall and
Cathcart, is having consideration by the
Deputy P.M.G. Sydney. Also communications
from G. R. Phillipps, Eden, presented by
Austin Chapman re Kiah-Gabo telephone and
requesting that the Eden-Towamba-Pericoe
telephone line be extended to Rockton, via
Poolers.
(excerpt)
Fri 18 Oct 1912
'The Bombala Times'
* With reference to your communication of
the 14th ultimo, enclosing a letter from
Mr. W. Davis, of The Pines, Cathcart, covering
a petition from resident's of the district
for the
erection of a telephone line between Rocky
Hall and Cathcart, I have to inform you that
the erection of a telephone line between,
the places named is not considered necessary,
as the existing arrangements by which Cathcart
can communicate with coastal centres from
Bega to Eden and inland to Yambulla, Towamba,
Wyndham and Rocky Hall, by means of the Cathcart-Candelo-Wyndham-Towamba-Eden
circuit meet reasonable requirements. I may
add that the question of erecting the approved
metallic trunk line between Bombala and Cathcart
during the present financial year 1912-13,
so as to afford an improved service, will
be further considered in about two months
time.
May 24, 1918
'The Bombala Times'
* The Hon. Austin Chapman has been advised
by the Deputy P.M.G. in re ply to a petition
presented to him by Messrs. Walters, Hobbs,
F. and I. Umback, Baelcoola, and to Mr. Chapman's
communication, forwarding a letter from Mr.
W. Ryan, jr., P.O., Pericoe, all requesting
that the route of the Pericoe-Nangutta mail
service be deviated between Pericoe and Baelcoola
to permit of the mailman travel ling via
the main road; also that horse and sulky
mode of conveyance be substituted for horseback
with a view to parcels up to 11 lbs. being
carried over the service. The present mail
portor having tendered his resignation, approval
has been given for offers to be invited for
the perforfance of a service from and to
Pericoe and Nangutta via Baelcoola and W.
Love's by horse and sulky once a week from
the 5th July next, the arrangement to be
terminable at 3 months on either side.
February 27, 1920
'The Bombala Times'
* As the result of a remarkable electrical
disturbance on Sunday, 15th instant, the
telephone instruments at Towamba and Pericoe
post offices were put completely out of action.
The Wires leading into the Towamba post office
were fused, and the ceilings and walls of
the building were set on fire. There was
a noise as of a loud explosion, but no thunder
was heard. At Pericoe Mr. Pola's little boy
was playing with an axe when it was struck
by the electric fluid and sent flying from
his hands. The lad escaped unhurt.- 'Magnet.'
November 9 , 1934
'The Southern Record and Advertiser'
* Mr. Arthur Love has secured the new contract
for the Eden - Towamba -Pericoe mail service.
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| Modern technology emerging from the primordial
mists of the Towamba Valley changing the
skyline forever. June 2017. Photo on left courtesy C. Lewis |
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