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EXTRACTS FROM EARLY ISSUES
"THE ADVOCATE AND
"THE GUARDIAN"
In view of the growing importance
of our town and the progressive
spirit of our citizens of the past and
tho present, we have decided to run a
column -which will be devoted to ex
tracts from early issues. Our object
is of a twofold nature— firstly to pay a
tribute to the memory and work _ of
our citizens of the past and to remind
the present generation how so many
of the amenities we now enjoy were
gained by their endeavours and sec
ondly that the work done by them
may he an inspiration to our present
citizens to carry on. The work of the
past shows that it was only per
sistence and the refusal to be denied
that brought about the final achieve
ment of many of their requests.
In extracts we will publish, refer
ence will be made to the splendid
work of the old organisation known
as the Boonah Literary and Debating
Society, and it will be our intention to
publish much of the subject matter of
the very interesting debates that took
place from time to time. The old Boon
ah Progress Association, the found
ers of the Boonah Hospital, anil the
Show Committee as well as _ many
organizations will all come in for
their share of publicity. The first
paper was published in Boonah in
1901 and was known as the "Fassi-
fern Advocate" under the editorship
of Mr. Thomas Jones, subsequently
the "Fassifern Guardian" commenced
publishing, and for a number of
years Boonah had two papers, one
published weekly and the other twice
a week. Subsequently the papers
amalgamated and the outcome was
the present publication, which com
menced in the year 1912.
"Advocate's" First Year. — Under
the date of July 5, 1902, a leading ar
ticles says: "With this issue of the
"Fassifern Advocate" we complete the
first year of its existence, this being
the 52nd number, and we seize the oc
casion to address our readers briefly
on our literary venture during the
twelve months just expired. The year
has not been without its difficulties,
and the little paper has not been
without its faults — what paper_ is, in
its initial stages? . . . We exist for
tire Fassifern district, and we have
tried to keep our eye on everything
that makes for the farmers' and pas-
toralists' interests so far as has been
in our power, and we can safely prom
ise that as our scope enlarges (and
with each issue it is doing so) we shall
more and more study these industries
and in every way seek for their pros
perity and advancement. Times have
been exceptionally hard for both
farmer and pastoralist for a long
. time past, as the drought has been
upon us most of the year, entailing
great losses on our farming and dairy
ing friends, with whom always, we
have the keenest sympathy." (1902
was the year of the great drought
throughout Australia) .
Literary and Debating Society. —
In the same issue is recorded the
first annual meeting of the Boonah
Literary and Debating Society. This
was formed at a public meeting held
in the School of Arts on the 23rcl
Julv 1901, according to the annual re-
nort of the secretary (Mr. A. Mc
Lauchlan) who stated: "The year's
work has been an exceptionally suc
cessful one in study, increase of mem
bers, and, above all, the ability to
climb the steep and rugged hill of
finance in peace and comfort. At tms,
the end of the financial year, as we
will see from the balance-sheet, all
accounts have been paid and a fail
amount left to go on with. On the
23vd Julv 1901 a public meeting was
SIS £ Vi» V; >« gs fSt
of Arts for persons interested in the
formation of a debating society. We
find Mr W. P. Winter was then ap-
poiited secretary on the motion of
Mr W. H. Abell. Mr. T. Jones was
IwL President. Mr. A. Blumberg
Vice-President, and the following
gentlemen were elected menibeis of
the committee: Messrs. T. F. b
bin, McGladngan, Hunt, Ball, and
McLauchlan. From the minutes the
principal supporters were Messrs. K.
M. McKenzie, W. H. Abell, J. Hay
garth, and Jas. Cossart. Consider
able difficulty was experienced at the
first meeting regarding where our tu-
ture home would be.
ing remark of a member that it the
, School of Arts could not he obtained,
some other convenient place could be
secured if the promoters were m
earnest, gave a real impetus to the
whole ship .and she left the slips with
good speed and has never sprung a
leak yet. Her bulwarks are strongei,
firmer, and mightier than ever . .
and we trust that our little beginning
still has a great future. No doubt
our society has helped to advance the
interest of Boonah in a practical way.
One or two other debating societies
have "made a start through our ex
ample. The nature of our debates
from the reports and comments of
the "Fassifern Advocate" has been
very credible indeed." At this annual
meeting Mr. Jones was re-elected
President, Messrs. D. Cossart ami K.
McKenzie Vice-Presidents and Mr.
McLauchlan secretary and treasurer.
Messrs. J. Haygarth, W. Ewing, and
Geo. Ball were elected to act on the .
committee with the officers, and Ser
geant Harris was appointed reporter
to the class assisted by Mr. Ball.
Progress Association. — A report of
the Hydraulic Engineer on water sup
ply was dealt with. It was decided
that as they now stood the schemes
were too large for the present popu
lation to undertake. The report was
returned to the Board with thanks, at
the same time urging the importance
of obtaining a sufficient water supply.
Mr. T. F. Stubbin gave notice of mo
tion that the Railway Commissioner
be asked to reconsider the freight on
fodder and that sopae concession be
made while the drought lasts.
School of Arts. — On the same date
the "Advocate" records the wiping
out of the then existing debt 011 the
School of Arts, thanks particularly to
the efforts of the secretary, Mr. Mc-
Gladrigan, and the President, Mr. J.
Haygarth. Mr. W. Farley was praised
for his work in organizing a success
ful concert, and it was hoped that
now the debt was gone the building
would soon see a hew coat of paint.
"On Dit" — Amongst numerous
other items it was mentioned that the
Dugandan to Ipswich express left
Boonah about four hours late one '
morning owing to the fact that the
engine possessed a leaky boiler. Ap
parently, it was stated, this locomo
tive had done yeoman service in the
past, and been put 011 this branch, as
usual, before breathing its last. An
other engine had to be procured from
Ipswich to take the train on.
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