MR and Mrs W. C. Pentland have been advised by cable that their son, Lieutenant W. C. Pentland, of Port Melbourne, has had to have his left leg amputated below the knee as the result of a bullet wound.
Lieutenant Pentland saw service in the Boer War.
***
THE Seaford Red Cross Society has increased the amount which was made for the British Red Cross on May 12th, to £10, which amount has been forwarded to the Fund.
***
MR Rogers and party of eight leading artists will give a concert, on behalf of the “Wattle” Club, in the Mechanics’ Hall tonight (Saturday.)
An unusual treat is promised those who attend and it will be money well spent.
***
THE Somerville Red Cross Society will entertain 150 returned sick and wounded soldiers at luncheon on Saturday next June 2nd at 2pm.
The Langwarrin band will be in attendance, and add to the success of the function.
***
RATEPAYERS are reminded that it is necessary for all rates to be paid on or before 10th June next.
The secretary will be in attendance at the principal towns in the Shire on dates mentioned in advertisement in another column up to that date for the purpose of receiving moneys due.
***
“AUSTRAL” in the “Referee” in speaking, under the heading of Lawn Tennis, of soldier players at Duntroon, makes reference to Mr Frank Plowman as one of three players of exceptional ability.
His service was splendid and scarcely anything superior in Australia outside of Norman Brookes.
***
REV. E. Tonkin will conduct both Services at the Frankston Methodist Church on Sunday next.
Being Empire Sunday the services will be of a special character.
Retiring offertories will be received throughout the circuit to assist the work of the Methodist Chaplains and other agents in the various Military Camps.
***
THE second winter social in aid of Tyabb Red Cross Funds, was held on Saturday evening last.
A good programme of songs was gone through Mesdames Woodhouse and Strachen, Misses Young, Benton, Woodhouse, and Messrs Denham, Westwood, R. Denham and Gibson, helped to make the social a great success.
The proceeds of the evening were sufficient to purchase the material required for a large order for handkerchiefs just received from the Central Depot.
The competition was won by Miss Benton. Again everything was donated so expenses were nil. The proceeds of next social will be given to British Red Cross.
***
THE comparative merits of men and women as teachers have not been determined by the Education department.
A member of a deputation from Tyabb to the Minister of Education last week had made up his mind on the matter, and he informed Mr Lawson and the education officials that there was no question about it.
The man teacher was the teacher needed for a country school. A man he said, had more control over the boys; and – presumably by more Spartan methods was far more successful in keeping order.
He pointed, in support of his contention, to the fact that his three sons were on active service and to train up such a stamp of lad he thought that the man teacher was needed.
The Minister, while promising consideration of the views of the deputation, which concerned the proper site for the Tyabb school, did not undertake to give a definite ruling on the question of the comparative merits of men and women as teachers. For, Mr Laswon and his officials admit, there are teachers and teachers.
***
IMPORTANT to Soldiers. RATES OF PAY. To remove a misconception which has arisen in some quarters, special attention is directed to the fact that in the ‘Recruiting Ready Reconer” published by the authority of the State Recruiting Committee, the rates of pay and pension specified for married men in the A.I.F. include what the soldier himself draws as well as the amount paid to the family of the soldier.
It is also desired to point out that in addition to the amount drawn during the absence of a soldier from the Commonwealth, deferred pay of 1s per day, amounting to £18 5s per year, is payable to a soldier on his return to Australia. Any promotion from the rank of Private, means a corresponding increase all round.
***
Frankston Court of Petty Sessions.
Monday 21st May, 1917. (Before Mr Cohen, P.M., and Messrs Williams, Oaes, Grant and Crawford, JsP.
UNLAWFUL ASSAULT.
Mrs V. F Wells was charged with an unlawful assault on Miss Dora Keane, a State School teacher, on 3rd of May.
Mr Utber appeared for the prosecution and Mr Cook for the defence.
The defendant pleaded guilty, under provocation.
Dora Keane deposed that she remembred the 2nd of May. Was on the Melbourne road on that day.
Saw the boy, Aleck Wells in the front garden at his father’s house.
When she was passing he coughed loudly and whistled, of which action she took no notice, but walked on.
Next morning at school Miss Keane called the boy out, and told him that he had been rude to her on the previous evening and remarked that she had often heard of gutter snipe children behaving rudely to a lady on the street, but she did not expect it in Frankston.
Miss Keane then informed the head teacher of the boy’s conduct and he repremanded the boy.
On the evening of the 3rd May, was proceeding home about 5 o’clock, and when near Beach St saw a woman walking slowly in front of her.
On getting close to her the woman turned round, and said, “You are the person who got my boy a thrashing” and then rushed at the complainant, and struck her a violent blow on the face, knocking parcels she was carrying on the road.
The accused struck her three times, and also said that she had called her boy a gutter snipe.
One of the parcels was lost, and has not since been recovered. The complainant then reported the matter to Constable Ryan, who accompanied her to accused’s home.
On being questioned by the constable she admitted having assualted the complainant and said she would do it again, remarking that she might as well be killed for a sheep as a lamb.
To Mr Cook–When the elder boy brought a letter to the complainant, from his mother she asked what was in the letter, and he said his mother said she must not strike his younger brother, Reggie.
She told the boy to tear the letter up and throw it in the waste paper basket.
The coughing of the boy in the garden was not the result of a cold.
Const Ryan substantiated what the complainant had said with regard to the conversation that took place with Mrs Wells after the assault.
Alick Wells, a boy eleven years of age, on oath remembered Miss Keane passing the garden on the evening of the 2nd May, but denied coughing or jeering at her.
If he coughed at all it was the result of a cold.
The Bench said that such conduct could not be allowed. If Mrs Wells thought she had a greviance against a teacher, the proper course would be to complain to the head teacher, and then if not satisfied, to the Education Department.
A fine of 40s with 23s 6d costs was inflicted.
***
From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 26 May 1917
As published in the Mornington News – 23 May 2017
