MESSRS. A. L. Stevens and H. Eastwood, of Pratt’s Stores, had an exciting experience on Friday afternoon last.
They decided to clean out the grain shed; soon after moving a few bags of wheat they disturbed a rat, who was having afternoon tea in its hole.
There was a rush to arms; “Steve” drawing first blood.
The fun then started; the whole rat family appeared looking for their lost relative.
The heroes, with trousers well tucked in their boot tops, armed with axes and pitchforks, attacked in force doing great slaughter.
The din and roar of the battle attracted a large number of the residents in the vicinity, who helped the attackers with plenty of advice.
When the battle had been raging for some time, reinforcements appeared in the shape of Jack Cameron, whose experience as a fire fighter came out.
Disdaining the use of other weapons than his hands and feet, he was soon seen to grab a rat in each hand, which he dashed to the ground, causing instant death.
When the fight was at its height, Eastwood, not content with the damage he was doing with his fork, had a rat under each foot.
Unable to combat so many foes at one time, he had to call for assistance, which was readily given by one of the onlookers.
The attacking party did not have it all their own way. They chased the foe from one end of the shed to the other and the rats showed great judgment in dodging the blows hurled upon them, but nerve and brains in the end told.
In a hurried meeting of rat council, they decided to retreat, leaving 18 of their brothers in the hands of the victors.
***
MR. Ernest Noble, his wife and two children, were the victims of ptomaine poisoning at Frankston last Wednesday.
The family, shortly after partaking of meal were suddenly seized with illness.
Dr. Maxwell was called in, and under his treatment they are now recovering.
Mr. Noble, who is a returned soldier, is in the employ of Mr. C. Bell, of the Frankston Boot Emporium.
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AN excursion by the senior scholars, numbering 220 of the Essendon High School, visited Frankston today.
The excursion is one of a series of 8 or 10 held annually.
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MR. E. Barrett, secretary Frankston Free Library, advises that the following ladies have presented books to the Library:–Mrs. Arthur Hay (2), Miss Hay (2), Mrs. Plowman (2).
Another batch of new books will be available to subscribers on Saturday next.
***
CR. Herbert Downward, son of the Hon. Alfred Downward, M.L.A., has been elected president of the Mornington Shire Council.
Cr. Downward is also the energetic secretary of the Mornington Racing Club.
***
MR. Chas. Bayman’s little daughter Kathleen, was last week knocked down in the playground of a suburban school.
She is now an inmate of the Children’s Hospital, where an operation was performed.
***
MR. Robt. Wells, of Frankston, who has experienced a long and serious illness, is now able to move about again.
***
MR. A. Taylor, of the Pier Hotel, Frankston, intends opening his new bowling-green next Thursday afternoon at 3 o’clock.
A number of Williamstown friends and bowling enthusiasts will be in attendance, and Mr. Taylor extends a cordial invitation to Frankston residents to take part in the opening ceremony at 3 o’clock.
***
A VERY successful afternoon of tree planting took place on Thursday afternoon in Frankston, when the combined forces of the Progress Association, the Shire Council, and the A.N.A. joined together to lay down the beginning of a motor drive in that portion of the foreshore reserves from the Pier southwards.
A line of stakes had been laid down during the day by the Shire Engineer (Lieut.–Colonel Lazarus) and his foreman, where the beach side of an intended avenue was to be planted, and alongside each stake was laid a sheoak in its native soil in the shape of a sod.
Punctually at 2pm, according to schedule, Messrs. Lambie and Mann appeared on the scene duly armed with shovels, hedge clippers and branch trimmers, and began without any delay to plant the trees in the spots marked by the stakes.
Closely on their heels followed the gentlemen who had promised help, and soon the first line of the avenue was by way of being planted.
Whilst some of the enthusiasts prepared the holes and others planted trees, Mr Mann pruned and trimmed and tied the trees to the stakes, and by 4 o’clock one side of the new avenue was completed.
The gentlemen who gave their services were:
Cr. Oates, representing the Shire Council; Messrs. Lambie and Mann, representing the Progress Association; and Messrs. Lind, A. J. Wells, Geo. Mcleod, S. Lascelles, W. B. Cunningham, L. J. Ward, and, J. Haggart, representing the A.N.A.; the whole under the supervision of the Shire Engineer (Lieut.–Col. Julius S. Lazarus).
A regular course of tree planting under similar conditions would result in a most expeditious transformation.
***
MRS. L. N. R. Utber has returned to Frankston after an extended holiday.
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Letter to the Editor
SIR,
Mr. Young and myself went to Rosebud on the 14th inst., and held a very successful meeting in connection with the Motor Ambulance movement.
Although the night was very unfavorable there was a fair attendance.
A number of ladies attended and took the deepest interest in the meeting.
The chair was taken by Mr. Allingham, and, I am glad to say, that the old apathy has passed away as far as Rosebud is concerned.
Let us hope that the same thing will occur elsewhere.
One ardent supporter handed in £17/2/, which he had collected, and there is still a fair amount promised, and can be collected at once.
This goes to show that the only thing that is wanted is one energetic person in each centre that is willing to sacrifice a little time, and the thing can be accomplished at an early date.
Cr. D. Buckley and Cr. Brown, of Rye, were nominated to represent the Flinders Shire on the deputation to the treasurer.
We hope to complete the appointment of a strong deputation to the Minister to ask for financial assistance on the £ for £ basis, as we have agreed to allow centres not having a delegates to have one vote by proxy.
We hope this will be availed of, so that all parts of the district will be represented at the meeting to be held in Frankston on the 21st inst., as the time is now ripe and the weather is favorable.
There has been a great deal of necessity for an ambulance in this district, owing to the excessive amount of illness during the winter motor ambulances art largely used in the city, but not much in the country, because the cost is prohibitive to the person of small means.
It only requires a special effort to be put forward the next month or so to accomplish the end we have in view.
Let us have it.
Yours, etc.,
J. JACK, Organiser.
***
From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 20 October 1922
First published in the Mornington News – 18 October 2022
