ONE day last week, Cr. W. Armstrong, president of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, noticed a man removing firewood, apparently without authority, from the foreshore at Seaford.
In his capacity as foreshore bailiff, it is Cr. Armstrong’s duty to keep an eye open to detect, and if possible, prevent illegal happenings on the foreshore.
The man he had under suspicion last week evidently repeated the open eye and took prompt measures to close it.
Cr. Armstrong approached the fellow and made a few pertinent inquiries, and then it is alleged that the man struck him, causing painful injury to his eye.
As the result of the assault, Cr. Armstrong was unable to leave his room for several days and he was compelled to forego an important social engagement at Seaford last Saturday night.
Much sympathy is felt throughout the district with the Shire President, and the hope is expressed that prompt measures will he taken to bring the culprit to justice.
The occurrence is one likely to have effect all along the bayside.
From Frankston to Mentone, various citizens have been appointed by the Government to act as guardians of the beaches and foreshore. The office is purely an honorary one, but frequently entails duties which really requires the services of members of the police Force.
Cr. Armstrong’s experience is a case in point. It is not to be expected that ordinary civilians should run the risk of being battered and abused by unscrupulous villains whose conduct in public places such as the beach and foreshore, frequently call for intervention.
The police of course are willing and anxious to assist, but their services are not readily available, just when required.
Perhaps the various bayside Councils could meet in conference and evolve some method of coping with the difficulty.
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THE committee of the tennis tournament, held in connection with the Boxing Day carnival, have handed in the net proceeds of their efforts, the sum of £20/5/6.
In doing so they wish to acknowledge with gratitude the generous spirit that prompted the winners of the men’s and ladies’ doubles, namely, Messrs. Fleming and Rogers, and Misses J. and N. Howie, to return their trophies to the funds of the memorial, and also Mr. Mann’s share in the 2nd prize in the mixed doubles, which he also returned.
The following raffles have been drawn with the results attached:
Dressed doll, given by Mrs. Baxter, won by Mr. Bond; bottles of wine, won by Master Angus Cameron; pair military brushes, won by Mr. J. Turnbull, of Black Rock.
The winning number in the “Flapper” competition is No. 9. The carnival committee has decided to extend the drawing for the block of land the pony, and the “When the Clock Stops” competitions until Easter or until such time as the books are all taken up.
Mr. Jordahl, of Langwarrin, is the winner of a large bon-bon; Miss Fletcher also won a bon-bon; Master Elliott the large Christmas stocking; Mr. Geo. Chitty a table centre.
The guessing name competition is not yet completed.
The gross proceeds to late reported from the sweet stalls is over £90.
Mrs. Mason reports a nett receipt of £22/4/2. Other reports not yet completed, but will appear as they come in from time to time.
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AN exciting match was witnessed at Somerville on Saturday last when Somerville B met and defeated Mornington by one run.
Somerville were without the services of J. Gregory and C. Grant, whilst Mornington were without “Bun” Woolhouse, their wicket-keeper.
Features of the match were Clarke’s 29, the collapse of Somerville, and the bowling of Munro and Fitzroy, whose last four wickets were, obtained at a cost of two runs.
Mornington made 82 and Somerville with 2 wickets down for 66 runs, looked “home and dried,” but a rot set in and three were wanted when the last man went in.
A hit for four won the match, whilst the last wicket fell with the next ball.
***
HERBERT Jones, was again before the Frankston Police Court on Monday last, when the bench was occupied by Messrs. C. V. G. Williams (chairman), C. W. Grant, P. Wheeler and Brown, J.sP.
“I don’t know anything about it,” he replied, when charged with unlawfully pawning a breech-loading gun, the property of J. C. Gowdie, orchardist, of Langwarrin.
It was only a few weeks ago that Jones was before the Frankston Court on a charge of stealing jewellery from a house at Langwarrin, when he was committed for trial, to appear at the Melbourne Court of General Sessions next month.
He was brought from the Melbourne gaol to explain about the gun.
Senior-Constable Cullane conducted the prosecution.
J. C. Gowdie identified the gun in court as the one he loaned to accused to shoot foxes. When asked to return it accused told Gowdie he had broken the gun and had taken it to Melbourne to have it repaired.
Wm. Tilley, pawnbroker of Carlton, said he advanced accused £4 on the gun.
Accused: Are you quite sure you recognise me?
Witness (smiling): Oh, yes!
The chairman said the Bench had some doubt as to whether the case could be proceeded with in the Frankston Court.
Senior-Constable Callane said if accused offered no objection the case could be dealt with. Accused, when consulted, said he preferred to have the charge disposed of straight away.
Senior-Constable Cullane said there was a second charge against accused.
Accused said he would plead guilty to both charges if the Court would deal with him at once.
Jones then pleaded guilty to unlawfully pawning a single breech-loading gun, the property of a Langwarrin orchardist named Parker.
Accused asked to be dealt with leniently.
A list of previous convictions was read, disclosing the fact that accused was a man with a lengthy and unenviable record, including convictions for sheep stealing, at Warrnambool, 3 years; horse stealing, 2 years; unlawfully pawning goods, false pretenses, 2 years.
On the present charges he was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment on each count, the sentences to be concurrent.
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MR. John E. Jones, on behalf of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, notifies by advertisement in another column that all water rates in the Frankston South and Frankston Urban districts due on 13th October last, must be paid to the collector at the Municipal Chambers, Frankston, forthwith.
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RESIDENTS on Frankston line have an opportunity this week of investing in a subdivision that is sure to appeal to them as it will to investors outside their area.
No more secure form of laying by for future benefit can he found than an investment in land.
Artella Estate is one of those about which there need be no hesitancy.
Ideally situated at the rear of The Fernery, overlooking the Bay, it has a commanding, healthy position.
The area is necessarily limited and those buyers who secure one or more of the eleven beautiful building sites will have no cause for regret in a few years from now.
It is admitted that seaside land has increased in value to an extraordinary degree of late, and now that the general outlook in Australia has taken such a favourable turn prices will still tend to rise in very much less time than formerly.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 17 & 19 Jan 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 17 January 2023
