INTRODUCED by Mr. A. Downward, M.L.A., a deputation from Red Hill district waited on the Minister for Railways last Wednesday and requested that the line which now ends at Red Hill should be extended to Daldry’s Corner, a distance of five miles, and subsequently on to Boneo.
The speakers included Cr. M. B. Wettenhall, Messrs. T. Barley, W. Roberts, T. Swift, R. G. Barrett, W. M. True and R. Keys.
They informed the Minister that when the former Minister (Mr. S. Barnes) opened the line to Red Hill he stated it was not intended that Red Hill should be the terminus.
There were 30,000 to 40,000 acres of the best country in the Peninsula now served by the line, and this land was capable of supplying potatoes, onions and fruit sufficient to supply the whole of Melbourne.
The lack of any facilities was the great drawback.
Residents further on did not use the Red Hill station, because of its inconvenience, and preferred to carry their goods from Bittern.
The Minister candidly expressed the opinion that the line should not have been built to Red Hill at all if it were not intended to carry it further.
The Railways Department took up the attitude that land within eight miles of a railway was well served and the weak point of the case put forward by the deputation was the fact that practically the whole of the land was within reasonable distance of a railway.
Whether the service provided was satisfactory was another proposition.
Cr. Wettenhall interjected that seven miles on the Red Hill country was equal to fourteen miles in other parts owing to the hilly nature.
Mr. Old replied that local conditions had to be considered.
He promised to place the proposal before the Cabinet, and it would be for the Cabinet to say whether it should be submitted to the Railways Standing Committee for report.
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Name Wanted
COMMENT was made by Mr. Klauer upon the misleading condition of having two Seaford roads within a quarter of a mile of each other.
He explained that land which had been subdivided on Wells road had a road which was shown by a sign-post to be Seaford road, and people became confused as to their whereabouts.
Seaford road was gazetted as running from Pt. Nepean road to Dandenong road, and Mr. Klauer moved and Mr. Miles seconded that the council be asked to take the necessary action to rectify the matter.
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COOLART Road is likely to come into prominence in the near future.
It is stated that the decision of the council to borrow £3000 for the improvement of this thoroughfare is to be opposed, and that a vote on the question will be demanded.
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Fowl Stealers at Work
LAST weekend a local resident lost a number of fowls through the depredations of some person or persons, at present unknown.
He wishes those concerned to know that several hens as well as the fowl-house were left behind, presumably through an oversight, and invites a further visit when something else will be doing in the “foul” line.
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WHILST at practice on Sunday morning a very painful accident happened to one of the weekend visitors on the cricket pitch at the Chelsea recreation ground.
One or two of the players were engaged in an argument close to the wickets and a ball was bowled to a batsman who drove it hard into the face of one of the visitors, breaking his nose. Dr. Le Souf was sent for and has been in attendance since.
No further serious injury is apparent, and it is expected the invalid will be able to get about at the latter end of this week.
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Nocturnal Visitors
THE management of the Ragged Boys’ Home, Frankston, finds it impossible to cultivate vegetables, owing to the depredations of opossums which visit the gardens by night.
The superintendent has applied to the authorities for permission to destroy these nocturnal visitors, and Senior Constable Culhane is now making enquiries. It is stated that 2000 cabbage plants, which were planted overnight by the boys, had completely disappeared next morning.
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AT the Frankston Police Court on Tuesday, before Messrs. P. Wheeler (chairman) and J. Brown, J.sP., three young men, named Chas. Harrison, James Conway and Victor Malone, were charged with being drunk and disorderly on Sunday last. Senior Constable Culhane and Constable Graham gave evidence as to the arrest of defendants, who, it appears, were celebrating a Caulfield Cup victory. The Bench inflicted a fine of 20/- in each case.
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Building Regulations
MR. Lawrey, referring to his remarks at previous meeting, said that he desired to emphasise his contention that the building regulations should be tightened up.
He moved that the council be requested to act with a view to declaring Bay street, Playne street, Young and Wells street brick or concrete areas.
Seconded by Mr. Barclay and carried.
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Still No Bowling Green
MR. John E. Jones, shire secretary, wrote stating that the Country Roads Board could not grant the request of the council to have portion of Mornington road reserve, near The Fernery, made available for tennis courts and bowling greens, as a portion of the road referred to would, in the future, be required for the widening of the roadway.
Members expressed disappointment at the decision of the Country Roads Board, the opinion being expressed that it would be many years before any scheme for widening the road would be carried out.
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Snakes!
THESE venomous reptiles are very plentiful at present, and people should keep their eyes about and be ready for them. Only the other day, Mrs. Young, of Valetta street, at the back of the Pines, killed one over three feet long.
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LADIES’ Day at the Frankston Gun Club shoot to be held this Saturday is attracting considerable attention and a big crowd of the brave and the fair should be in attendance.
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YOUNG Street, Frankston, is developing at a rapid rate.
The new shops recently built by Mr. J. Pratt have all been taken, and the fine new building erected by Mr. Wells for Messrs. Brody & Korner is now occupied by this progressive auctioneering firm.
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IT was a disappointment to progressive citizens that the National Bank authorities did not erect a brick structure on the splendid site acquired by them at the corner of Playne and Young street.
However, the building that has been renovated now looks spick and span, and will be open for business on Monday next.
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FOLLOWING protests by orchardists, the Customs Department has agreed to amend the regulations recently issued which imposed stringent conditions on apple and pear growers with regard to standardising and grading fruit for export.
Departmental officers are consulting with a view to drawing up regulations which, while ensuring the proper grading of fruit, will not harass orchardists.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 24 & 26 Oct 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 24 October 2023
