ON Friday last in the school grounds the pupils were entertained to a lecture by Mr. Chas. Long, M.A. on “The Early Discoveries in Port Phillip Bay”.
A large number of parents and friends accepted Mr. Jenning’s invitation, amongst whom were included the following old pioneers, Messrs. Tom. McComb (oldest resident), Joseph McComb, David Kelly and Miss Carr; younger residents noticed were Mr. and Mrs. Evans, jnr., Mr., Mrs. and Miss Jennings, Mesdame’s, Amor, Legge, Bradbury and Stanton and Messrs. Evans, senr., and Lind (ex-president of the A.N.A.)
Mr. Jennings, in introducing Mr. Long, said that he was very pleased to have that gentleman present, and that the scholars must feel proud to know that Mr. Long made up their school papers, and was going to tell them about the pioneers of their own country.
Mr. Long, who was received with cheers, prefaced his address by informing the children that he prepared the school papers, and hoped that the 6th and 8th grades found things to their liking.
He took the opportunity of telling them that 10 marks out of 20 would pass them, instead of 12 out of 20 as marked on the paper.
Mr. Long, whose address was mainly for the scholars, but was listened to most appreciatively by everyone present, took his hearers back to 1788, the year of the landing of the first white people in New South Wales (Sydney), when nothing was known about Victoria, through the vista of years to 1836, when the governor of New South Wales sent Lonsdale to lay out Melbourne, which was founded the year before.
Bass, who came from Sydney to Western Port in 1798, Grant and Murray his first mate, Bowen, who on March 9, 1802, found the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, which was named after the first governor of New South Wales; Flinders; who arrived six weeks after Bowen had left, and was of great assistance in charting Port Phillip Bay, and who stopped right opposite the present site of Frankston, and drew water supplies from what is now known as Kananook creek, were some of the earlier historical names touched on by the speaker. William
Buckley, the first white settler in Victoria, and his adventures with the aborigines, proved a very popular personage with the children, later Hamilton Hume and Capt. Hovell, who took the first expedition across Victoria, and still later Henty, Batman and Fawkner, who came from Van Dieman’s Land and founded the first settlements in Victoria in 1835, were pioneers to whose pluck and indomitable energy Victoria owes her birth.
At the conclusion Mr. Jennings thanked Mr. Long most heartily, and called for an acclamatory vote of thanks which was given with great zest.
Several of those present were asked by Mr. Jennings to say a few words, and Messrs. Lind, J.R., McComb and Evans, senr., addressed a few appreciative remarks, Mr. Evan’s reference to a peach episode of his youthful days causing great merriment.
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MR. and Mrs. P. S. McGovern, accompanied by Mrs. Jacobs, left on Monday last for a fortnight’s motor trip through Gippsland.
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MRS. R. L. N. Utber, accompanied by her sister, Mrs Robertson, is spending a holiday at Olinda.
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THE removal of the fence at the Frankston railway subway and the widening of Young street, which work was undertaken this week, represents the result of persistent agitation by the Frankston Progress Association.
The scheme for improving this important thoroughfare was formulated by the shire engineer, Lieut.– Colonel Lazarus, who explained the position to the Railway Commissioners on the occasion of their last visit to Frankston several months ago.
It is gratifying to know that this work will be accomplished before the heavy holiday traffic sets in.
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ON Wednesday last little Roy Bentley, aged 6, who is spending a holiday with his parents in Mornington road, had quite an adventurous time, during the course of which he gave his mother a most anxious time.
It appears that Roy was playing on the beach, but at about 3 o’clock had disappeared.
Search was made, but, without result, and later in the evening the police were notified, and the fire-bell rung.
The wanderer was discovered between 6 and half-past by two local Italian fishermen on the beach, about 3 miles from home, and restored to the fold by Mr. Osborne.
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Frankston Police Court
On Tuesday last, before Messrs. Grant (chairman), and Brown, J’s.P., Allan Edward Cooper was charged on two counts: (1) offensive behaviour on 25th inst., (2) negligently driving a motor car, on the same date.
Senior–Constable Wilson, who prosecuted, said the defendant’s solicitor had asked for an adjournment until December 11, to which he had no objection.– Granted..
The case against Ernest George McMullen, charged with negligently driving a motor car on October 10, was, owing to Senior–Constable Culhane not being able to attend, adjourned for eight weeks.
THREATENING WORDS IN A PUBLIC PLACE
William Albert Couch, motor driver, East Melbourne, was charged with that he did on 24th inst., use threatening words in a public place.
Defendant, who was undefended, pleaded not guilty.
Arthur William Edwards, painter, of Bentleigh, gave evidence to the effect that on 24th inst., at about 10.15pm, he was proceeding in a motor car to Rosebud, accompanied by his wife and friends.
After leaving Mordialloc, two men on a motor bike hailed him, saying they were special police and ordered him to stop. Later the defendant stood in the centre of the road with extended arms, and repeated the order.
On arrival at Frankston, he took his wife and friends into a shop for refreshments.
Defendant followed him and used filthy language. The police were sent for and accused given in charge.
Elsie Hallpike and Stephen Vince Hallpike corroborated the evidence given by complainant.
Mounted–Constable Graham deposed that he arrested the accused on the night of the 24th inst., on complaint made by Mr. Edwards.
Accused, giving evidence on oath, stated that in company with a friend, while passing through Mordialloc he almost run into complainant’s motor car, which had no tail light.
He called out to him and tried to stop him on three different occasions, but complainant took no notice.
He followed the car to Frankston with the idea of informing the police, as he considered a car having no tail light a danger.
On arrival at Frankston, he looked for the police, but was given in charge by the complainant.
Cross-examined, accused said that his only reason for trying to stop the complainant was to inform him that his tail light was out. He did not remember using the language complained of, and was not drunk, nor did he say he was a “special”.
Howard Reg. Dewhurst, linesman, Oakleigh, corroborated evidence given by accused. Cross-examined, he said that he thought accused was doing the complainant a kindness by attempting to draw attention to the state of the tail light.
Accused was fined 60/- or in default 14 days, and 40/- costs.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 28 & 30 Nov 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 28 November 2023
