Compiled by Cameron McCullough
THE enthusiastic members of the Frankston branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. are justly proud men today, for on Saturday last, at 3.30pm, the ceremony in connection with the laying of the foundation stone of the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, in Thompson Street, was impressively performed by the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr. Bruce) in the presence of a large and representative attendance.
The weather was ideal for the auspicious occasion. It is true that for a considerable space of time a somewhat belated atmosphere had been created by reason of a certain section of the Memorial Committee electing to override a majority decision of the local members of the League in respect of the chosen site for the much-delayed building, but the clouds of despair were, eventually, cleared away, due to direct action taken by the president (Cr. J. L. Pratt) of the Frankston branch, supported by a virile and determined muster of deputants to the aforesaid Memorial Committee, with the satisfactory result that the “Diggers” wishes to adequately perpetuate the memory of their fallen comrades is now on the high road to consummation.
In short, Saturday’s ceremony was an epoch-making event.
A HORSE, attached to a jinker, bolted through the streets of Frankston this morning. After traversing the main thoroughfares, the runaway made its final run along the footpath in Playne Street. The vehicle crashed into a telegraph post and came to a standstill near Mr. Gamble’s blacksmith’s shop.
The jinker was completely wrecked.
Mr. A. Gamble took charge of the horse, which was uninjured, and restored it to its owner, Mr. E. Brown.
AT the Mornington Court of Petty Sessions, before Messrs. Barrett and Sanders, J.’sP., a man named Wench was charged with the larceny of a rug, valued at £2, from his employer, R. Egilton, of “Hadlow.”
The accused elected to be dealt with by the Court, pleaded guilty, and was fined £1 or seven days imprisonment, with an order of the restitution of the rug.
The fine was paid.
THE report of the sad demise of Mr. Tom McMurtrie, only son of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. McMurtrie, of Frankston, which appeared in last Friday’s issue of “The Standard” was substantially correct.
Mr. Victor Henderson, and the deceased, had been in partnership as electrical engineers, at 45 Madeline Street, Carlton, and on the day that was to be fraught with so tragic an ending, were both working in separate houses, adjacent to each other.
Early on the evening of Thursday, the now deceased left on his bicycle, having previously notified Mr. Henderson that he would be home before him. As he did not, however, appear on the scene, as expected, Mr. Henderson naturally became anxious and alarmed at the absence of his late partner. Then came, like a bolt from the blue, the news of the tragedy.
The late Mr. Tom McMurtrie accidentally collided with a motor bus at the corner of Victoria and Nicholson streets.
He was conveyed to St. Vincent’s Hospital by a passing motorist, in a badly injured condition, and as previously announced in our columns, died shortly after admittance to that institution, without regaining consciousness.
It had been the first occasion upon which he had ridden his bicycle through a busy and traffic-congested thoroughfare. His purpose in going was prompted by the intention of having a trial spin with Hedspath, the champion track rider from Africa.
Again, we extend to his bereaved parents our heartfelt and deepest sympathy in the terrible loss they have sustained.
The funeral, which took place in the Frankston cemetery on Sunday afternoon last, was the largest ever seen in the Shire, and indicated the high esteem in which the deceased had been held.
Somerville
Residents of the district will be sorry to hear that our old friend ex-Cr. McLean is confined to his bed with a bad throat and severe chill.
We wish him a speedy recovery.
The Somerville tennis courts are now looking at their best, having just been top-dressed. The Tennis Club is a very live concern, and is keeping their end of the park very much up to date. At present the club has not done too well in the competition, but expects to improve, as a lot of young players are now practicing.
The local cool stores are expected to open about February 9. At present the overhauling and renovations are not completed.
Prices are still slow for fruit. W.B.C. pears, 6/- to 7/- in Sydney and Brisbane, and apples (eating) up to 10/-; cooking, to 8/-.
The Cricket Club is still maintaining its position near the head of the list. They are thankful to see plenty of young players coming on. We hear that a dinner is the stake for a match between one prominent family and the rest of Australia—no, we mean Somerville!
The new Church of England Vicarage is now beginning to take shape properly, and should look a fine building when finished.
WE are in a position to officially announce that as the outcome of the timely petition presented to Cr. Charles Gray, one of the virile representatives of the Mt. Eliza Riding, and who at a memorable sitting of the Council, moreover, with a degree of consistency which reflected credit on his probity of mind, tendered his resignation in view of the previous mandate of the ratepayers, when they unanimously passed a resolution of “No Confidence” in the Council, he will favourably reconsider his decision, and will accede to the request contained in the aforesaid petition.
In fact, it is a foregone conclusion that at the monthly meeting in March next, Cr. Gray will resume his seat at the Council table, and we venture to assert, although the attributes of the party machine clique may not altogether relish the prospect of once more being subjected to cross-examination in the guise of logically-propounded and constructive criticism, at all events, many of the ratepayers will welcome sincerely the reasons which have persuaded and prompted Cr. Gray to indicate, at this stage, his intentions of retaining the seat in the Mt. Eliza Riding, which in the past, he filled so capably and conscientiously.
Let it not be forgotten, in retrospective review, that in the initial instance, Cr. Gray, true to his colours, his sense of judgment and obeying the mandate of “John Citizen,” irrevocably resigned.
He will come back with honour, and this, because the mandate of the ratepayers is the same to-day as of yore, namely: “We want you there; we cannot do without your valued services during the serious crisis through which the Shire is passing; we trust you implicitly, and hence our mandate is: Come back!”
THE State School in Mornington has arrived at the dignity of having its own bell, by which the dallying scholars can be reminded of the fact that time flies, and that their presence at a given place is demanded.
The cost of this bell was subscribed by the old scholars of the school, and previously it did service at the Mornington Methodist Church for nearly forty years, and was, in the first instance, a gift to the Methodist Church here, by the late Mr. Harkness, of Bendigo.
From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 4 & 6 Feb 1925
