ONE day last week Mr T. Reeves, Frankston, received word from the Defence Departement to the effect that his son, Gunner C. Reeves, had been admitted to Sutton Veny Military Hospital, England, on 23/1/18, suffering from gastritis.
We trust that Mr and Mrs Reeves will hear better news of their young soldier son, who although only a lad of seventeen, has been fighting nobly; has been badly wounded, and gone back to fight again.
***
A MEETING of residents of Frankston was held at the Mechanics on Tuesday to take steps to erect a memorial at Frankston to the memory of the late Sir John Madden.
It was unanimously decided that a memorial be erected at Frankston and a strong working committee was formed with power to add to their number.
A committee meeting will be held at the Mechanics next Tuesday at 8 o’clock to decide what form the memorial shall take.
***
THE death occurred at Frankston on Friday evening last of Mrs Cousins, wife of Mr Benjamin Cousins who for the past seven years has been employed as caretaker at Colonel Grimwade’s, “Marathon”, Mornington road.
Death which was of a sudden nature, was due to a heart affection, from which the deceased lady had been suffering for some time.
The late Mrs Cousins, who was 46 years of age, was a daughter of Mr Henry Brown, of Brunswick, and for very many years had been a resident of this district. Great sympathy is felt for Mr Cousins and family in their very sad bereavement.
The internment took place at the Frankston cemetery on Sunday, a large crowd following the body to its last resting place. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr H. Gamble Frankston.
***
UNDER the auspices of the Frankston Red Cross Society, a grand concert in aid of the repatriation fund will be given in the Mechanics’ Institute on Easter Saturday, commencing at 7 45 p.m. sharp.
The programme will be given by Melbourne artists, and has been arranged by the Presbyterian Young Men’s Union.
***
A BAZAAR to reduce the debt on the Hastings hall will be held on Easter Saturday and Monday, afternoon and evenings, when there will be nail driving and hat trimming competitions, hoopla, etc, and on Saturday afternoon a baby show will be held, when valuable prizes will be given.
The bazaar will be officially opened by Hon. A. Downward at 8p.m. on Easter Saturday.
***
A VISIT of inspection of the works in connection with the Peninsula Water Supply was made by members of the Frankston and Hastings, Mornington, and Moorabbin Shire councils on Wednesday last.
The party made the trip by motor car, and visited the source of supply, and traversed most of the pipe line.
A visit to the works where the cement pipes are being made proved most interesting, and general satisfaction was expressed at the progress being made. A full report will appear next issue.
***
ADVICE was received in Melbourne by cablegram from Calcutta on Wednesday that the Commonwealth Government’s agents had secured 200,000 bales of grain bags representing 60,000,000 in all.
It is anticipated that these will be ample for the 1918-19 Australian harvest if the amount of tonnage available be sufficient to transport them in time.
Despatch for Australia may be expected to commence in August and be continued in September and October
***
LOVERS of the “light fantastic” had a most enjoyable time on Saturday evening last when a dance was held under the auspices of the Wattle Club in the Mechanics. There was a splendid attendance and the music supplied by Mr Meekin left nothing to be desired.
***
THE RECONSTRUCTED MINISTRY.
Patriotic citizens are agreed that at a time of stress like the present, there should be an end of party and that a National Ministry, should hold office. Mr Hughes, Mr Cook and their colleagues made an honest attempt to establish a government fully representative of all sections in the Commonwealth. They failed, because Official Labor stood aloof.
In the reconstruction of the cabinet necessitated by the resignation of Lord Forrest, by the departure of Messrs Cook and Hughes for London and, possibly, by the increasing demands made on those who have held office during the trying war years, Mr Hughes and his colleagues have been true to the National ideal.
The new members of the cabinet (Messrs Greene, Poynton, Wise and Orchard) represent distinct wings of the National Party.
The selection of the new Ministers is satisfactory from another stand- point. It often happens that a weak Ministry buys off a too candid critic, by offering him a portfolio when one has to be placed. Happily the Hughes government has not stooped to that.
The temptation was there, for quite recently a little knot of malcontent’s threatened the Ministry. These critics should not be silenced.
***
MESSRS Alex Scott o Co. will hold their usual monthly market at Tanti on Monday, April 8th, commencing at 12.30 p.m. when they will offer cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry etc.
***
THE general list of electors for the electoral division of Mornington is now printed, and may be inspected at any post office, railway station, police station and state school within the division, or at the office of the registrar at Mornington.
***
SPECIAL Easter Services will be conducted at the Frankston Methodist Church on Sunday next, morning and evening, by the Rev. E. Tonkin. The musical portion will be assisted by Mr G. Ernest Tonkin, of Kyneton.
There will be Communion at the conclusion of the morning service.
***
THE commandant of the A.I.F. at headquarters in London has cabled to the Prime Minister, stating that confusion has been caused in connection with the mails for the Australian Imperial Force and the American Expeditionary Force owing to the use of the letters A.I.F. and A.E.F., and it has consequently been found necessary to issue instructions to all despatch officers in Australia to enclose all mail matter addressed to
Australian oversea forces in army postal bags, including those bearing hospital and civilian addresses. It is now merely necessary in addressing the mail to a soldier to state the number, name, initial and permanent unit with the words “Australian Imperial Force” in full.
***
From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 30 March 1918
As published in the Mornington News – 27 March 2018
