MR and Mrs James Liddle, who with their family, arrived in this district about ten days ago, from Hopetoun, have had an unusually sad experience.
Two members of the family, a boy and a girl, aged six and three years respectively, were suffering from severe colds on arrival here, unfortunately these developed into bronchial asthma, and despite all that could be done by Dr Griffiths to save them the girl passed away on Sunday and the boy on Wednesday.
It is stated by Dr Griffiths that the sudden climatic change from the Mallee district to the prevailing cold temperature here is chiefly responsible for the sad event.
Both have been interred in the Frankston cemetery.
Much sympathy is felt for the family in their bereavement.
***
YESTERDAY the Council of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings decided to acquire the celebrated electric light outfit at Frankston.
When the contract is signed, which will probably be some time next week, a deposit of £500 will be paid, and later on other payments, totalling something like £4000, will have to be met.
This bold step has been taken as the result of a conference between the Electricity Commissioners, the Frankston Gas and Electric Light Company and the Council.
It can be reasonably assumed that the Council is not looking forward with any degree of pleasure to the handling of its new possession.
Cr Wells does not like the idea at all.
He emphatically stated that he would not give £100 for the whole turn out, and none of his colleagues seemed anxious to outbid him in the matter of personal speculation.
The Council, quite obviously, is not acting on its own judgment. It is being influenced largely by the views of the Electricity Commissioners.
Unfortunately the Commissioners do not have to find the money – the ratepayers of the Shire have to foot the bill.
Frankston ratepayers, from bitter experience, have formed a very accurate idea of the value of the electricity turn-out.
The Commissioners have also arrived at an estimate of the value of the plant with a long name.
We are inclined to back the opinion of the ratepayers against that of the visiting expert. The expert tells us that the plant he saw is capable of effectively lighting Frankston and Seaford.
Frankston people know that the Company has been trying to provide an effective lighting system for years and has never given satisfaction.
Is it expected that change of ownership or management will work a miracle, and that the noisy back-firing engines will be docile and effective in the hands of the Council when they refused to work satisfactorily under the company’s management.
It is a foregone conclusion that the expenditure in sight will be doubled before the Council succeeds in giving an effective light service.
Talking of light, it would be illuminating to know where the Council gets its authority to enter on this new venture, involving a large financial outlay, without first seeking the sanction of the ratepayers.
If the ratepayers are not concerned about the matter, and are indifferent as to how thousands of pounds are expended on any old proposal that comes along well and good.
The ratepayers must find the money. If they are not particular as to the manner of its expenditure the Council cannot be blamed for splashing it about.
The Local Government Act contains provisions protecting the ratepayers in matters of large expenditure.
It would be strange if it proved non-protective in this case.
***
THE scheme suggested for the improvement of Kananook Creek has been condemned by the Government.
The matter was before the Council yesterday, as will be seen from the report appearing in another column, and on Saturday (tomorrow) night a special meeting of the Seaford Progress Association will be held to consider the position.
Nearly 12 months ago the Minister for Public Works assured a large deputation from this district that the creek would receive attention.
All he asked was that the officers of his department be allowed a week or two in which to verify the figures submitted by the shire engineer, Mr A. K. T. Sambell.
This promise received tardy fulfillment and it was only after much letter writing and agitating on the part of the Seaford Progress Association that the Department finally sent an engineer to inspect the creek.
It is to be hoped that the Department, having condemned the scheme proposed, will come forward with some practicable suggestion to meet the difficulty.
The Minister has admitted that a certain amount of responsibility rested with the Government in improving the existing condition of the creek..
***
DR V. J. E. Zichy Woinarski died suddenly on Friday last, at his home in Mornington, as a result of a heart seizure which overcame him while he was returning from a sick call.
Dr Woinarski, who was a brother to Judge Woinarski, gained his medical degree at Melbourne University after receiving his education at Melbourne Grammar School, and prior to the war he practiced for several years at North Melbourne.
He was 56 years of age, and he has left a widow, two sons and a daughter.
***
THE dry spell has broken, and the nice, steady rains will keep the grass going and enable the ground to be worked.
Nurserymen should be particularly thankful, for, although insufficient to penetrate deeply into the soil, it will facilitate the lifting of trees.
Orders for young trees are coming steadily, but, as the nurseries are carrying lighter stocks, many kinds are unobtainable.
The areas planted during the past three years have been more restricted than in pre-war seasons.
***
FRANKSTON Police Court
Before Mr Knight, P.M.
Allan Tivendale was charged with having converted to his own use money belonging to the Commonwealth Savings Bank.
He was not represented by counsel.
Mrs Sherar, of Langwarrin, and Mrs Ruby Eileen Atkinson, of Cranbourne Road, Frankston, gave evidence to the effect that on March 7th they deposited £7 each in the Commonwealth Savings Bank at the Frankston Post Office.
Reginald George Lewis, postal assistant, stationed at Frankston, stated that the accused gave him £13 and the two deposit slips on the night of Friday, March 11th, and he put the money through on the 12th in the usual way.
John Dixon Kinvig, postmaster, Frankston, gave corroborative evidence.
Detective Holland, of the Postal Department, gave evidence regarding an interview he had with Tivendale at Mordialloc.
Tivendale had told him he had lost money at the races and owed money locally, and made a sworn statement.
There was no money missing and Tivendale was not short in his money advances.
“He bears a good name,” said the detective, “and is a good lad.”
Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to stand his trial at Melbourne on July 15th.
On hearing the verdict, Mrs Tivendale, the accused’s mother, collapsed in a dead faint and fell heavily amongst the chairs.
Bail was allowed, in his mother’s surety.
***
FROM the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 3 June 1921
