ON Sunday last a party of eight motored from Williamstown to spend the afternoon at Frankston.
Whilst here the party had dinner in picnic style, and partook of tinned fish or meats, with the result that the whole party suffered severely from ptomaine poisoning.
One young lady was particularly ill, but under medical treatment they recovered and were permitted to return home during the cool of the evening.
***
A HEAVY horse, attached to a heavy dray, that backs over a cutting sixty feet deep, and on reaching the bottom calmly walks away with some of the broken harness still hanging on him, must be little short of an acrobat.
Such an accident occurred at the quarries, Moorooduc, last week, and the equine wonder was so little concerned over the event, that he was able to resume his daily task of drawing loads of firewood for the quarry furnace.
***
Mr. L. J. Ward, Secretary of the Peninsula Schools Committee on Monday last visited the Education Department to try and obtain confirmation of a report current in the town to the effect that the Ministers of Lands and Education had arrived at a settlement in connection with the High School site at Frankston.
He was unable to see Mr. Hansen; the Chief Inspector and other officials appeared to be unable to give him any satisfactory answer.
Yesterday another effort was made to ascertain the position of affairs, but from the following it will be seen that matters are still very much in the air:–
At last nights Beach Carnival meeting Cr. Mason informed those present of his and Cr. Oates visit that day to Mr. Hansen, the Chief Inspector of Education in connection with the High School question.
Mr. Hansen, who has recently returned from a visit to America, said that he could not understand the attitude of Frankston.
In America, towns would exert their last ounce of energy and influence in order to obtain a high school.
They would sacrifice without a regret their amusements and sports on the alter of education.
Their offerings were the park lands and gardens of their cities. Their baseball grounds and public reserves were eagerly offered in order that a school might promise to a coming generation all the fruits that knowledge can bring.
What then was the matter with Frankston? Highett, Mordialloc, and Chelsea have all petitioned for the school that Frankston has virtually turned down, but owing to the foresight of Mr. Hansen none of them have succeeded.
He sees in Frankston a great centre.
It is necessary that the school shall be near the station on account of the large influx of students by rail.
From Caulfield, Tyabb and Mornington will they come.
With this school in the midst of Frankston, our town will advance at a phenomenal rate.
It has all that is required to assist it in its progress.
The electrification of the town, and of the railways; it has a good water supply, and is very fertile, a High School holds great possibilities.
Cr. Mason concluded by informing the attendance that they had persuaded Mr. Hansen to come to Frankston on Thursday, 7th December.
Mr. Hanson will be down at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and a good attendance of representatives was earnestly requested.
***
PERRY Bros’ Circus and Menagerie is amongst the largest now touring Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, and after playing the principal cities of Australia with success, will visit Frankston by special train for one night only, on Monday, next, 4th December.
The Perry’ Bros. have spared no expense in securing the world’s best performers, for they have a very strong combination of clever tumblers, contortionists and acrobats, and trapeze artists, assisted by talented horsemen and clowns, all of whom make Perry Bros’ circus the finest show now touring Australia.
A sight well worth seeing is the unloading of the circus train, which is performed by their famous Jumbo, the performing elephant, who was in the Prince of Wales’ escort throughout the Malay States.
The children of Frankston will have a chance that they should not miss, of seeing Jumbo, who does the work of 20 men and as many horses shunting the circus trucks into position for unloading purposes, and conveying the animal’s cages to the circus location.
The circus will visit Mornington on Tuesday.
***
THE Executive of the above Association met in the Hastings Hall on Saturday last.
The President, Mr. J. D. Hodgins, presided.
Those of the Executive present were: Crs. Jones and Unthank, Rev. Craig, Messrs. D. Grieves, A. Grieves; A. Hodgins, Pitt, Boulter, MacRae, A. Edward, S. Edwards, Carpenter and Knox. Mr. D. Grieves was appointed secretary, with Mr. A. Edwards assistant.
Mr. H. Knox accepted re-appointment as Treasurer, he having acted for some years as treasurer of the old Association.
His report on the finance of the Association was most encouraging, there being approximately £40 in hand.
With the secretary’s information that there were already 60 members enrolled, it can be seen that the Association is in a splendid position.
The main discussion centred on possible and necessary improvements around the, jetty and foreshore.
It was decided to apply for a grant from a certain fund which is available to install a public bathing box, purchase a block of ground near the jetty as a recreation ground and motor park, extend the jetty, etc.
Conveniences are also to be erected in the vicinity of the jetty.
The Secretary was instructed to have erected on the main road near Mr. Carey’s Bike Hospital, a red-and-white sign: “Danger to Motorists. To the right for Flinders”– as the hotel corner was considered to be a most dangerous blind corner.
All the Peninsula Progress Associations are to be communicated with to having a great advertising steamer trip around the Westernport Bay in the near future.
It is proposed to invite Federal members of Parliament to make the trip in order to make them familiar with what must one day, and that not long distant, be the greatest of Victorian ports.
***
THE employees of Cuming, Smith & Co. Pty. Ltd. held their annual picnic in the Frankston Park on Saturday last, when over a thousand were present.
The picnic was well conducted, and the behaviour of the “young bloods,” who usually abuse the liberty they enjoy, when on these annual outings, left nothing to be desired.
A band was provided, and the afternoon was spent in dancing, sports and bathing.
Whilst playing “Aunt Sally” with the kiddies, one of the party got a terrific smack on the temple full force with the wooden ball.
He was knocked unconscious, and medical assistance had to be sought.
***
THE annual picnic of the Frankston Methodist Sunday school was held on Saturday last in perfect weather at “Ballam Park” – an ideal picnic spot.
Over 100 children were conveyed to the grounds in motor cars and drags.
The young people were liberally catered for, and, needless to say, entered with great zest into the various sports and games.
Great praise is due to the organisers and to those who so liberally supplied means of conveyance. The picnic was voted one of the jolliest and best yet.
***
From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 29 Nov & 1 Dec 1922
