AT the Frankston Police Court on Monday, before the Police Magistrate and Messrs. Williams, Grant and Armstrong, J.sP., five young men who described themselves as campers, were charged by Constable Nolan with using indecent language.
The defendants gave the names of Ballantyne, May, Tyrrell, Williams, Ryan and Hyde.
Constable Nolan related the circumstances. The defendants, he said, were more or less drunk and were creating a disturbance on the main road near the Carrum station, at about 1 o’clock a.m. on 19th November.
The PM.: How do you know they all used the language ?
Constable Nolan said he had them under observation for five minutes.
The P.M. suggested that the charge be altered to one of “offensive behaviour,” and this was done.
Ballantyne, Ryan and Tyrrell denied being near the railway station that night.
They were at a dance until midnight, and then went to a neighboring camp. They knew of nothing about the matter, and when Constable Nolan took their names next day he would not enlighten them.
May said he saw members of another camp pull palings off a fence, but he did not know the names of any of them.
The P.M.: Don’t you know them, or is it that you don’t want to tell?
Witness: I’ll say I don’t want to tell!
The P.M. said the Bench would give defendants the benefit of the doubt.
He was pleased know defendants had left Carrum and were now living in their own place in Melbourne.
He hoped they would remain there.
A CHELSEA CASE.
Constable Murphy charged H. Farmer with breaking bottles on a public roadway.
The evidence was that defendant got out of the train at Chelsea, carrying a bag containing bottles of beer.
He dropped the bag and the bottles broke.
Witness made Farmer pick up the bag. He did so, but when he got on the road he threw the bottles on the street.
The P.M. (to Farmer): Are you a camper too?–Yes.
The P.M: You campers! All you think you have got to do is to get a sack or carpet bag to carry beer, and you are at liberty to do as you like. I wish people could be prosecuted for carrying beer.
A fine of 40/- was imposed.
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THE Carrum Progress Association wrote to the Council, drawing attention to the undesirable characters who invade the South Ward and other parts of the Borough during weekends, and suggesting that steps be taken to abate the nuisance.
For a long time past complaints have been heard of this nuisance, and until householders or owners who let houses for weekends realise their duty, it will be hard to check.
Do property owners who let their establishments realise that horse-play over weekends is most degrading to any locality, and that the better class of visitor will not frequent such a resort under the conditions?
Some very caustic comments were made when the matter was before the Council last Monday, and, as the Mayor remarked, Carrum had more than its share of it this year.
Cr. Boyd was very emphatic in condemning the recent maltreatment of a constable by a mob of undesirables, and considered prevention better than cure in such a case.
C. Hunter suggested a flying gang to operate and bring some offenders to book.
Cr. Richardson: It affects this Borough very closely and should be attended to. One point about weekend element was that residents should not let their houses to such people.
It reduces values and damages the name of the district. It was for the powers that be to follow the crowds migrating to the country towns.
Cr. Hunter said residents were often averse to give information. He instanced the pulling up of tree guards by a mob in a motor car, who used obscene and disgusting language, yet no one could or would give any information regarding it.
Cr. Boardsworth said that no reflection was intended by such action as may be taken, on the general run of visitors, but there were a few camps which should have attention.
The police are to be informed and asked if some action cannot be taken to abate the nuisance.
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At the last meeting of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings Council, Mr. R. W. B. McKenzie, F.C.P.A., of Queen Street, Melbourne addressed a letter to the Council on a matter which he stated was a matter of great importance to the owners of property in Gould Street, Frankston.
He wrote:– “As you are aware, the land abutting on this road has had a number of fine residences erected upon it recently and its popularity as a place for seaside homes is grown to such an extent, that the value of the land has risen very materially, and the revenue to the Council from this portion of the Shire has considerably increased.
Unfortunately, as always happens in such cases, the mere speculator is tempted to come forward and exploit the district for his own gain, but to the great disadvantage and loss of permanent residents, who find that their properties may be seriously depreciated by the subdivision of the original allotments and by overcrowding, as has been the case in other seaside places.
There are few localities anywhere within reasonable distance of Melbourne which can compare with Gould Street for picturesqueness, and it is to the interests of Frankston to preserve it is it is.
I know that I represent the feelings and wishes of all my neighbors when I respectfully ask the Council to protect us as owners by passing a by-law prohibiting the cutting up of original allotments or at the least not allowing residence to be built on less that 50 feet frontage by the depth to the sea or creek, as the case may be.
If this were done more money will be spent on our places, thus benefiting the town and add to the revenue of the Shire.
With the fear of undue subdivision hanging over us we are holding back and without the protection which we think we can justly claim many of us would feel compelled to realise and move to other localities.”
Cr. Mason remarked that Gould St. was now equal to Pt. Nepean Road.
The Council decided to comply with the request.
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AT last week’s meeting of the Council of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, dissatisfaction was expressed at the manner in which the installation of electric light was proceeding.
A light had been ordered to be placed in the park two months ago, and nothing was done.
It was decided to write the consulting electrical engineer, Mr. Stewart, informing him that no further payments would be made until the work ordered had been carried out and requesting him to attend a meeting of the electric light committee on Monday.
Mr. Stewart attended last Monday as requested, but took exception of the action of the Council, and declined to inspect the lights and other works until the offending letter was withdrawn.
Cr. Wells and other members of the committee immediately convened a special meeting of the whole Council which was held last night.
Mr Stewart, who was present, explained that the contractor had received instructions to put in the lights, but had not done so.
Cr. Longmuir said the Council expected Mr. Stewart, as engineer, to see that the work was done.
Mr. Stewart said he did not know the light in the park was regarded as urgent.
He objected to the Council passing judgment before receiving his explanation.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 13 & 15 Dec 1922
