Compiled by Cameron McCullough
ON Friday next, the civic fathers will again sit around the council table in solemn conclave, as of yore, at the usual – the very ordinary – monthly meeting.
What the old and tired rep resentatives have accomplished in the past on behalf of the ratepayers as a whole, is, perhaps, too insignificant to necessitate the services of a brass band being brought into prominence to herald the deeds of the would be heroes.
An organ, sounding forth, with reverberating chords of despair, the “Dead March” would be infinitely more appropriate.
In days bygone, the policy of the council would appear to have been based on the principles of retrogression and total ineptitude, while the mascot of the party machine attributes has been a kookaburra.
When, upon certain occasion, “John Citizen” has deemed it to be propitious to grace the chamber of strange happenings at the monthly sittings, presumably in imaginative vision, he has watched the laughing jackass jumping to and fro among its favourites who endeavoured to propound wisdom and display the keenness of perception and foresight in regard to municipal affairs, moreover, when they failed signally to reveal such essential qualifications, the wily bird has chuckled in evident enjoyment of the influence of irresponsible hilarity manifested by the victims of selection.
Truly, the monthly meetings of the council provide ample scope for the pen of Gilbertian genius.
Nevertheless, the forthcoming sitting, we venture to predict, should transpire to be something quite apart from the mundane order of events.
For example, at the November meeting of the council, Cr. Miles moved:
“That the Shire Secretary prepare a list of sundry creditors for next council day.” This was carried.
At the time it was remarked that the task of so doing would be a difficult one, to which Seaford’s blunt and always out-spoken representative retorted with: “Bunkum!”
It was an emphatic expression and conveyed a lot, and it is possible that Cr. Miles may feel disposed to ventilate his opinions in much stronger terms if the instructions of the resolution have not been carried out when the opportune moment arrives.
There is a possibility that he may yet live to realise how typical is the phrase: “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall not be disappointed.”
Further, it is quite on the cards that, on the other hand, Cr. J. L. Pratt will insist on a special audit being instituted of the respective ridings of the Shire, as suggested at the recent monster indignation meeting of ratepayers.
As previously stated in the columns of “The Standard,” we are inclined to contest the accuracy of the balance sheet for 1923, and if Cr. Pratt takes a firm stand on the vexed question of finance, despite the supercilious attitude of the worthies, who stick like adhesive plaster to the rusty party machine, he will uphold, in a practical degree, the truth of the adage: “Actions speak louder than words.”
In conclusion, at last Monday night’s meeting of the East Frankston Progress Association, Mr. J. B. Jolly queried anent what action was being taken to follow up the motion of “No Confidence” passed at the aforesaid public meeting of ratepayers, and it was inferred that the council would hear more of the matter.
We endorse the probability of such a fact being recorded at an early date.
In brief, next Friday’s meeting of the civic fathers should prove to be of an interesting nature. “John Citizen” refuses any longer to be kept in ignorance of where his money goes. He recollects only too well the old nursery rhyme: Pop! Goes the Weasel!
Personal
Mr. and Mrs. Randall, of Frankston, leave on Monday next for six weeks holiday in Sydney.
Among the visitors to Frankston last weekend, was Miss D. Fulton, who recently left the district for Tunstall. Miss Fulton was the guest of Miss Purves, Nolan street.
Mr. and Mrs. Holman have returned to Frankston, after three weeks’ holiday spent in various parts of the State. Mr. Holman resumed duty as manager of the National Bank on Monday.
The Baxter Crossing Smash – Suits Against Railways – £6100 Claimed
As a sequel to the collision between a train and a motor lorry, which occurred at the Baxter level crossing on the night of April 28, 1924, when Alfred Ernest Field met with a tragic death, and John Thomas Twyford, orchardist of Somerville, who was travelling in the same lorry with the deceased Field, had a miraculous escape from sustaining fatal injuries, two claims for damages, totalling £6100, were made against the Railways Commissioners in the County Court yesterday.
A sum of £4000 was claimed by the Perpetual Executors and Trustees Association of Australia Ltd., as administrators of the estate of Alfred Ernest Field.
In addition, the company claimed £600 damages for the loss of the motor lorry.
The second claim was that of John Thomas Twyford, aforesaid, who sued for £1500 in respect of injuries sustained.
The two claims were’ heard together by Judge Moule and a special jury of six.
Mr. L. Walker, instructed by Cook & McCallum, appeared for the plaintiffs, and Messrs. L. B. Cussen and E. Gorman, instructed by the Crown Solicitor, represented the Commissioners.
The particulars of the alleged negligence on the part of defendants were: That the train was travelling with tender in front of the engine; no lights or not sufficient lights were carried on the tender; the driver and fireman did not keep a proper look out when approaching the crossing; the train was travelling at an excessive speed; no whistle was blown when the train was approaching the crossing; that by reason of the angle at which the line intersects the road, the crossing is highly dangerous, and the defendants failed to install a warning beacon, light, or bell, and failed to maintain gates and a gatekeeper; defendants permitted a mound of earth with a fence on top, to remain near the crossing in such a position that a view of an approaching train would be obscured.
Mr. Cussen said the defences were: Denial of negligence; that Field and Twyford voluntarily took the risk and were guilty of contributory negligence in that they approached the crossing with no proper light on the lorry, failed to keep a proper look out, and failed to take proper precautions to avoid the collision. It was also alleged that Twyford advised the late Field to pay no attention or to keep no look-out for the approach of the train, by telling him that he need not expect the train at the time.
Mr. Twyford, who walked with a stick, was given a seat in the body of the court. He said he left his orchard in a lorry loaded with fruit about 6pm on April 28. He had engaged Field to take his fruit to the market.
He heard no train whistle, nor was there anything to suggest the approach of the train.
Dr. David Bickart stated that when he saw Twyford, the man had a fractured left thigh, a badly cut head, bruises, and lacerations all over his body, and badly bruised and pummeled buttock. At the time he did not think that Twyford would live. A few days after the accident Twyford had an apoplectic seizure. He was not now in a position to take an active part in the working of his orchard.
The case is proceeding.
From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 3 & 5 Dec 1924