THE calm serenity of Tyabb received a rude shock on Tuesday morning when it became known that Mr. W. Noble, an old and well-known resident, had met with his death in a most tragic manner.
For some days a man named Livingstone had been picking fruit for Mr. Noble, and had been living in a two roomed hut at the back of the dwelling and outhouses.
During the night a boisterous wind blew continuously, blowing from his hut towards Mr. Noble’s, so that it was impossible for him to hear anything unusual.
About 6.30, knowing it was Mr. Noble’s intention to catch the morning train to town, he thought he would go over to see if he was up, and was horrified in going out to see the cottage in a blaze, and the walls crumbling and falling in.
The fire had been burning for some time, and was just beginning to die down.
Mr. Livingstone, an old man of about 70, immediately summoned assistance from the nearest house, that of the Thornell family, and two of the boys went on with him.
They searched among the now blackening debris, but did not have to go far before they found what they feared – the charred remains of a human body.
They decided then to leave everything as it was, and one of them set off to the station to make sure that Mr. Noble was not at the train, and also to ring up the police.
Shortly after eight o’clock Constable Adams arrived on the scene, and took charge.
Later the remains were removed to Latchford’s Hotel, Hastings, pending the inquest conducted by Mr. J. Watt, J.P., on Wednesday morning.
Theories advanced as to the cause of the fire are many and varied. The most probable, however, was that Mr. Noble, preparing for the towns trip, was up early to light his fire, and some sparks from the chimney fell in the thatch of the roof. With such a gale blowing they would be fanned to a roaring blaze, and the roof caved in before Mr. Noble could realise what had happened.
This theory is born out by the fact that the body was found some distance from his bed.
The cottage, built of wattle-and-dab and thatched, would simply flare up like a heap of timber.
Mr. Noble, a man of well over 70 years of age, had lived there by himself for over 50 years.
He was a great reader, and held some very curious beliefs on religious questions.
He is also reputed, in spite of his simple ways of living, to have been possessed of considerable means.
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In aid of the Methodist Church Organ Fund, which aims at providing a new organ for the new church shortly to be built at Tyabb, Mr. Russel Denham has organised three concerts to be held in Mornington, Frankston and Tyabb on the 20th, 21st and 22nd respectively.
The business arrangements are in his hands, while arrangements for the programme are in the hands of the well-beloved Mr. Percy Blundell, who is bringing several well-known city artists with him.
In addition, Miss Doris Unthank and Mrs. W. Barker will be there, which ensures a doubly pleasant evening for all concert-lovers.
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Before Mr. R. Knight, P.M., and Messrs. C. G. V. Williams, W. Armstrong and C. Grant, J:’s.P, Senior–Constable Bray proceeded against Evan Anderson for having driven a motor car on the night of March 11th without a light.
Senior–Constable Bray gave evidence to the effect that about 11 o’clock that night a car came down Hastings Road into Bay Street without lights.
Seeing Constable Phillips on duty, Anderson dodged to the other side of the street, and made an attempt to beat the police.
There were four men and a girl about 17 or 18 years of age in the car, and all were very merry.
There were no globes in the lamp.
The Magistrate: Did you let them go without lights?
Yes, I had no power to arrest them.
Plainclothes Constable Stock, of Russell Street, said Anderson had made a statement to him that the vibrations affected the fuse, but said he got them mended and lit at Frankston.
Senior–Constable Bray: He did nothing of the sort.
Anderson was fined £5, with 5/- costs.
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LETTER to The Editor
Sir,
Knowing that the “Standard” stands for the old saying that “fair play is bonny play,” I wish to add my protest against the treatment meted out to the Carrum Football Club in their being excluded from the Peninsula Association.
From hearsay, I am informed that the only ground of objection was that Carrum violated the rules and played men not eligible.
Now, Mr. Editor, would it not have been quite honorable (and in my opinion more manly) for any of the aggrieved clubs to have protested, and had the question settled as provided by the rules?
Carrum would then have had the opportunity of defending their position.
Now, was Carrum rejected by a majority of the clubs’ interested? I am informed that two clubs only voted them out, two in, and two neutral, and the deciding vote of the president lost Carrum’s identity.
Seeing that there were even clubs interested, I fail to see why two clubs only being in direct opposition can gain their point, and I venture the opinion that Hastings’ delegates at least did not voice the opinion of their captain and a majority of their playing members, as they proved themselves a good side, and very good sports.
In dealing with the president’s casting vote, Mr. Editor, I say, with all due respect to Mr. McCulloch, that owing to his position as captain of a club, as a sport, he forgot himself when he became his club’s delegate; when he allowed himself to be made president and used two votes to oust Carrum.
In my opinion, he forgot himself as a gentleman, and he lays himself open to be accused of bias. No one should know better than the gentleman himself that a captain cannot be an impartial chairman, seeing that the rules provide for the captain to be the only person to lodge protests.
I think that a captain–president is out of court.
It is a pity, Mr. Editor, that these little things crop up in club sport.
I enjoyed last season’s football down the line, and am sorry for the boys that they cannot agree.
Perhaps the fault is not only with our team.
I like consistency in all things, and President Mac. should have thought when he used his double barrel vote to shoot Carrum with, that the previous year he was very glad to have as his vice–captain, Bill Carlson, and “Pompy” Davis, and run the risk of protest, and when that protest did come it was a good job for “Pompy” that there was a “joker’ or two in Frankston, or “Pompy” may have been misled.
In conclusion, may I suggest to Mr. McCulloch that he forgoes one of his positions, and I make the suggestion with the best of intentions, as I feel it would be in the best interests of the game.
“OLD SPORT”
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 7 April 1922
