Compiled by Cameron McCullough
EARLY this (Wednesday) morning Wallis Wright, aged 38, of 14 Mackey Street, Essendon, was drowned while bathing at Frankston, at a point on the bay opposite Beach street.
Wright only arrived in Frankston yesterday afternoon, on a visit to friends residing at “Penzance”, Frankston.
This morning, at 6 o’clock, he left the house in bathing suit and boots only. He was unaccompanied, and was not seen in the water alive.
About 7am, some people passing along the beach saw a body floating.
They called for assistance and the body was pulled out of the water.
Mr. McIntosh, dentist, came on the scene and endeavoured to restore life by the usual methods. Dr. Johnson was sent for, and pronounced life to be extinct.
Senior-Constable Elliott had the body removed to the Pier Hotel, where an inquiry will be held.
Deceased has been identified as Wallis Wright.
Wright, who was a single man, was a cripple, being paralysed on one side. It is surmised that he went in to swim in a fairly rough sea; that he was knocked over by the waves and in his crippled condition was unable to regain his feet.
SUNDAY, a week ago, a peculiar accident, which might have resulted in more serious consequences, occurred to a couple of well-known residents of Pearcedale.
Mr. Nicholls, the popular schoolmaster, accompanied by his wife and daughter, was on his way to Somerville in a rustic cart.
He rose from the seat of the vehicle with the object of mildly egging on the pony, and the animal, suddenly springing forward, caused the seat to lurch backwards.
By reason of this mishap, Mrs. Nicholls and her daughter were thrown violently, on the roadside.
Mrs. Nicholls sustained a severe shock, and somewhat serious injuries, while Miss Nicholls escaped with a minor bruise to one of her thumbs.
Mrs. Nicholls is still receiving medical attention. We join in wishing her a speedy convalescence towards recovery.
The Carrum Bridge – Flimsy and dangerous
Although the congestion on the Pt. Nepean road is greater today than it has ever been, the Carrum bridge is still the same narrow, useless structure menacing motorists.
Such is its danger and possible impediment to traffic, that when the head-on collision occurred on a recent Sunday between two motor cars, there were upwards of 600 cars held up on one side, and 200 on the other.
The question of the control of the bridge and the erection of one more in keeping with requirements, has been discussed by the Carrum Borough Council.
Cr. Boyd said there were many more accidents on this bridge than were reported. He wanted to see the bridge placed under strict supervision during weekends for the control of the traffic, and to prevent the pulling up of cars in the fairway.
The engineer (Mr. Nihill): The Country Roads Board recently suggested that the speed limit should be strictly enforced. A report presented by their engineer assessed a safe load of five tons, but he (Mr. Nihill) doubted if this were a safe load.
It was interesting to note that the day following this assessment of the weight by the Country Roads Board engineer, that the Board sent down a lorry across the bridge, carrying eleven tons of bitumen.
There was the previous experience on a country road when a steam roller went through the bridge.
Cr. Hunter: This bridge is the most dangerous point on the road. The fact that a stringer or a bearer had to be put in makes one fear for its strength under big loads.
The Engineer: I think one-way traffic should be insisted on.
The Mayor (Cr. Williams): How?
The Engineer: By letting cars across in batches. Although there was room for two cars to pass when driven by capable drivers, the trouble was that capable drivers were not always capable of driving.
At a later stage, Cr. W. McGarry, in moving that some action be taken towards the erection of a modern bridge, said that the ever-increasing volume of traffic on Point Nepean road was too much for the obsolete structure over the Carrum creek.
He wanted the clerk to find out what powers found the apportionment of the cost. Surrounding municipalities should be called upon to supply part of the cost. Mornington, Frankston for sure, and there was no reason why Mordialloc and Moorabbin should not be contributors.
Cr. Beardsworth endorsed Cr. McGarry’s remarks.
Cr. Hunter: The Naval Department ought to be approached, owing to the Naval Base need for the military road.
Cr. McGarry: They have even denied liability for repairs to the road. Steps are now to be taken by the Town Clerk to collect the data Cr. McGarry wants.
The question of the bridge has to be faced sooner or later. The present structure is flimsy, twice as long as Mordialloc bridge and half as wide.
Pier hotel changes hands
Mr. Peter Patroni, the popular host of the Pier Hotel, Frankston, has disposed of his interests to Mr. Youl.
During his stay in Frankston Mr. Patroni, by his straightforward dealing and genial nature, made many friends, and his departure will be regretted.
His decision to leave the bayside was no doubt largely influenced by the fact that Mrs. Patroni, owing to ill-health, could not reside in Frankston, and for some months now she has been located in the northern parts of the state.
Somerville
The entertainment given by the Blind Concert Co. on the 14th inst., was fairly well attended. The unsettled state of the weather prevented many from attending. The programme was, as usual, an excellent one and thoroughly appreciated by those present.
The net proceeds were £8/7/- just £3 less than the amount secured last year.
The new licensee (Mr. Mitchell) of the Hotel Somerville, has taken possession. Mr. and Mrs. Copsey have left for Brighton, where they intend living privately.
Misses Audrey West and Ruby Simcock, pupils of Miss Dorothea Overton, D.M.S.V., were successful at the music examinations held in Melbourne in November and December last; Miss Simcock passing the Junior Practical Examination of the Musical Society of Victoria, and Miss West gained the A.L.C.M. degree.
MORNINGTON Cup day was proclaimed a public holiday throughout the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, but few, if any, of the business people seemed to know anything about it.
In Mornington itself the post office and banks closed for the day, greatly, to the disgust of a correspondent who writes to the “Mornington Post” as follows:
“I thought Tom Walsh was in West or South Australia, but think he must be in Mornington, and an important member of the racing club. While wishing the Mornington Racing Club every success and ungrudgingly conceding the rights of individuals to attend, and of shopkeepers who wish to close their establishments on that day to do so, I think the line should be drawn at Government utilities, especially postal and money order business, inconveniencing hundreds of people (locals and visitors) probably anxiously awaiting important business and even love letters, etc., and who of us does not know how fearfully important and anxiously looked for is a love letter to the one whom it is addressed?”
From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 21 & 23 Jan 1925