Compiled by Cameron McCullough
PUBLIC dressing sheds and conveniences are urgently required on the Seaford beaches. These works are estimated to cost £3000, and the sole income which the foreshore yields is £8 a year from bathing-box sites, of which £4/10/- is used to subsidise the water service.
As the Minister for Public Works (Mr. Goudie) has refused to make a grant available for the improvement of the outer bayside beaches, ways and means of raising funds were discussed by the Foreshore Trust of the Frankston and Hastings Shire.
“The control of the foreshore has been placed in the hands of the Foreshore Trust,” said the Frankston Shire secretary (Mr. J. A. P. Ham) today.
“The Trust is engaged in the beautification of the foreshore. It has been arranged to build public dressing sheds, and it is hoped that these and conveniences will be ready soon. Public bathing boxes have been built at Frankston. All revenue from the Foreshore Trust’s activities is devoted to this purpose.”
It was decided to impose a parking fee of 1/- on all vehicles which stopped in the Seaford Road park.
This imposition was resented by some of the visiting motorists during the New Year weekend, but the revenue from the fee will be devoted towards beach beautification.
About £30 has been raised in this way already, and with this the work of beach improvement has been begun.
Cr. Miles, who has been in close touch with the position during the holidays, says that the 1/- tax has been willingly paid by the great majority of motorists, some of whom have sought him out to offer congratulations on the enterprise of the Foreshore Trust.
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Electric Light Report
At the last meeting of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings Council the electric light manager (Mr. D. J. Quartermain) submitted the following report:
I beg to report for month of December as follow: I have completed 14 new installations for the month.
Total amount of installation work completed for the month was £257/3/6; I also connected 27 new consumers to the supply.
I have also erected six electric light poles and run cables for same. In regard to making a survey of the possibilities of electric light reticulation and probable consumers to the Somerville, Tyabb and Hastings districts, I have been very busy this month, and have not had the time to go into this matter, but will have all particulars for next meeting.
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Another Railway Accident
Mr. William Cook, a well known builder and contractor on the Peninsula, and his son, Mr. George Cook, a popular Mornington footballer of a couple of seasons ago, were badly injured in a railway accident at Point Nepean road crossing, near the Tanti sale yards, at Mornington, on Tuesday morning.
They had both been spending the holidays with their family in their Mornington home, and were just leaving on a journey to Gippsland in their Overland car.
The rail motor was returning from its early morning trip to Frankston at 8.30, with a few passengers on board.
Mr. George Cook was driving the motor car and was apparently unaware of the rail motor approaching and a collision occurred on the crossing.
The rail motor struck the car, carrying it over the pits and flung it off a shapeless mass with the unfortunate occupants badly injured.
Both Mr. Wm. Cook and his son were seriously hurt, and the motor ambulance was summoned to convey them to Nurse Talbot’s private hospital, where Dr. Edgeworth Somers found both to be in a critical condition.
Mr. William Cook had sustained concussion and severe shock, also a dislocated and fractured hip, whilst Mr. George Cook was in a worse state, and was suffering from cerebral irritation, with possible fracture of skull, ear almost severed, lacerations on scalp, general severe shock.
In this critical condition he lay all day and part of the night, and at about 3 o’clock on Wednesday morning he died, much to the regret of all who knew him, for he was a fine young fellow.
The rail motor was derailed, and was with difficulty got back on the line in a damaged condition. Traffic was held up and motors ran the 9am trip to Frankston and also at 1.40.
The incoming Mornington steam train was delayed, and could not enter the station till near midday.
The driver of the rail motor said the men in the car did not appear to notice the train until they were a few yards off. The car was travelling at a fair speed. He was doing 15 to 20 miles an hour. He had been sounding his horn and bell for about 150 yards, and in addition to that the electric signal at the crossing was ringing and had its arm waving backwards and forwards.
The driver of the motor car, after making a frantic effort to get across the line, put his brakes on and turned partly in towards the cattle pit, when the rail motor caught it, smashing it to pieces, with Mr. George Cook pinned beneath it.
It was a most regrettable ending to the very pleasant holiday which the Messrs. Cook had spent at Mornington, and sympathy with them in their misfortune, also with Mrs. Cook and family, was freely expressed.
Mrs. Davies, wife of Mr E. P. Davies, of Bay street, Frankston, was one of the passengers in the rail motor. She with the other occupants escaped with a severe shock.
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Personal
We regret to learn that Cr. J. L. Pratt is indisposed.
Mrs. Wauchope, of Dandenong, officiated as judge of fancy work at the Frankston Show.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Shepherd senr., were present at the Frankston Show on Wednesday, Mrs. Shepherd kindly officiating as one of the judges with Mrs. C. Grant.
The Minister of Lands (Mr. Downward) this week left Melbourne for Wodonga, where he will inspect areas infested with St. John’s Wort.
Mr. and Mrs. James Grice of “Moondah,” Frankston celebrated their golden wedding on Tuesday last.
They were the recipients of many presents and messages of congratulation.
Master Murray Maxwell, a Frankston native and a son of Dr. and Mrs. C. Maxwell, now a pupil at Geelong Grammar school has been successful in passing the six necessary subjects of the Intermediate Examination of the University of Melbourne.
Mr. Alfred Montague, of Camberwell is at present spending a holiday with his son, Cr. P. Montague of Mt. Eliza. Although 89 years of age, Mr. Montague is one of Melbourne’s leading musicians and on his return intends resuming his professional duties.
Mr. R. T. Picking, who is a regular attendant at the Frankston Show, and one of its most valued committeemen, made a record trip to be present at the annual gathering last Wednesday.
He was at Lake Borna on Monday, and travelled 300 miles to reach his home town by Wednesday.
Messrs. Chas. and Percy Thornell, of Somerville, were present at the Frankston Show on Wednesday. They are successful fruitgrowers,and when Mr. Chas. Thornell says that the fruit crop in Somerville this year is the best that has been experienced for many seasons, the fact is worthy of record.
Mr. Percy Thornell stated on Wednesday that if the Frankston Show was held a month later he would guarantee 100 entries in the fruit section.
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From the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 8 & 15 January 1926