A GUN accident, which resulted fatally, occurred at Mornington Junction on Saturday last. It appears that Mr H. Smith, a well known resident, took the gun from its place, saying that he would just have one shot.
He went about 50 yards from the house, and on getting through a fence that was there must have caught the trigger in the wire, as the inmates heard a shot and on going to ascertain what was shot, found the unfortunate man quite dead, lying close to the fence.
Death must have been instantaneous, as there were no signs of a struggle. The deceased was well respected, and deep sympathy is felt for his wife and family in their sudden bereavement.
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MESSRS Brody and Mason will hold a clearing sale as Somerville on Wed nesday next, of horses, farm implements, vehicles etc on account of Mr Morrow, who is leaving the district.
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THE hon. sec. of the Frankston District Roll of Honor Fund, wishes to acknowledge receipt of 10s 6d from Mr Richard Wells. Any member of the committee will receive donations and the secretaries will forward a receipt.
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AT courts held at Dromana, Mornington and Frankston on Tuesday, 107 men presented themselves, of which 73 were declared fit and 32 unfit. At Dandenong on Thursday out of 113 men, 91 were declared fit and 42 unfit.
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LIEUT. J. A. Whitaker was sworn in before His Honor Mr Justice Hood at the Practice Court Law Courts, Melbourne, as one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the Centre Bailiwick of the State on the 17th October 1916.
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MISS Dulcie Bland, who performed at the recent concert given by Mr Harry Skinner, for the Frankston District Roll of Honor Fund, was again successful in gaining first prize at the South street Ballarat competitions.
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ON Wednesday next, Oct 25th an old Linen afternoon will be held in Red Cross depot room, Mechanics’ Hall, from 2pm to 6pm. A liberal response is asked for, as the demand in hospitals for old soft clean rags is very heavy, and many people can help in this way by coming to the depot with clean white linen, or if unable to come may be able to send cloths.
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IT will be seen by our advertisement in another column that the fourth meeting in the district in connection with the forth coming referendum will be held at Mt Eliza on Tuesday next. The object of the meeting is to secure replies of “Yes” on the 25th inst. Mr Hugh Menzies and other prominent speakers will address the meeting. It is to be hoped that there will be a good attendance and a practically unanimous decision in the affirmative.
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THREE splendid bream, weighing about 2lbs each, were caught on Thursday, in the creek, by Cr C. Murray and Mr W. P. Mason.
The nature of the bait used is a profound secret, only known to themselves. The lines used were of the type known as flathead. Wading was one of the essentials.
Mr Hefter, who also indulges, caught a beauty; he states that bream is the easiest of all fish to catch.
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THE members of the W.C.T.U. and some friends, at the invitation of Captain Condor, drove to Langwarrin camp, and were all greatly interested and impressed with the splendid discipline as seen, also the many improvements effected at the camp.
The men were busily employed at various occupations, some building a band stand, others working in the carpenter’s shop which looked replete with all necessary tools.
There is great promise of gardens, which are laid out with great taste, and many trees are planted which in time will afford grateful shade.
Capt.Condor and Chaplin Gates met the party on arrival and were most kind. The grounds, buildings, picture hall, canteen, Y.M.C.A. hall (over which Mr Smith is organising secretary) where the men may avail themselves of writing materials, books etc, and where they may rest in their leisure hours, were visited.
Some of the party were shown through one of the hospital wards where they distributed flowers.
There were about eighty patients in the wards.
An invitation to afternoon tea was gratefully accepted and much appreciated.
Just before leaving, the band played several selections exceedingly well.
The impression made was that everything should be done to help cheer the sick and encourage them by sympathy to redeem the past, and prove themselves better men in the future.
Over 2,000 men had recovered and returned to the front and the majority of the men now in camp were anxious to get back and do their bit.
Capt. Condor has the welfare of the men at heart and is most sympathetic towards them and is very desirous that the Frankston people should feel kindly interest in them and show it by visiting the camp as often aspracticable.
“I am satisfied,” says Mr F. W. Bamford, a Labour member of the House of Representatives for Queensland, that compulsion is necessary and I intend to support it by my voice and vote. We have heard a good deal about the evil of Prussian militarism, and have been told that men have left Germany in order to escape.
Well, if Prussian militarism has been severe on the people of Prussia, how much more severe would it be upon the people of a conquered country ?
The position in such circumstances would be intolerable. There would be only one thing to do, and that would be to commit suicide.
I say quite seriously that it would be better for any man with a family to do as many others have done in those countries already subjugated by the enemy, namely, to put them into closed chambers and turn on the gas. Far better would it be for them to die thus than to fall into the hands of the enemy.
Now, suppose we did not send more men to the front; suppose we left unfilled the gaps that have been caused in the ranks of our soldiers? What would happen then?
Our battalions would become reduced, our men would be drafted into other units, and finally Australia would not be represented by one complete unit at the front.
Of what avail then, would be the glory of our men at Gallipoli and of the heroes of Anzac ? Where today, it would be asked, are the men who so bravely shed their blood in the defence of the country ?
They are gone but none have come to fill their places.
It behoves everyone of us to consider well what he ought to do.”
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ABOUT one hundred soldiers were entertained on Tuesday last, by the Frankston “Wattle Club”, and although the secretary only received word Monday midday, notifying the club of their intended visit, everything passed off well.
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From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 21 October, 1916