THOUGH called the Mornington Express, it does not mean, of course, that this aristocrat of the seaside track (says a writer in an exchange) makes an absolutely uninterrupted run to that salubrious terminal, for passengers residing as far as Mordialloc are at liberty to travel thereby while in the slacker season, residents of even Mentone and Cheltenham are privileged to book passages.
Its daily routine is to arrive at Flinders street at about 9.30am, which it does with creditable regularity, and leaving on the home journey with becoming fuss and dignity at 5.9pm.
In the interim, however, it is out of service and rests out in the open with all apertures carefully closed up.
This is immaterial when conditions are normal, but when, as often happens at this time of the year, the vehicles are subjected all day to the penetrating rays of a 90.8 sun, and they are then backed into the platform 10 minutes prior to starting time, the consequent violent evaporative process at once becomes operative and those who are forced to enter this inferno on wheels are soon viewing each other as through a heavy curtain of scalding tears of distress with looks indicating how effectively they could give expression to their feelings were it not for the presence of ladies.
If our respected Mr Clapp would obviate these torture chamber conditions by finding ways and means of cleaning carriages and directing that duty to be done, his kindness will never be forgotten by an important section of your subscribers, that is, they who travel by the Mornington Express.
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RAY Baxter, who won the all round trophy for his college, leaves this week for Sydney with the Scotch College cricket team.
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TOMORROW, Frankston cricketers journey to Cheltenham.
Players are requested to travel by the 1.40 train. The team comprises: Box, Baxter, Earl, Kemp, Deane, Watkins, Burton, Kennedy, H. McComb, and McCulloch.
On the local ground the following team will engage the Carrum club at 2.30 tomorrow: Lawrey, McComb (3), Hanton, Jolly, Luff, Holt, Petrie, N. Baxter, Aitken; emergencies – Oates, Hanton Jnr.
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ADVERTISERS and others are reminded that, following the usual custom of the provincial Press, there will be no issue of the “Standard” between Xmas Day and the New Year.
Full advantage should be taken of next week’s special issue of the “Standard,” which will include an attractively printed calendar.
Advance orders should be lodged with news agents to save disappointment.
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MEMBERS of the Frankston Fire Brigade turned up in strong numbers at the fire station one night last week, when presentation badges were given to ex Capt. J. Wells, and ex-Foreman F. Addicott.
The badges were awarded for long service, and are only available to men whose membership extends over twelve years.
Capt. D. Petrie did the honors, and delivered a neat speech appropriate to the occasion.
The brigade is rapidly getting on its feet again, and the right men are at the head of affairs to keep up the present enthusiasm.
The members ran a very successful euchre party the other night, when the prize winners were – Ladies: Miss Cook; Gents, Mr Eric Bell.
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THE Frankston show committee meet next Monday night.
The prize schedules are now printed and may be obtained from the secretary, Mr W. M. Hanton.
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SOMERVILLE
In connection with the St. Andrew’s Sunday School prize distribution on Monday evening next, it has been decided to say farewell to Rev J. E. Watts, M.A., who is leaving for another parish at the end of the month.
The monthly meeting of the Fruitgrowers’ Association was held on Monday evening last.
In the absence of the president, the vice-president (Mr C. W. Grant) occupied the chair. There were a fair number of members present.
A letter was read from the president (Mr G. R. Warren), stating that owing to uncertain health he felt compelled to resign his position.
He was reluctant to take this step, but in the interests of the association he thought it wise to do so.
The resignation was accepted with regret, and a letter of thanks ordered to be sent to Mr Warren for his past services.
There was some difficulty in filling the vacancy thus created. Eventually, Mr John Twyford was unanimously elected.
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AT the Frankston Police Court on Monday last the licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Winifred Hallenan, was charged alternatively with having trafficked in the sale of liquor to other than bona fide travellers on Sunday, October 30th, and with having allowed certain persons, other than bona fide travellers on the premises on the same date contrary to the Act.
Inspector McCormack prosecuted.
Miss Hallenan, for whom Mr. Luke Murphy appeared, pleaded not guilty.
Constable Nelson, of the Melbourne police, deposed that on Sunday, October 30th, at 8.45pm, in company with Constable Maloney, he observed two men enter the Prince of Wales Hotel.
He entered the hotel and found the licensee serving the men with glasses of beer.
He asked Miss Hallenan were they bona fide travellers, and she replied. “I don’t know.” She declared she did not know where the men lived.
After a while she said to the men, “You said you were bona fide travellers, didn’t you?” but they did not reply, although she asked three times.
Constable Mahoney, of the Frankston police, supported the statements made by Constable Nelson, and declared that he did not know either of the men found on the premises.
Mr. Murphy, for the defence, said there was no denying that the liquor was sold, but Miss Hallenan was of the belief that she was not guilty of the offence, because the men claimed to be bona fide travellers.
Frankston, as a pleasure resort, was outside the 20 mile radius, and there was always a large number of visitors from the city on Sundays.
The men told her that they came from Footscray and Williamstown, and had slept there on the Saturday night.
Miss Hallenan denied that Constable Nelson ever asked her the questions he made use of in his evidence. The owner of the hotel property, Mr. McKinnon, and an employee, were present when the police entered. She did not know either Lynch or Rush, the men concerned.
Archibald McKinnon, owner of the Prince of Wales Hotel, declared that the evidence of the constables was absolutely untrue, and alleged that Rush and Lynch had admitted to Nelson that they had told Miss Hallenan they were bona fide travellers.
After a verbal duel with Mr. Murphy, the magistrate said the charge was a serious one, affecting as it did the licensee’s license, and she would be convicted on the first charge only, the second case being dismissed. Fined £2, with 4/6 costs.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 16 December 1921