Compiled by Cameron McCullough
TOM Merrick was a market gardener. Of that he made no secret. He was also a rather ambitious individual, not that he wouldn’t stop at a hotel on his way home from market to have a glass of alcohol, nor that he didn’t go to sleep afterwards and let his trusty draught horse take him safely on his homeward way.
He did these things and, let me tell you now, they were the cause of his ultimate downfall as I shall relate.
But, still, he was ambitious, and there was something that he had long wanted to do.
As he came to dinner after weeding onions, he would stop to speak to his two horses:
“You’re a jolly fine pair,” he’d say, “but I won’t keep you for always. One of these days I’ll sell you, and buy a motor car” – that was his ambition.
He had wanted to own one for a long time, and “I will own one, some day” he’d say to himself.
“You see,” he argued to his wife, if I had a motor truck, I could go to market in half the time that it takes me now.”
“And it doesn’t cost much to run one,” replied his wife.
For once they agreed – they agreed that the advantages of an automobile go without argument.
Tom kept managing to put some money away, for was he not the most successful market gardener in the district? Absolutely, and few there were who wished to deny it.
And then came a day when a traveller for motor cars called at Tom’s residence. Perhaps somebody had told him of Tom’s ambition, but, even so, that doesn’t much matter.
The traveller seemed a jolly decent sort of a chap, and Tom chummed up with him right from the start.
He was also a very eloquent gentleman, a born Mark Antony, and, in a trice he had Tom on fire with enthusiasm.
He went on uttering the wonders of motor cars, how many miles to the gallon, how the new models had been improved, together with a thousand and one other things that bewildered old Tom.
“What kind of a car is it?” asked he of the ambitious nature.
The name was given amidst another shower of praise.
“What price?” Tom managed to get in a little later.
The agent quoted a well known figure, which brought protest from Tom, to the effect that he hadn’t got that much money.
“But we can fix that up” said he of the eloquent tongue, and so it came about that Tom bought a motor lorry on time payment.
He was very careful when he drove to market a couple of days afterwards, but, coming home, he could not resist the temptation to have a drink.
In fact he had more than one drink, so elated did he feel, after which he set off again for home in his wonderful motor truck.
But habits are hard to break. After a little while he could not resist a sort of drowsiness, which seemed to numb him almost, as it had been wont to do with the horse.
“Get up,” Dobbin” he uttered, automatically, as he returned to consciousness some hours later.
And then he noticed the wrecked car about him. There was a wheel over there, a few parts scattered around, and the remainder was to some extent recognisable in its original form. A telegraph post was just in front of him, and the hotel a mile or so back.
The things he said cannot be published. Suffice is to say that he didn’t call the car a car and, a couple of weeks later, when he was able to walk again, he was heard to utter: “I’ll be darned if I ever drive anything but a horse again.”
Dobbin won.
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AT a previous Council meeting it was resolved to seek information on the subject of sewerage or a drainage system.
The Federal Government referred the matter to the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, who sent an engineer to this meeting to supply all particulars of a sewerage scheme.
Mr. Mackay, the engineer, informed the Council that a sewerage scheme was a matter of cost.
He thought that Mornington could go in for a sewerage scheme now that its population is about 3000. The central area could be done first. It is hard to sewer a scattered area.
The average cost for a six or seven roomed house would be about £60 or £70, to be connected to a sewer. A four-roomed house would cost £40. The average cost in Melbourne at present is £60.
If the fall of a town is shallow the whole scheme would be cheaper.
Now is not the time to consider the treatment of sewerage, as the various treatments are continually being improved.
After it is agreed to sewer the town, then is the time to decide on the treatment, as you have the latest advice .
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Lighting Fire Without Taking Precautions – Man Fined £10
The risk taken in lighting a fire in the open for clearing purposes without notifying adjoining property holders, was strongly criticised at the Mornington Court last week by the P.M., Mr. Cohen.
Others on the Bench were Crs. W. Andrews, P: McArthur, J. G. Barrett and Mr. L. J. Flannagan.
Mr. Newey was charged with having lit a fire to the danger of adjoining property at “Beleura” some time ago.
He stated that he did not see that there was any danger to any other properties when he lit the fire.
Constable Kerr: If the Fire Brigade and other volunteers were not called could you have stopped the fire?
Newey: I think so.
Constable Kerr: Did you make a break 12 feet wide around your house?
Newey: No.
Mr. B. Sharpe stated that considering the way the wind was blowing no great harm would have resulted.
Constable Kerr: If the wind changed, would other properties been in danger?
Witness: I could not say.
The P.M. The matter is a serious one. There is nothing in the Act to stop burning off, but precaution should be taken. You should have had a break around your house.
The fact that the Fire Brigade and volunteers had to be called shows that the fire was dangerous.
You are fined £10.
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Weddings: Bates – Robertson
The marriage of Miss Emily Irene Bates, youngest daughter of Mrs. Alfred E. Bates, “Una,” Mornington, to James King Robertson, fourth son of Mrs. Robert Aflick Robertson, “Burnbrae,” Mornington, took place on Wednesday, April 14, at St. Peter’s Church, Mornington. The Ven. Archdeacon Aickin officiated.
The bride, was given away by her brother, the Rev. R. B. Bates, Warder of the Brotherhood of Our Saviour, Copmanhurst, N.S.W.
She wore an ivory embossed gorgette over pale pink georgette, with veil and train. These were carried by her small niece, Una Martin, who looked sweet in a pale pink crepe de chene frock.
The bridesmaid was Miss Hilda Robertson, who wore a silver lace frock and carried a bouquet of autumn flowers. The bridegroom was supported by Mr. Cyril Gray.
The church was very prettily decorated by friends of the bride. As the bride and bridegroom left the church the Archdeacon played very beautifully the Wedding March.
This was a fitting close to an impressive ceremony. The reception was held at Kirkpatrick’s Hotel.
Mr. and Mrs. Robertson left for Geelong en route for Lorne, during the afternoon, amidst showers of confetti and with the good wishes of very many friends. Their home will be in Upper Hawthorn.
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From the Pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 23 April 1926
