Compiled by Cameron McCullough
On Monday night last at 9 o’clock, Mr. Clapp and his fellow Commissioners accompanied by a large staff, arrived at Frankston by a special train.
The trip along the bayside line was made with the object of testing the new pilot light which it was proposed to affix to railway engines to safeguard against accidents at railway crossings.
The rays from the new light can be seen for a distance of twelve miles, and it’ is understood that the Commissioners are well pleased with it.
Mr. Clapp took advantage of the trip to inspect the Frankston railway station and its surrounds.
The visit was a surprise one and it chanced that the stationmaster, Mr. George, was not on duty at the time.
Mr. George was highly gratified the next day to receive a letter from headquarters, conveying to himself and staff Mr. Clapp’s appreciation of the condition of the station and complimenting the Station Master on the excellent and thoroughness of his supervision.
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THE last meeting of the Mornington Council was held on 13th May.
Correspondence was received from the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, stating that Mr. Allen offered to pay cost of Boundary Road from Nepean Road to the sea, up to £200, and to be repaid in five yearly installments, and desired to know if Council would agree to pay half each installment as it falls due.
Cr. Barrett said he was not in favour of this. He would like to see something done to Boundary Road.
On Cr. Nunn’s motion it was decided to consider the offer on next year’s estimates.
The Council has decided to continue agitating for the electrification of the railway from Frankston to Mornington.
The subject was opened by Cr. Barrett at the above meeting. He stated that electrification was promised soon after the Frankston line was completed, and since then other districts were being undertaken.
He thought the Council should be interested and make an effort to obtain electrification. Cr. Barrett moved that a deputation wait on the Railways Commissioners, urging the claims of Mornington for electrification, also to ascertain whether they intended to open the railway reserve from Blake Street to Ross Street. Seconded by Cr. Nunn and carried.
Crs. Linley, Hallum, Barrett and McArthur will comprise the deputation, which will meet the Commissioners on a date to be fixed.
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Personal
Mr. H. Reardon, an old war veteran, has decided to make his hone at Frankston, and is now occupying “Devon,” near the Mile Bridge.
He has seen active service at Alexandra and the Egyptian War in 1882, for which service he received the Queen’s medal and bar and the Khedive’s Star, while onboard H.M.S “Invincible.”
He has also been 30 years in the Victorian Police Force, from which he has now retired, and is now resolved to enjoy a well-earned rest.
Mr. R. Morgan, who underwent an operation in Melbourne recently, and was apparently making good progress, has been operated upon again. His many friends will join in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.
Mrs. A. Farley is still an inmate of the Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, but we are pleased to learn that she is on the road to recovery and expected to return home in a few days.
Mrs. J. A. P. Ham, who recently underwent an operation at “Bethesda” private hospital, returned home this week. Her many friends will be pleased to learn that she is progressing favourably and steadily regaining her usual health.
The marriage of Mr. Thornton Grimwnade, elder son of Brigadier General And Mrs Grimwade of “Marathon”, Frankston, with Miss Ruth Affleck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Affleck, of “Minjah” Caramut, will take place at the home of the bride’s parents on Wednesday, June 9.
Mr. A. Bailey was unable to be present at the Horticultural Society’s meeting on Tuesday last on account of having contracted a severe cold. Mr. Bailey had arranged to give a lecture on the art of potting flowers.
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Light and air
Among the changes brought about of recent years in our methods of living, few are more pronounced than those incident to the often-unconscious appreciation of the value of moving air and of sunlight.
Within the memory of many the entire population – at a given season of the year, often has clad itself in under garments of flannel, or other thick fabric, and outer garments of wool.
At night there was usually a thick covering of quilts, and closed windows.
The closed windows (and millions of them still remain closed) were due to the fact that it is a popular belief to the effect that night air carries with it certain miasms which cause disease.
The thick day garments were for the purpose of keeping the body warm, a chilling of the surface being held to be the root of all evil.
Moreover, these thick garments were assumed by everyone regardless of occupation, whether indoors or out of doors.
Also the average temperature of the living room was something between 70 and 80 degrees and the air was still air.
In such an atmosphere the thickly clad indoor worker spent practically his entire twenty-four hours, saving that brief period needful for transit from home to the place of business, and back again.
It has now been abundantly proved that providing the weather be reasonably warm, absence of all clothing insures a better degree of health than does the wearing of any garments ; that when this, or as near to it as the sensibilities of the population will allow, is practiced, colds and trifling ailments are reduced to a minimum; and that the semi-naked person acclimated by weeks or months of practice may continue in the temperature zone well into the frost period with perfect comfort and resurgent health.
How much sunlight-cures for tuberculosis are dependent upon skin ventilation has not been demonstrated, but this is certainly a factor in accomplishing betterment so striking and so many that surgery has been largely robbed of some of its labours – and perquisites.
In this relation Dr Leonard Hill calls attention to the extraordinary beneficial effects accruing not only to tuberculous children, but to those suffering from rickets when the latter are exposed to sun land air.
Moreover the reports of the open-air schools are fairly convincing, though it must be recognised that in addition to air and light the diet of these children is usually carefully supervised and they are given appropriate food in adequate quantities.
The effect of cool, or cold air, on the respiratory system is attributed, in part at least, to the increased evaporation from the mucous membranes, incident to which invading bacteria are supposed to be washed or blown away.
Moreover, a lower temperature because of the need of heat creation increases metabolism, ie nutritional activities.
Where facilities offer, and this should be in connection with all hospitals, the moving of septic patients into the open, which means the skin ventilation and light stimulation, has many times changed a gloomy or hopeless prognosis into a favourable one.
The doctrine should be preached and practiced, more light not only for the eyes, but for the whole body, and more gently moving air not only to be breathed, but for the entire skin surface.
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From the Pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 28 May 1926
