100 years ago

- The Gazette, May 15, 1923

TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR TOWN

Several matters relating to the destruction and the improvement of the town were referred to by Cr. PRime at the council meeting on Friday last. Cr Prime said the council would have to take action against those who would ride only on footpaths. Only recently, a boy from the High School tried to squeeze between him and the fence near the park. The boy said the teacher told him he could ride there. He thought the teachers should be written to - The President said the shire byelaw enabled the council’s officers to prosecute anyone riding on footpaths.

Another nuisance was the prevailing custom of fowls and ducks trespassing on streets and filling up the drains with their scratching. People had no right to allow their fowls straying off their premises. The President said this should not be allowed. Warragul was no longer a bush village. It was growing into a town, and the people should be taught to respect their town. They could issue regulations and embody them in the Shire bye-laws, and this should be done.

Again, in the Shire Hall reserve, said Cr. Prime there was much destructive vandalism being done. It was very discouraging to councillors who tried to make this reserve as quiet and pleasant resting place for ladies and visitors, and yet their efforts were frustrated by thoughtless youths, who were killing the shrubs and defacing the seats. They would sit and whittle away the woodwork while talking to their girls. They ought to have more sense. He would move that notices be put up offering £5 reward for anyone found defacing the shrubs or seats, and he hoped this would help to keep reserves a beauty spot for the town.

FOOTBALL

Some good matches took place last Saturday in connection with the Central Gippsland Association.

Results - Yallourn (11.16) defeated Warragul (6.8); Yarragon (5.8) defeated Narnargoon (5.5); Moe (10.19) defeated Longwarry (0.2); Trafalgar (20.18) defeated Drouin (1.2). At the Iona v Bunyip contest much enthusiasm prevailed, and there was a good attendance.

At half time Bunyip were leading by four points; but in the final term Bunyip scored 11 points to nil, making the scores - Bunyip 3.14; Iona 2.9. In the second grade competition, Warragul Rovers defeated Ellinbank by more than half a dozen goals.

ELECTRIC LIGHT

At the Warragul Shire council meeting on Friday, Cr. Oliver referred to a letter published last week asking when the electric light would be available for lighting the town. Cr. Oliver said he would like to state that the Central Riding councillors have been in town on three occasions on this matter. They did this in order to get an adequate idea of the best system to adopt for Warragul town lighting. The Melbourne City Council very kindly showed them round and explained the different systems in vogue in the city and suburbs. That much had been done in the interests of the ratepayers, and he thought it was only fair that he should make that statement.

Had they done what they at first thought best to do the ratepayers would have had such a fine system as they hoped they would have as a result of the trouble taken by the Central Riding councillors in investigating the methods adopted in Melbourne. He thought the report would have been available at that meeting, but as little delay as possible would be incurred in this matter.