FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Some alcohol got by mistake into the fodder of a herd of cattle in Masham and made dozens of the animals completely drunk. The cows were so hilarious and lively on their feet that it was impossible to milk them. Oxen harnessed to ploughs had also partaken too freely and began moving diagonally across the fields. Attempts to manage them resulted in minor injuries to several farm hands.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - Coun C Douglas, in making an appeal for the public's support for this year's Poppy Day at a meeting of Stockton Council, said that although he was making the appeal, he felt the time should have passed long ago for the need for such collections. Coun Douglas told of a widow in the area whose husband was one of the first killed in the war. She received £2 2s from the Ministry of Pensions while another widow, whose husband was not a serviceman, received £2 9s from National Assistance. Coun Douglas said: "I am not saying the National Assistance Board gives too much, but that the Ministry of Pensions gives too little. Widows and families of servicemen ought to receive enough support that there is no longer a need for Poppy Days."

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - Darlington's Works and Health Committee felt that prohibiting smoking in public places would "infringe people's liberty". The environmental officer informed the committee on Monday of a letter he had received from the Clean Air Council requesting the council influence people not to smoke in certain areas and help make non-smoking a social norm. The chairman, Coun Christine Swales, said: "We as a council should not have to influence people on this matter." Two councillors asked that smoking be prohibited in full council meetings, as it was until four years ago. The motion, however, was lost.