FROM this newspaper 150 years ago. - A few of the inhabitants of Stockton, thinking that the presence of the Right Hon Benjamin Disraeli as a guest at Wynard Park offered a favourable opportunity for the expression of their feelings of admiration for his character, requested the Mayor to convene a public meeting to consider the propriety of inviting him to a luncheon.

In compliance with this request, a public meeting of the inhabitants was held in the Borough Hall on Wednesday morning; the worshipful the Mayor was in the chair, when the following resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously: resolved that the Right Hon Benjamin Disraeli, MP, who is now a guest of Lady Londonderry, at Wynyard, be invited to luncheon in the Borough Hall, in Stockton, on such a day and hour as he may please to appoint; and that a deputation proceed to Wynyard for the purpose of seeing the Right Hon gentleman on the subject.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. - Mr William Walton, taxidermist, of Middleton, has now in his possession for preservation a fine specimen of the common bittern, a bird which is fast becoming extinct in England. The bird, which is a fine male species, was shot in the immediate neighbourhood of Middleton with the expectation that it was a kestrel hawk.

However, when it was reached the marksman saw his mistake but was unable to identify the bird until it was brought to Mr Walton alive.

It is well-known that this bird when wounded is of a very ferocious nature, and a lady was looking at it when it suddenly turned and took a piece out of her cheek with its massive beak.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - The farmyard "went on trek" on Thursday - the modern way - in a special train of six comfortably heated wagons, a passenger coach for the farmer, his wife and small son, two large containers full of household furniture and a brake van. In the livestock wagon was a £5,000 herd of 40 pedigree Guernsey cattle - 20 cows, two bulls and 18 heifers - moved in one operation from Skipster Hagg near Kirby-Moorside to Romney Street Farm, Shoreham, Kent, a distance of 250 miles. Cost is £250 or £1 a mile.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - Hunt saboteurs claimed a victory at the weekend after gathering from all over the country to disrupt the Zetland Hunt on Saturday.

The saboteurs sprayed anti-scent liquid between Staindrop and Barnard Castle, which was the route the hunt was to take. The hunt did not catch a fox but supporters claimed that it had nothing to do with saboteurs. They said that they did not make a kill because of the bad weather and that the saboteurs were nothing more than a nuisance.