FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - On Wednesday afternoon, Mr George Harker, auctioneer, offered for sale in Northallerton market place two presentation time pieces, which belonged to the Rev James Young, Baptist minister, seized as payment for the education rate, which he refused to pay. Mr Merryweather started the bidding at 2s 6d, and it was carried on by the Rev Young and the Rev J G Lane, Primitive Methodist minister, up to 19s, where it was sold to Rev Lane. For the second time piece, he bid 10s, at which it was sold. The auctioneer announced that £1 9s was the total sum required. The Rev Lane then addressed those assembled and thanked Mr Harker for conducting the auction so courteously and not charging his usual fee. He then proceeded to explain the grounds on which the Rev Young and he had submitted to this degrading ordeal, himself having experienced this trial four times before. He approved the Church of England but not the Church of Rome and they declined to pay a rate for a religious education not in accordance with their conscience. The Rev Young delivered an impassioned speech about the Education Act. He said his conscience would not allow him to pay towards an education that would tend to drag England into Roman Catholicism.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - The Princess Royal has sent a gift of a set of silver coffee spoons to the Vicar of Darlington, Canon G E Holderness, for the auction sale in aid of the St Cuthbert's Church Preservation Appeal Fund on October 6. The spoons are from the design of the original Devon spoon of 1680. A letter from the Lady-in-Waiting accompanying the gift stated that the Princess Royal was most interested in the great efforts that the people of Darlington and its neighbourhood were making to raise the money needed for the restoration. The letter continued: "Her Royal Highness well remembers your lovely church, and feels confident that you will attain your objective. Please let the Princess know the result of the sale. Her Royal Highness will be most interested in its outcome."

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - A revolution in the school canteen where an apple and a piece of cheese would have the same nutritional content as a normal two-course dinner was forecast by a North Yorkshire County Councillor on Tuesday. Coun John Richmond of Ripon asked about the proposed savings of £300,000 on contents of meals and how the nutritional content was to be maintained. He had been told that an apple and a piece of cheese has the same nutritional value as the present two-course dinners. Coun Deirdre Davies of Harrogate said she knew a lot of left over vegetables went into the swill-bins as children were not being brought up to eat vegetables. The council's special services education committee was discussing the county's latest spending cuts which takes £300,000 a year off the meals service.