Sir, - In bringing to the fore the subject of local government re-organisation you are undertaking a vital public service.

It is no secret that local government has been below par throughout the country and the point of recent legislation is to involve the electorate wherever possible and to make local government accountable to the electorate.

Bearing in mind the vast amount of money spent every year by local government, every citizen should be concerned that we get value for money.

The chief executive of Richmondshire District Council has recently produced a draft constitution and this was discussed recently by the council's working group. What in fact had been done was to virtually re-write legislation when the law requires councils to adopt the core of the existing legislation but they can improve upon it by giving more to the electorate.

I was the only person who submitted a written report to the working group in response to the draft constitution but it was not put before members. So much for involving the public.

I find it very strange that attempts should be made to deny our community absolute rights which Parliament has given to us. It is contemptuous of the electorate and quite unlawful.

I was invited a few months ago by the chief executive to be more constructive. Since then I have commented on road cleansing, councillors' legal indemnities, declarations of interest, conduct during public representation, and this subject. I was not aware that "more constructive" meant that I should be quiet and acquiescent.

I am sending a copy of this letter to the Standards Board for England, the DTLR, the District Auditor and the Ombudsman, and I hope that they will persuade Richmondshire to adopt a constitution which is in line with the law as soon as possible.

BERNARD BORMAN

Brentwood,

Leyburn.

Stainsby mystery

Sir, - My late wife Joy was a great grand-daughter of William Stainsby and his wife Mary. He was the manager at Yore Mill, Aysgarth. They had nine children and we know about most of them. I have had considerable help from Mrs Marion Kirby of Aysgarth and Mrs Jean Kington late of Leyburn. However, there are two mysteries.

The first is Margaret Stainsby. She married John William Hill - the schoolmaster at Thoralby in 1897. They had a daughter, Elizabeth in May 1898. Apparently they left Thoralby in October 1902 according to the parish magazine.

I am searching for any descendants of Elizabeth and any siblings she may have had. I have a photograph of Margaret and Jane Stainsby as adults. Also a photo of the entire family taken in the 1880s.

The second mystery is what happened to Joseph Stainsby?

J A N LUCAS

9 Mill Road,

Reedham,

Norwich NR13 3TL.

Christmas origins

Sir, - Encouraging 'the hard sell' of Christianity at this time of year (D&S Dec 21) is more in tune with history than you may realise.

The festivals are much older than Christianity, and it was the fourth century after the birth of Christ when Christians hijacked December 25, rather like the salesman who liked the product so much he bought the company.

You are encouraged that "the nation has not lost touch completely with what Tuesday's celebration is all about". Good! What it is all about is not commercialism, not Christianity, not even the preceding pagan rituals. It is essentially about nature and humanity - the turning of midwinter and the "rebirth" of the sun to sustain human life. Though in Yorkshire it takes a while yet to get going!

As you say, it is also about care and compassion. A wonderful celebration of human community surviving hardships and looking forward to better times, having discovered the cycle of seasons. After foot-and-mouth disease and September 11, we need it more than ever.

Nicholas Rhea's engaging account of the Christian background to Santa appeared opposite your leader. But that is only part of the story, for there are much earlier antecedents. A compact and informative source can be found in R J Condon's Our pagan Christmas.

Not surprisingly, midwinter traditions of fir trees, holly, ivy, mistletoe, exchanging gifts, feasts, cooking the goose, carol singing, pantomime and so on all derive from pre-Christian times. They were reflected in the rituals of ancient Babylon, Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Norway, often with the birth or re-birth of a god or sun-god. Nativity and virgin birth stories date from 1700 BC.

So let's all enjoy it. I send season's greetings to my Muslim, Jewish, Japanese and Chinese friends. It's a good opportunity for keeping in touch, especially with friends from distant places or old times. As one dear friend used to say: a funky Mithraic festival to all.

MIKE O'CARROLL

Welbury,

Northallerton