FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Antiquarians will be interested in the announcement that the committee of the Whitby Cottage Hospital have decided to purchase Cook House, Grape-lane, Whitby. It was here that the late Capt Cook in his early days, studied navigation and kindred subjects, and laid the foundation of his subsequent brilliant career. He was killed by natives of O Whyhee on February 14, 1777, on his third voyage of discovery. The house at Whitby is situated on the right-hand side of Grape-lane, and its antiquity may be judged by an inscription cut in stone on the side of the building, which is dated 1688. It is pleasing to record that although acquired for hospital purposes, the character of the house will not be altered and it is probable Capt Cook's memory will be perpetuated by the setting apart of a room for the reception of the relics of the great navigator. Besides the house at Whitby there are the school at Great Ayton (where he was educated) and the monument on Easby Hill, to maintain Capt Cook's association with the Cleveland district.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - A new and in some respects novel effort is to be made to reduce congestion in the streets of central Darlington. Police are to be equipped with power mega-phones to warn pedestrians "of the dangers created by congregating on the narrow pavements in certain parts of the town." Attention will be given particularly to "those with prams." This latest attempt to solve the crowding of the town on market days may be regarded as an extreme move, but the fact must be accepted that the circumstances are extreme. Just as it is important to keep vehicular traffic flowing as much as possible, so it is imperative that pedestrians should be kept on the move.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - The odds against Labour winning the next General Election were shortening rapidly yesterday morning. Messrs Ladbroke in Guisborough were offering odds of 3-10 on. Odds had lengthened from 4-11 on, the previous day. At those odds, the punter would only win £18 for a £1,000 bet after tax.