FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Street Betting. Allegations have been made that bookmakers are in the habit of receiving slips of paper and money, not only from men, but also from women and children in the public streets of Richmond. To prevent this practice, a bye-law has been adopted by Richmond Town Council making it penal for bookmakers to bet with women and children. Richmond authorities have received communication from the Home Office broadly hinting that they should make the bye-law more general and suppress street betting altogether. The question as to whether a man has not the right to do what he wills with his own seems hardly to enter the case.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - Foot and Mouth Disease. Agricultural shows in the counties were badly hit by last year's outbreak of foot and mouth disease according to figures issued in the Northern Show Guide. Attendance at shows fell to the lowest for some years and entries were naturally affected. The guide book states: "Having regard to the seriousness of the foot and mouth outbreak in 1952, the support to the shows that were able to organise programmes was remarkably good. There is no doubt that 1953 will see many records broken since societies are making special efforts in this Coronation year to outshine anything rural Britain has presented in the past."

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - Thirsk concern over M1 extension. Councillors are concerned over the decision made by the Minister of Transport regarding the two proposed routes for the extension to the M1. He is in favour of the eastern route, whereas Coun Mrs Mary Potter has expressed concern that this route is unlikely to find favour with commercial vehicles travelling from the North-East. Coun Mrs Potter has written a letter to the MP for Thirsk and Malton, Mr J Spence, in which she says: "We are extremely concerned that the decision will create nuisance, noise and pollution to the towns of Thirsk and Ripon and the villages in between. Millions of pounds have been spent to bypass the market town of Thirsk which will now be a waste of money." She ends by asking Mr Spence to use his influence to safeguard the quality of life of his constituents.