FROM this newspaper 100 years ago.

A vicar on the conduct of a public house. Preaching at the Parish Church, Thirsk, the Rev T Barcroft addressed himself to landlords and owners of beerhouses in the town.

In telling them how he would conduct a public house, he said he would make the premises a model of cleanliness and neatness.

He would keep his house free from all degrading and evil literature. He would not provide anything that would contaminate the minds of his customers, in the way of foul newspapers or improper pictures. Nor would he allow improper songs in his smoking concerts.

It would be very difficult to regulate the amusements of customers; still, a good man would strive to do this.

Mr Barcroft finished by saying a publican should be a strictly moderate man, willing to discourage excessive drinking out of pure love to his fellows. He recommended publicans to encourage Sunday closing and appealed to them to come openly on the side of Christ.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - Springtime may be ring-time but it is also cuckoo time, the time when folk clamour to record their first hearing of the plaintive call of the feathered intruder.

The custom has been faithfully observed in the Darlington area this week, where the priority placing goes to an open-air lover who heard the cuckoo calling at Rockliffe Park, Hurworth.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - Richmondshire Council has agreed to form a new body to control tourism.

Because the district may soon cease to be classed as a development area, there may be less industrial investment and a greater dependency on tourism.

That was the view of Coun Dennis Potts, speaking at this week's recreation and committee meeting.

He supported the formation of a committee representing local chambers of trade, parish councils and other interested organisations. It would control and co-ordinate tourism.

A growing number of tourists were coming into the area and coping with them would be a problem. The proposed committee would not cost the council anything.

Chairman Coun Fred Woodall favoured the committee idea and said he had always been against anything that would bring a large number of visitors into the area. Numerous tourists could overwhelm the area, he warned.

Chief executive Mr E H Hague thought a committee could pin-point problems and represent local feelings for the benefit of the whole area.

It was important to prevent the excessive tourism that had developed in other places, stressed Coun J T Woodrow.