FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Many a reader would be amused in perusing the report at the Richmond county court in last week's edition, bringing to light the name of a defendant in a case, who really possessed the word Mahershalalhashbaz as his Christian name. His Honour asked where on earth defendant had got that name, and the reply was "out of the Bible". But since Cruden's Concordence is not one of the reference books invariably found in His Honour's court, he could not there and then discover its whereabouts in Holy Writ. Defendant having pronounced the name, His Honour evoked laughter declaring it to be "a mouthful". Thus Judge Templer, after doubtless deciding the case on its merits, could not help "remarking that with such an aristocratic name as that, defendant ought to pay the money."

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - (From the Letters page): Sir, - I was surprised to read that the North Riding WEAC and the Central Landowners' Association are to combine to exterminate the rabbit. One would have thought in view of the shortage of meat and the further threatened cut in January, that this was hardly the time to indulge in rabbit extermination.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - People living in National Parks are beginning to feel they are being put in museums, said the chairman, Coun Dennis Potts, speaking at the annual dinner of the Richmondshire District Council held on Thursday last week at the Aysgarth Falls Motel in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. He said those living there felt they had to remain old-fashioned and there was a wider gap between them and the administrators than ever before. ... Mr H J Evans, chief executive of the North Yorkshire County Council who responded, said he was well aware of the problems.