From this newspaper 150 year ago – Great Ayton.

Anti-Slavery lecture. On Tuesday evening last, a numerously attended meeting took place, in the British School, presided over by John Richardson, Esq., when the dark evils of slavery were vividly portrayed, and the rights of the oppressed, eloquently pleaded, by Miss Jessie Craigen, of London, who was warmly applauded, during the delivery of her powerful appeals.

Special sessions – June 4, before G Marwood, Esq, – Sophia Pickard was charged by PC Rogers with soliciting prostitution, at Stokesley, on the 3rd inst. Committed to Northallerton for one month, with hard labour. – Petty Sessions, June 6th, before G Marwood, CC Oxley and G Copley, Esqs, – George Barker and Samuel Storey, miners, Swainby, were charged by PC Rogers with being drunk and riotous, at Stokesley, on the 30th May.

In consideration of their having been in the lock-up 7 days – the former was released on paying 9s costs, and the latter on paying 11s 1d fine and costs – Brooks Bank Pickard was charged by PC Rogers with being drunk and riotous at Stokesley, on the 3rd inst.

Fined 10s including costs; or, in default, 14 days' hard labour; he was sent to jail – Ralph Hutchinson, farmer, was charged by William Jackson, farmer, with being drunk at Hutton on 28th of May. Case dismissed.

From this newspaper 100 years ago – Pease & Co. On Wednesday, the annual meeting of this Company was held at the Offices, Northgate, Darlington, Mr A F Pease presiding. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the Chairman reminded the shareholders that he told them last year he would be very disappointed if the results for this year did not show a substantial advance on the previous year, provided they could work uninterruptedly.

Unfortunately the last condition had not been altogether fulfilled, as, owing to the railway strike, they had to damp down their blast furnaces for a week, and practically suspend operations at their ironstone mines. They only lost a few days at the collieries and coke ovens, but to enable them to keep going, their trade being disorganised, they had to stock coal and coke.

From this newspaper 50 years ago – Just over £1,000 was raised at the Zetland Hunt gift sale on Friday of last week. The near-perfect June evening brought more then 400 people, representing all sides of the hunt, to Mrs G M Hodgson and sons'

farm at The Grange, Summerhouse.

The last gift sale was held ten years ago, and once again the honorary auctioneer was Mr G Tarn Bainbridge. Everything agricultural, from a sack of potatoes to a cock pheasant, was on sale, and Mr Bainbridge knocked them down quickly as he moved around the farmyard, followed by a crowd. Others chatted at the bar in the background, giving an air of friendly informality.

Despite the excellent figure raised by the sale, some of the individual items went for surprisingly low prices. A ton of barley sold for £5; 5cwt of coal delivered in the Darlington area for 35s; a cock pheasant, with the promise of a hen next year, fetched 17s 6d; a dozen corrugated iron sheets made 21s each; a hogg given by the hosts was knocked down for £13 10s, despite an attempted bid for freedom when it charged the crowd.

A pedigree Ayrshire cow, due to calve on September 5, made £57 10s.