From this newspaper 150 years ago

The principle of limited liability, applied extensively to all forms of commercial enterprise, has perhaps never yet been applied to a larger undertaking than the purchase and management of the iron and coal works of Messrs Bolckow and Vaughan.

Fears are now and then expressed of the failure of the limited liability principle; but it is pretty clear, at present at any rate, that those fears are not extensively entertained.

When that principle is applied to the magnificent mining and manufacturing concern of Messrs Bolckow and Vaughan, it is evidently on the point of receiving its greatest development, and of perhaps securing its noblest triumph.

If the new company which is to come into possession of the Eston Mines in January next, obtains only a tithe of the success of their present owners, the shareholders will have no reason to regret their part in that extensive undertaking.

As an example of successful enterprise in trade and manufacture, the career of few men even in England furnishes a history of more interest than that of the gentlemen who have opened the opulent iron stores of the Cleveland district.

Twenty years ago, Mr Vaughan was manager for Messrs Losh, Wilson, and Bell, on the Tyne, and Mr Bolckow was clerk in a Quayside office at Newcastle.

It is to these two men that Middlesbro' – "the youngest child," as the Chancellor of the Exchequer called it, "of England's enterprise" - owes in great part its astonishing rise.

In 1829 a single house stood upon the spot which Middlesbro' now occupies. In that year 500 acres of land at the mouth of the Tees were purchased as the site of a new town by Messrs Pease and others who formed the Middlesbro' Company.

The railway system had just commenced with the construction of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and the originators of this line selected Middlesbro' as a place for the shipmen of coals, water there being much deeper than at Stockton, and the facilities for the loading of cargoes much greater.

This was the beginning of Middlesbro'.

From this newspaper 100 years ago

The Town Hall at Northallerton was crowded on Saturday night when Miss Gertrude Bell, daughter of Sir Hugh Bell, delivered a lecture on the causes of the war.

The Rev S M Thompson presided. She described all that had been done by Sir Edward Grey and Great Britain to preserve peace, but Germany was evidently determined for war; and chiefly against this country.

She refused to agree to a naval holiday and to the agreement not to strew mines on the sea and drop bombs on defenceless cities.

Miss Bell pointed out the splendid silent work done by the Navy, that had swept the seas clear of the enemy and kept open for us the passages of food from all parts of the world, while these were closed to Germany. They should never sit down to a meal without gratitude and grace.

"Thank God and the British Navy for this good meal." (Applause.)

Great Britain had the greatest reason to enter the war. She could not possibly avoid it if she wished to preserve her honour, her liberties, and her position.

We were bound by honour and faith to our pledged word to stand by our friends, and as King George had said he had consented to the infamous proposal "I should have sacrificed my honour, and given to destruction the liberties of my Empire and mankind."

The main object of Germany was to strike a blow at this country. It was this country that Germany feared more than any other. Germany was guided by the military party, which consisted of the German aristocracy, who aimed at world-wide power.

This turned Germany into an armed camp, and the interests of the nation were subordinated to the interests of the Army. Well, they could do anything with bayonets but sit upon them. (Laughter.)

When a nation was swollen great with armaments it was ready to fight at any moment.

The German people agreed with the war. There was no reason in the philanthropy which said "the people are not to blame for the war; it is the army," for the German army was the German people.

For many years the German officers had been impressing upon the German people that it was their duty to wipe out any nation that stood in the way of their progress - and which nation was it but England, with her great Colonies, with her immense trade, and overwhelmingly strong Navy.

It was England she envied, England who occupied "the place in the sun" which Germany wished to enjoy.

From this newspaper 50 years ago

A fresh move in the Northallerton water rates protest is the raising of a petition to go to the Minister of Housing and Local Government seeking an alteration in the rates and charges levied by the Northallerton and Dales Water Board.

It was signed by those present at a meeting called by the local Action Group on Wednesday night, to guide those who have summonses for non-payment of rates, and those who have withheld payment.

Non-payers in the Northallerton Urban District who have already received summonses will have to answer them at Nortallerton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

About 30 of the 80 people involved said they wanted to put their own point of view to the magistrates. Arrangements were made that others could be legally represented at the Court if they desired.

A disappointed man was Mr D M Willoughby, one of the leaders of the Action Group, who has not received a summons either for his home property in the Rural District, or for the property he owns in the town.

He told those present: "I will be in court to answer the summonses whether they be in the magistrates court or the county court."

So far, ratepayers in the Northallerton rural district who have withheld payment have not had summonses, and it is understood the Rural Council will be considering its line of action at its next meeting.

Mr Willoughby said he was disappointed that the Rural Council had not served summonses for he understood it was sympathetic to the protests and it would have helped the campaign if all had been summonsed before the magistrates' court with the urban defaulters.