FROM OUR ARCHIVE: It is August, 1988, and the campaign to keep the Settle-Carlisle railway is at its peak. The campaign group was writing to every MP about its concerns and, before the age of e-mail, that meant a lot of letters - and stamps. Hawes postmaster Jack Duckworth is pictured with campaigner Sarah Metcalfe. Who stuck the 600-plus stamps on the envelopes? Let From Our Archive know at dst@nne.co.uk

From this newspaper 150 years ago. – Darlington Dispensary and Cottage Hospital. – The annual meeting of this exceedingly useful and philanthropic institution was held on Thursday, at the Hospital, in Russell-street, Darlington. Amongst the gentlemen present, who take a lively interest in its progress and success, we noticed Messrs Henry Pease MP, John Pease, J B Pease, A Kitching, T Clayhills, C Ianson, E Pease, A Backhouse and Dr Piper. The meeting was presided over by Mr John Pease. The following report of the operations of the institution during the past year was read and adopted: "The report of the past years shows with a rapidly increasing population a large diminution of sickness, as compared with previous years – a result which may in a great measure be attributed to the past and present operations of the Local Board of Health, and other favourable causes. Return of the patients visited and prescribed for from October 25th, 1863, to October 25th, 1864 – Remaining on the books last year, 43; admitted by ticket, 594; casualties and without ticket, 60; total, 697. – Patients cured, 580; relieved, 70; died, 17; under treatment, 30; total, 697. Your committee have now to report that in accordance with the resolutions of the last general meeting they have had pleasure in co-operating with the promoters of the Darlington Hospital and Dispensary, Russell-street (which is now nearly ready for the reception of patients), and have removed the medical offices of the Dispensary to those premises. Your committee have, in concert with the Hospital committee, agreed that, with the foregoing exception, the two establishments continue separate for the coming year, the rent and charges formerly paid in the Central Buildings, being pad to the Hospital committee.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – North Riding County Council. Mr E R Turton said he desired to again call the attention of the Chairman of the Highways and Bridges Committee to the state of the roads in the North Riding. Reference was made in the report of the committee to the fact that some complaints had been received. He thought that was a very mild term to use with regard to the matter because the whole of the North Riding today was seething with indignation against the action of the Chairman and his committee in make the roads so absolutely unsafe for those who had to use them. (Hear, hear.) He approached the question somewhat in fear and trembling because when he mentioned it on a previous occasion he expressed the hope that some remedy would be devised, but things had gone from bad to worse. Whereas on the previous occasion it might truly have been said that those using the roads were being lashed with whips, now they were being lashed by scorpions by the Highway Committee. He could not believe that Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse, one of the most amiable members of the County Council - (laughter, and hear, hear) - had the slightly conception of the dangers to which the people using the roads were subjected, and he invited Sir Henry to go with him over some of their roads. He would promise him a quiet pony and he should have a real joy ride. (Laughter.) If he did not then become converted to the fact something must be done, he (Mr Turton) would be greatly surprised.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – There was an imposing array of counsel present in the crypt of Middlesbrough Town Hall on Tuesday morning when the public inquiry opened into objections to what is popularly known as the Greater Teesside proposals of the Local Government Commission in the North Eastern review area. The North Riding County Council and Durham County Council are both vitally affected and the inquiry is expected to extend over several weeks. The inquiry first dealt with the objection of Durham County Council, for whom Mr Eric Blain, QC, led. He said they had to consider primarily the cumulative effect of the proposals which would take from the County of Durham virtually the whole of the non-county borough of Stockton and urban district of Billingham, and small parts of the rural district of Stockton, as well as part of areas in the North Riding. He submitted that any such reorganisation of local government as proposed was "stark raving bonkers." Mr Blain dealt at length with the probably financial effect upon the county, and declared "If you let the County of Durham run down there is not a single county in this country in respect of which there are proposals to take away anything like such a proportion of its potential prosperity." He submitted that necessity for this application was not proved. The first witness, Mr J B Cardigan, Treasurer of Durham County Council who gave the following statistical information of what the Commission's proposals would mean. The area of the county would be reduced by 9.62 per cent., its population by 36.39 per cent, rateable value by 45.01 per cent., and its estimated product of a penny rate by 45.46 per cent. This would leave in the reduced county, he added, an area of 560,590 acres, a population of 616,716, rateable value £15,876.146 and estimated product of a penny rate £62,452.