From this newspaper 150 years ago. – Carlton in Coverdale. A reading room has just been opened in this place for the benefit of the inhabitants of Coverdale, it is open to all above the age of sixteen, and members are admitted by the payment of one shilling quarterly in advance. Non members are allowed entrance by the payment of one penny each evening, the room being open from 6.30 to 9.30. Those who avail themselves of this room have the advantage of seeing daily and weekly papers, and have the use of books and instructive amusements which are provided, also the privilege of attending a writing class every evening, and any lectures or penny readings which may take place. The second evening for public readings was held on Monday last and was a great success, some very good and appropriate pieces being read and sung by several of the members. The next public readings are to be on Wednesday the 15th, and it is expected they will be well attended. The number of the members at present is 25. Amongst the subscriptions of those who have kindly contributed towards the establishment of the above room, the following amounts have been received from Rev Mr G Booty, £5; Mr Anthony Buckle, £1; Mr Thos Geldart, 10s; Mr George Osborne, 10s; Mr H Grimshaw, 10s. The greatest thanks are due to the kind and untiring exertions of Mr Joseph Wood, Mr T H Thornton and Mr Robert Pickard, jnr., towards the formation of the above useful institution.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – Measles in Darlington. Owing to a serious outbreak of measles in Darlington, which has already been the cause of the death of a large number of young children, the Education Committee of the Borough have decided to close all infants' departments of the Council Schools for the coming fortnight. The superintendents of Sunday Schools are also asked to take similar action with regard to their meetings. In order that this action may be effective the Medial Officer of Health (Dr Mostyu) has been requested to ask managers of the Picture Halls to co-operate by excluding all children under ten years of age from their entertainments for the same period.

Yarm. – Collapse of an old building. On Sunday afternoon the residents of the south-east of the town were startled by a sudden crash, caused by the collapse of an old stable in the Green Tree Hotel yard. The building had been in a rickety condition for some time, but probably in the early days of Yarm's prosperity it served a good purpose as a stable or grain store. Fortunately there was no one in the vicinity when it came down, though many who heard the crash were sure the German Zeppelins had come.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – The question whether it is more important to maintain the nation's economic position in the world or to spend our time smelling flowers is one which many people still have to settle in their minds, Ald C W Allison, chairman of the Tees Valley and Cleveland Water Board, is reported to have said last week. This is his reply to a recent move by eminent botanists to oppose the proposed construction of a reservoir at Cow Green in Upper Teesdale. The failure to supply the additional water required by ICI could imperil the whole future of that vast undertaking's big stake in supplying fertilisers to the world, said Ald Allison. The need for an additional reservoir to satisfy the growing demand of industry, however, is apparent not only to industrialists, but also to botanists, geologists, and other naturalists. The arguments for and against the proposal have a familiar ring to those who remember the Board's abortive attempt to reach bedrock at Cow Green in 1956. The more important question which is really puzzling those who are concerned about the effect of the proposal on the countryside is why is it necessary to make further test borings on a site which was fully investigated eight years ago. In the opinion of many who are familiar with the area the site investigations now being made by soil mechanics can only confirm the findings of the previous tests. In September, 1956, Ald Allison reported to the Board that a dam above Cauldron Snout was estimated to cost £1m which was considered to be a comparatively low figure in view of the almost inexhaustible supply of water available, but after exploratory borings the prospects were not too rosy.He said the consulting engineer had been unable to find a bottom to the limestone which apparently was dipping, and the question was whether a firm foundation could be struck in order that the project could be carried further. The engineer then pointed out that originally it was believed that the proposed dam site was all right, but the shelving of the limestone created the danger that if it could not be sealed and the water level was raised the water would escape out of the valley.