25 YEARS AGO ASCOT was named as one of the two whites in the new cabinet of Mr Robert Mugabe.

Mr Mugabe's spokesman, Mr Eddison Zvogbo, said Mr David Smith would take charge of the commerce and industry ministry. The other white, Mr Dennis Norman, the chairman of the Commercial Farmers' Union, was appointed agricultural minister. Mr Smith was born in Argyll in 1922 and arrived in Rhodesia in 1946, like Mr Norman, as a farm assistant. He served under Mr Ian Smith when he was appointed agriculture minister and later, finance minister.

50 YEARS AGO THE vital importance of the rescue section's role in Civil Defence is emphasised by the Scottish home department in a circular in which changes for equipment and organisation are announced. The circular points out that under modern conditions of warfare rescue vehicles would rarely be able to reach the point where rescue parties could operate. In the face of the threat of attack by nuclearweapons, the rescue section are bound to assume an even greater importance than hitherto.

100 YEARS AGO ABOUT 100 girls who are employed in one of the departments of the Anchor Thread Mills, Paisley, have come out on strike against the introduction of regulations which, they allege, prevent them from making the same wages as formerly. None of the other departments are meantime affected by the strike.

150 YEARS AGO THE quantity of wild ducks in the river during the frost has not been equalled for many years. Large f locks of different varieties dotted the waters in the neighbourhood of Port Glasgow, and afforded excellent sport for numerous guns. The keeper of the river lighthouse saw three wild swans, and shot one, which was exhibited in Mr Morrison's butcher shop.

200YEARS AGO ACOURT martial was held on a drummer, in the first regiment of Glasgow Volunteers, accused of disobedience, insolent language and striking the drum-major on duty.