From this newspaper 150 years ago. – Richmond. Samuel Garby, a native of North Duffend in the west of England, and who had been for a short time employed by Mr James Sorrell, horse breaker, was charged with passing a counterfeit half-crown in the evening of Saturday at the house of Mr Johnson, Turf Hotel, Richmond. The prisoner went into Mr Johnson's house with another person about six o'clock and tendered half-a-crown in payment for beer. He was at once given into custody. The prisoner declared that he was not aware it was bad, he had come from Northallerton fair, and had called at the Farmer's Arms at Catterick Bridge where he got some drink, and gave the landlord half-a-sovereign, and got the half-crown with other monies back in change. The magistrates considering there was not sufficient evidence to establish the offence, discharged the prisoner.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – The Cleveland Chamber of Agriculture, at their meeting at the Buck Hotel, Guisborough, on Tuesday, discussed the question of the increasing scarcity of farm labour, which is also the principal subject for consideration at the next meeting of the Central Chamber. Mr W Parlour, of Croft, introduced the topic in a fairly extensive review of the whole position, and at the outset said the question was one of the most important as well as one of the most difficult to deal with that could be chosen. Although farm labour was scarce now it would be scarcer still in many places before the summer was over, proceeded Mr Parlour. It was impossible to point to any specific remedy. They could only discuss the matter, consider some of the difficulties, and, if possible, endeavour to find out how some of them might be lessened or removed. The supply of farm labour was at all times limited. To make a skilled farm labourer took a long time, and there had never been very few more than were needed. Therefore, at a time like this, when considerable numbers were withdrawn, it necessarily followed that labour would be scarce, and that many farmers would have the greatest difficulty in keeping things going. It was particularly difficult when farmers were being urged by the Government to sow more wheat and get more land under cultivation, and endeavour to produce more of the nation's food supply. Up to the present the remedy for a shortage of labour had been to "sow a bit more land down to grass." Now, if patriotic, they were debarred from that, because they were asked to keep land under cultivation, and if possible, add to it. In illustration of some of the hard cases resulting from a shortage of labour, Mr Parlous said a short time ago a Wolds farmer told him that a few years previously Sir Mark Sykes formed a waggoners' division of Yeomanry. They were mobilised on the outbreak of war, with the result that on some of the farmers in the Wolds masters as well as men were taken away, and some farmers were left temporarily without a single man. Another case happened in his own district, where two farms, of nearly 200 acres each, were farmed by father and son. All the men enlisted, the father died, and the son was left to managed the two farms. He could not get labour anywhere, and for a long time was without anyone, until an old man at last came six days a week to help feed the cattle. These might be extreme cases, but they showed the straits in which some farmers were in order to obtain men to fill the places of those who had joined the Army. No one wished to be unpatriotic and say that men who were engaged in farm work ought not to enlist. Farmers had never placed any obstacles in the way of their men joining the colours, but were always to take the risk of being able to get someone in their place. Certain traders were not allowed to enlist from their ranks - they had the case of men engaged in ammunition and armament works - and he contended that the industry for the production of food was one of those which might reasonably have been expected to rank with the other industries to be kept going (Applause).

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – The long distance walk in the Yorkshire Moors National Park to which reference was made in these columns recently, has been approved by the Minister of Land, Mr F T Willey. Of the 93 miles of footpath, public rights of way have still to be created over 12 miles, and this will be the task of the district councils in the areas concerned. The path runs from just north of Filey along the coast to Saltburn, much of the way along the cliff top, and a first rate walk. From Saltburn it runs south-east along the Cleveland escarpment, passing east and south of Guisborough and then turning south of Guisborough and then turning south to the Cook Monument above Great Ayton. South from the monument it runs as far as Cockayne Ridge and then in a curve first north-west and then south-west to Mount Grace Priory. Along the edge of the Hambleton Hills, the path goes south to the Thirsk-Pickering road, and runs in a curve north of the road, and ends at Helmsley where the road crosses the River Rye, having skirted Rievaulx. It may that this is a less dramatic conception than the Pennine War, but it will certainly provide as good walking as that route. The coastal stretch is full of interest and beauty, and from the Clevelands and the Hambleton's there are innumerable prospects of new countryside in Cleveland and the Vale of York. Its variety and the moorland scenery over much of the route will recommend it to walkers everywhere – and how long will it be before someone sets out to walk it in 48 hours in emulation of the Lyke Wake walkers?