From this newspaper 150 years ago. - Barnard Castle. Malicious destruction of bees. - Last week some evil disposed person or persons set fire to two hives of bees, the property of Mrs Layton, a widow, residing at Cross Lanes, thereby causing a loss to the extent of about £5. We hope the perpetrators of this malicious act will be brought to justice. Local Board of Health. - At a meeting of this body held on Saturday last, some conversation ensued on the subject of water supply. An opinion was elicited that the present storage reservoir was too small to sustain an adequate supply, and it was stated that three hours sufficed to empty it after being quite full. It was suggested that a piece of land should be bought to form an additional storage reservoir, and it was thought that the inhabitants would consent to the additional burden of the cost of it, provided a continuous supply could be ensured. The subject then dropped. The inspector was questioned as to a lodging house yard which was found to be in a very filthy state. An application from Mr John Howson, draper, for permission to place a new shop front in his premises was granted.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. - In our "Roll of Honour" last week appeared the following announcement: "Thomas Taylor Bainbridge, HMS Amethyst, son of Ruth and the late John Bainbridge, Acklam-terrace, Thornaby. Killed in action, March 13th, in the Dardanelles." Behind that simple announcement there is a rather affecting story. Deceased was a young man of 20 years of age. He lodged at Brompton, near Northallerton, and was service his apprenticeship as a joiner to Mr Thomas Willoughby, building and contractor, Northallerton, and had still two years to go before he was free when the war broke out. When the country sent forth its call for men he was one of those who felt that call deeply, and desired ardently to respond, but found himself bound by the terms of his apprenticeship. He evidently made appeals to his employer to be set free so that he might join the Navy. He "downed his tools," left his master's service, and he went to Middlesbrough to see a recruiting officer about joining the Navy. He explained to the officer how he was situated and bound, and asked him to do his best to get released from his indentures. The officer twice wrote to Mr Willoughby, who insisted upon the terms of his indenture. The boy also wrote to his master and got no reply. The youth was evidently deeply distressed. What was he to do in this exigence to get his articles broken? Who could do it in the whole land? The King! Thereupon the lad sat down to write a petition, dated 12th August, 1914, to King George V., representing his case, and praying His Majesty to "break his articles." It is very pathetic, it is stated, to read this petition in the light of his death. It is a mixture of simplicity, of faith in the King, and of some knowledge, too, of the forms of drawing up petitions. It was written in pencil, but well written, spelt and composed, and set the case fully to His Majesty "of his faithful and obedient servant." He tells the King that all his family had served His Majesty either in the Army or the Navy, and that he saw His Majesty was in need of men. He told him how, in his intense desire to join the Navy, he had left his master, gone to the recruiting officer at Middlesbrough, got him to write to Mr Willoughby to ask him to "loose him," but he could get nothing from him except that he (Bainbridge) was bound to him, and so he asked His Majesty to break his articles." A communication was sent by Major Clive Wigram, Equerry to the King, from Buckingham Palace, to Major Bower, the Chief Constable of the North Riding, enclosing the lad's pathetic letter, remarking that he appeared "to be made of the proper stuff," and asking the police to do their best for him. When one of the leading officials of the police appeared before Mr Willoughby with this letter from Buckingham Palace and the lad's petition, Mr Willoughby, as a loyal subject, at once yielded, and the lad was set free to fulfil his ardent, patriotic desire to serve his King and country, in which service he has paid the last great and noble sacrifice.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - The rising standard of this school is affecting the whole of this lovely dale of Wensleydale," said Mr A T Bourne Arton, after presenting prizes at the fifth speech day of the Wensleydale County Modern School at Leyburn on Wednesday. He recalled having some part in the start of the school, as Chairman of the North Riding Secondary Education Committee. The school was clearly making much progress from all angles of education and life in the dales, he said. The Chairman of the Governors, Mr Herrick Peel, presiding, said that Mr Bourne Arton was the first chairman of the Governors of the school. In his report the Headmaster (Mr Eric Hall) said that with 392 pupils the tendency was to seek further education, and some of them would stay to take further courses. He could foresee changes in education, particularly with the school leaving age raised to 16 years. Further education continued with many at Leyburn Evening Institute - 22 different classes occupied 45 hours a week. He paid tribute to the organiser and the staff for this fine achievement. These expanding activities often followed on from school. There were increasing activities connected with the school. The Corps of Drums, the Cadets, the Red Cross Cadets, the Drama Club, farming, for which a piggery was being built, and a swimming club whose members at present visit Catterick Camp but he hoped that the school would have its own swimming bath, which Mr Hall added, might well be a public swimming bath.