From this newspaper 150 years ago. – Great Ayton. Aid for the American Freemen. - A public meeting took place in the Congregational Chapel, on Monday evening last. The Rev S Jackson, minister of the chapel, in the chair – to take into consideration the best means of assisting the four millions of freed negroes just liberated from slavery in the United States of America. The meeting, which was only thinly attended, was addressed by the Chairman, Mr Ralph Dixon, master of the North of England Agricultural Society, Great Ayton; the Rev Isaac Brierly, of same place, and Mr Geo Markham Tweddell, of Stokesley. A committee was appointed, with power to add to their number, to solicit aid for the destitute freedmen and their families, from the inhabitants of Stokesley. We understand that in the neighbouring parish of Great Ayton alone the contributions in aid of the good work amount to about £50, which consists principally of new clothing, towards which some have contributed money for the purchase of materials, and others have given their labour in making up the garments.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – Stokesley Town Council. – A letter was read from Mr Rice, hairdresser, Stokesley, complaining of the nuisance caused by the Imperial Tramways Company using the Market-place as a standing. The waste oil, he said, dropped in clots on the cobblestones, and customers carried it into his establishment on their boots, with the result that mats and the linoleum were damaged by its being trodden in. Mr Hedley complained of the same thing in the High-street in Yarm. In front of his shop, he said, it was a "perfect muck heap" with oil and sand, and it was carried into different places. Originally the Company put trays underneath the standing 'buses in order to catch the dropping oil, but now they used sand only, and it was very bad. Mr Hoggart remarked that the same state of affairs existed at Broughton, where the Cleveland Company's 'bus stood. It was agreed that the clerk should write to the managers of both the Imperial and the Cleveland companies asking them to abate the nuisance.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – Northallerton took a look at one of the uglier aspects of the local scene on Monday, when the Urban Council discussed the crude dumping and spoke of rat and fly infestation on its refuse tips in Yafforth Road. Its chief public health inspector, Mr A Cornick, pointed out that he had been referring to this problem in his annual report for the past three or four years. Members agreed that urgent action is needed and they will have a report on controlled tipping and incineration. Coun Alwynne Cockerill said it was also a matter on which there might be co-operation and co-ordination with the Rural Council to achieve the best possible solution. Following mention of rat and fly infestation, Mr Cornick stressed that this problem was under continual treatment, but with open dumping into water it was difficult to get at the source. The tips are on old brickyard workings in Yafforth Road, and Coun H D Walkland, Chairman of the Building and Health Committee, said it was proposed to have a full report and costs of salvage, together with a report on controlled tipping and costs of incineration. Coun K Calvert said he had been told that the cost of incineration to make fertiliser was astronomical. Stressing the urgent need to introduce controlled tipping, Coun W Wake said the tip was filling fast. It was at one side of the railway and at the other was a hospital. There was also an application, so far turned down, for extensive residential development in the area of 300 to 400 houses, and if the town continued to expand the development might of necessity have to be approved. Coun A Cockerill said that on a visit to the tip he had been concerned over the smell, the flies and the rats. He had come away with an itch. His chairman (Coun C H Sawdon) said this might be a physhcological itch, but agreed it was an urgent problem. Coun G Wetherill said the smell reminded him of his days in India, and definitely something would have to be done. Coun H D Walkland thought the discussion was giving the town adverse publicity and would leave a somewhat unsavoury impression in the minds of people visiting Northallerton.