From the Evening News, April 1, 1903: THE departure from Liverpool yesterday for Canada of 2,000 emigrants, comprising members of all trades, occupations and professions, is the outcome of a remarkable movement which aims at settling a complete community of 15,000 souls, all of British origin, on the prairie land of Saskatchewan in the North-west territory between Winnipeg and the Rockies.

The Moses of the exodus is a Mr Barr, who has been delivering lectures up and down the country on the splendid opportunity offered to the industrious by this part of the Dominion. It is his object to organise a large capital, and erect towns and villages as the colony continues to increase. Each colonist has to pay his own passage and have £50 in the bank.

From the Evening News, March 31, 1993

ANGRY licensees claimed today that Bolton Council's tough line on pub karaoke is pulling the plug on the craze and adding to the misery of the recession. One fed up landlord says he was "horrified" when he discovered it would cost £7,000 in new wiring alone just to meet the council's public safety standards. Some licensees who cannot afford the outlay and cannot persuade the brewery to fork out have been forced to give up karaoke nights completely.

From the Evening News, April 1, 1978

THE advert offered a four-bedroomed semi for £1,500, and it wasn't an April fool's day joke. Today, hundreds of hopeful buyers besieged the house in Moss Bank Way, Bolton, in search of the bargain of a lifetime.

The Victorian house, with panoramic views over Bolton, is going to the best offer over £1,500. It belonged to recluse Mr Albert Smallpage, who died earlier this year. Much of the house has been untouched since the original fitments were put in in 1898.

From the Evening News, April 1, 1953:

A STORM has blown up over Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery's friendly message of congratulations to Bolton Wanderers on reaching the FA Cup Final.

Blackpool is taking keenly what it considers to be an affront, in view of the fact that the Field Marshal is also a Freeman of the seaside town. A telegram has been sent to him by the Mayor of Blackpool in these terms.

In addition, the Mayor sent a telegram to Mr Winston Churchill, who is Blackpool's senior Freeman, inviting the Prime Minister to "shout for Blackpool" by way of equalizing the chances.

Opinion at Burnden Park today on these moves was that someone in Blackpool is making a mountain out of a a molehill. Perhaps it is just Blackpool's publicity flair!