From the Evening News, March 11, 1903

THE annual report of the Chief Constable (Mr John Holgate) states that the total number of persons dealt with for criminal offences was 2,868, and for those of a quasi-criminal nature 871, compared with an increase of 80 in the former and a decrease of 27 in the latter, or a net increase of 53.

With reference to juvenile offences 43 (39 males and four females) were apprehended for felony.

There were 47 pawnbrokers in the Borough, 38 of whom dealt in gold and silver plate, and 55 persons carried on business as watchmakers.

Respecting licensing, there were 601 houses licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors. Under the Bolton Corporation Act, 1872, there were also 158 licences for public music, dancing, and billiards, bagatelle, bowls, etc.

From the Evening News, March 11, 1993

COUNCIL bosses believe they can fight off competition from a new £200 million Trafford shopping mall the size of Bolton town centre.

But Labour MP Terry Lewis says that the one million square feet shopping complex at Dumplington, off the M63, will be "catastrophic" for Bolton, Salford and Wigan. He said: "These decisions made in Whitehall will affect places like these where local communities have no effective voice. Not only will it deprive them of trade, it will flood the road network with even more traffic."

From the Evening News, March 11, 1978

TO reduce men's pensionable age from 65 to 60 could not be achieved without a "prohibitive cost to public funds", said Mr Ennals today. The cost could possibly be £2,500 million a year, he added. The Social Services Secretary said the Government fully accepted to the illogicality of having different pension ages for men and women, but he warned that the problems of achieving equality were considerable. At present the Government considered it preferable to protect and improve the level of pensions rather than increase their number.

From the Evening News, March 11, 1953

FEARS that Bolton rates will be increased by half a crown (12p) have caused a wave of indignation, according to a local solicitor. There is increasing talk among householders of moving out of the town into neighbouring urban districts where the levy is not so high.

The solicitor referred to a house in Bolton, assessed at £26, which the owner was unable to sell because prospective buyers thought first of the assessment and the rates and only second of the price of the house.

What is disturbing many tenants and house-holders is that there has been an increase in the rates each year during the past few years, and they are afraid that more increases will follow in the years ahead.