From the Evening News, April 23, 1992

THE long-awaited redevelopment of Harwood's run-down precinct finally appears to be underway. Heavy earth-moving equipment has moved onto the semi-derelict site, and residents are hoping that the crumbling concrete wasteland will be soon transformed into a new-look precinct.

BIRTENSHAW protesters took their campaign to Barratt's Manchester headquarters yesterday. After a barrage of shouting from the campaigners, a Barratt employee walked to the locked gates and collected a letter from them.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 23, 1977

HOPES that the ball used in Bury's history-making 6-0 FA Cup Final win in 1903 would be returned to Gigg Lane have been dashed. For the ball, which has arrived at the club by registered post, is not the one used in the game against Derby County.

The real ball, mounted in a glass case, was lent to an exhibition in London in 1971 and has not been seen since. The organisers of the exhibition ran into difficulties, and Bury did not get the ball back.

This week, the liquidator brought in to sort out the exhibition's finances stumbled across an old ball. He was sure it was Bury's, and sent it to the club. However, Shakers' chairman, Mr Bill Allen, said: "Ours was battered and this one is in too good condition to be the one."

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 22, 1952

TO the non-engineering mind, it is always a matter of surprise that the boring of a tunnel from two ends can be so accurate that somewhere the borers exactly meet. A reader writes: "Did the engineers drive the Mersey tunnel from each side of the river to meet mid-stream, and when did they meet?"

On April 3rd, 1928, 27 months after the work started, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, broke down the last thin crust of rock with a pick and there met the Mayor of Birkenhead. They shook hands 150 ft. below the surface of the river.

At the luncheon which followed, the engineers announced that "the top headings met under the middle of the river with a divergence of line, level and length of 5/8 of an inch, inch and one inch respectively." The finished tunnel was opened on July 18th, 1934, by the King.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 23, 1902

A MEETING of the Bolton and District Association of Dairy Farmers was held at the Coffee Tavern, Bradshawgate, on Monday evening. The chair was occupied by the President (Mr J. Hough), and there was a good attendance. A discussion took place in reference to the corn tax, and the secretary (Mr W.S. Nuttall) explained that Bolton farmers were large users of foreign corn, and that the proposed tax of 3d per cwt. would be an increase of about 10 per cent in their rent.

The following resolution was adopted: "That this meeting of dairy farmers representing the whole of the Bolton district, whilst not objecting to pay the fair share of the increased price of flour consequent on the tax of wheat and flour, considers it most unjust and inequitable to be compelled to pay in addition an increased price for purchased food stuffs for their cattle owing to a tax on the grain coming into this country - a tax which will compel dairy farmers to contribute an utterly disproportionate sum to the increased taxation required, and respectfully requests the Chancellor of the Exchequer to abolish or at least modify the tax on all imported grain with the exception of wheat."