Drought committees set up to combat water shortage

25 YEARS AGO

STREAKING should not be regarded as a sexual offence, says a Home Office report. It should also be distinguished from the more serious charge of indecent exposure with a sexual motive, and carry a lower fine. The report also says that sleeping rough should become a criminal offence if it causes a public nuisance.

SPECIAL drought committees are being formed in Bolton and Bury to combat the water crisis and to deal with problems should water rationing be introduced in the future.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 8, 1951

HOW many people know that they can pay for privacy when they have to go to hospital? Not many, the Ministry of Health believes. And the Ministry wants publicity for its "amenity beds" - beds for which patients can pay part of the cost if they prefer not to go into a ward.

YOUNG John's mother was horrified when she saw him banging his tortoise on the back with a toy hammer. She was about to reprimand him when she saw she'd been forestalled. Delighted to think her teaching had "registered" she watched her other small son stride menacingly to John and grab the hammer.

"Stop it at once," he said. "You'll break my hammer."

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 8, 1876

WE regret to perceive from the monthly report of the Medical Officer of Health (Mr Sergeant) that small-pox is increasing in Bolton. That gentleman says, "During last month the disease, instead of abating, as I had expected, is assuming greater virulence, and attacked altogether 23 fresh patients, of whom 2 have died, 3 with the 4 patients remaining from the previous week have convalesced, and 18 still suffer from the disease. Of the latter, fortunately 12 have already been removed to the Infirmary at Fishpool. With care on the part of the public, I do not anticipate any alarming extension of the small-pox."