25 YEARS AGO

A TAPESTRY valued at between £5,000 and £6,000 - one which any art gallery would want to show - has come into the ownership of Bolton Museum. It has just gone on display to the public.

The tapestry, featuring vividly coloured tropical leaves and a moth, has been left to Bolton in the will of Miss Helen Barlow, a member of the well-known local family whose fortunes were made in textiles through the Barlow and Jones company.

THAILAND'S new Prime Minister, Mr Seni Pramoj, aged 70, has advised the country's racy newspapers not to publish too many pictures of nude girls, but says the occasional one is all right "because even old men like to have a peep at them".

50 YEARS AGO

SIR,- May I appeal to the public of Bolton not to use any domestic electrical appliances such as vacuum cleaners, etc., while the Cup Final is being televised on Saturday between the hours of 3-45 and 5pm. I, like many television owners, will be having a houseful of football enthusiasts to view the match, and I would not like it to be spoiled by interference. Hopeful.

GREAT news comes from Graz for those young people whose fancies at this season are said to "lightly turn to thoughts of love." For a new invention to be displayed at the Graz Spring Fair is claimed as "odourless garlic". The prospectus says that it "makes garlic fit for the drawing room" and allows the garlic addict to indulge his passion without being ostracized by friends.

125 YEARS AGO

A SUBSTANTIAL addition has been made to the means of speedily extinguishing fires in this borough by the introduction of a system of telegraphic communication between the various parts of the town and the Corporation Fire Brigade Station. As to the necessity of some improved means of communication the recent disastrous fires have given conclusive proof, and by the introduction of this telegraphic system a substantial benefit will be effected.

The system is one devised by Mr J. Ahren, of Manchester, and by means of an electric wire bells are rung in various places through which it passes, and an alarm consequently conveyed. Thus are there direct wires to each of the following mills: Messrs. Tootal Broadhurst and Lee, of Daubhill; Mr A.L. Briggs, Derby-street; Messrs Johnson and Fildes, Derby-street; and Messrs J. Musgrave and Sons, of Chorley Old-road. Another wire connects the following firms with the Corporation stations, Messrs C. Taylor, Bros, Brownlow-fold, R. Harwood and Sons, Messrs Slater and Beddows, and Mr John Heaton, of Brownlow-fold.

Another wire places in communication the mills of Messrs Tristram, Greenhalgh and Shaw, Butler and Murton, and T.W. Heaton, all of Halliwell. Another joins the mills of Messrs Crosses and Winkworth, Peter Crook, T. Taylor and Sons, all of Lever-street. Another wire extends to the works of Messrs W.W. Cannon and Bros., Cannon-street, Salmon and Taylor, Gilnow, and Henry Pool, Dean-lane.

The system is very simple; by moving a handle the bell rings, and the rules provide for a certain number of rings, according to the signal required. It is also provided that where there are several mills using one wire, each mill shall be indicated by a distinct number of bells.