25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 22, 1972

BRITISH trans-Pacific rower John Fairfax, and his companion Sylvia Cox, today completed an amazing 8,000-mile journey from San Francisco to Australia. The couple, feared lost at sea six weeks ago, suddenly turned up at a resort island off the Queensland coast in their barnacle-encrusted, 35-ft. rowboat Britannia 11.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 23, 1947

MORE local people than ever are responding to the urges to see the continent, it would appear from agency and other traffic returns, and the rush to get passports. High prices may deter a proportion of those who would like to cross the water, but there is very much a spirit of 'let's be merry today', and Bolton holiday week suggests quite a lot of long-distance super jaunts. Permits are, of course, needed for travel in military zones, although it is unlikely that many people will have reason to concern themselves about that.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 23, 1872

ON Monday, at the County Sessions Room, a middle-aged man, named Walter Metzgar, no residence, was charged with stealing, on the 12th inst., from the dwelling home of John Berry, spindle turner, Farnworth, a silver watch and guard, value £4 10s 0d. On the day mentioned he went to the house and represented himself to be a gas meter inspector, employed by the Farnworth and Kearsley Gas Company. He asked to be allowed to inspect the meter, and after filling it with water he proceeded to inspect the pipes upstairs. When he had finished he came down and left the house. In the course of the day the watch and the chain were missed, and information given to the police. Robert Turner, pawnbroker's assistant, Bury, said the prisoner came to their shop on Friday, the 12th inst., and offered to pledge a silver watch and chain, for which he wanted £3. The magistrates committed the prisoner to trial at the Sessions.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.