From the Evening News July 30, 1904: OWING to the failure of the efforts to keep the Crombouke mine of the No 2 pit of Messrs Ackers, Whitley and Co, Bickershaw Collieries, Plank Lane, Leigh, clear of water, the whole of the 200 men employed have this weekend received their notices, thus indicating a permanent closing of the pit.

ON her arrival at New York the liner Deutschland reported that a terrific row had occurred in which a Californian and a Spaniard -- the latter the husband of a young French lady -- were the principals.

The Spaniard, it is alleged, found the Californian sequestered in a nook on deck, paying attention to his wife.

Immediately he drew a stiletto and rushed upon the Californian, who produced a revolver.

Both men were placed under temporary restraint.

But being buzz-free does not come cheap -- eradication of wasps' nests is charged at £34 and ants are evicted for £17.

An increasing number of employers are releasing their employees on one full day each week so that they can take a part-time day and evening course, attending one full day and two evenings each week.

The mechanical repairs will be made at the same time as the four clock faces are cleaned and re-painted.

10 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News

July 30, 1994

THE Government minister in charge of buses has seen for himself the nightmare at Bolton's congested Moor Lane bus station.

Steven Norris saw the chaotic situation as passengers were forced to clamber from buses on to busy roads.

And the shocked Transport Minister even saw one bus driver dangerously reverse on to a zebra crossing during his unscheduled visit.

PEST control experts are being inundated with calls from distressed householders following a summer surge of insects.

This month alone 200 wasps' nests and more than 100 ants' nests have had to be destroyed at properties and gardens throughout Bolton.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News

July 30, 1979

A BOLTON fire crew escaped with shock and bruises when their machine crashed as they answered an emergency call.

The firemen scrambled out of the driver's door after it skidded, spun round and turned on to its side on the central reservation in Mansell Way, Horwich.

The two-years-old appliance, worth £35,000, was seriously damaged but is not thought to be a write-off.

Station Officer Richard Rigby said the machine skidded on a surface made slippy by a recent shower of rain.

BOLTON'S Victoria Square will be timeless for the rest of the week because the Town Hall clock will be out of action during repairs.

About £1,600 is to be spent installing a new mechanism in the tower which will hopefully make the troublesome timepiece more reliable.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News

July 30, 1954

ENROLMENT for the 1954-55 session of the Bolton Technical College begins on August 30 and the general prospectus of part-time day and evening courses to be held in the college is now available. The commercial apprenticeship courses, which are still new and in which Bolton has taken a lead in the country, are expected to be successful.

NOT even a belated appearance of sun will be able to prevent a second postponement of the dancing display by the Frances Bleasdale dancers at Moss Bank Park Open Air Theatre.

The event had been re-arranged for tonight, but even yesterday an official of Bolton Entertainments Committee was able to tell us that the ground was too sodden to hold the event, which is not suitable for indoor presentation.

The display has been re-arranged for next Wednesday.