From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Vauxhall Advance

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

March 8, 1879 – Manitoba Gazette

The press of matter on our space this week is so great, we needed to curtail our editorial columns. It is hoped our weekly will increase to double its current size shortly. A daily in the interests of the liberals is soon to be established and, as to be expected, a conservative daily will likely soon follow. A little patience, friends, and you will be rewarded the opportunity of bestowing your patronage on a newspaper that will not insult your political feelings. The days of one paper power in Manitoba will very soon have passed away forever.

We are pleased to learn the commissioners are busy at work searching into the dark doings of the departments in Manitoba. We venture the assertion that a mass of corruption will be uncovered that will astonish those in Ottawa once the report is submitted to them.

Lockjaw (tetanus) is one of the most terrible diseases to which mortals are exposed. A California exchange asserts nobody need be in danger of such an attack from wounds caused by rusty iron. The worst case of infected wounds can be cured by smoking the injured part with wool or woolen cloth.

March 11, 1908 – The Magrath Pioneer

An American was recently fined 300 pounds sterling for attempting to bribe an English cop. The man was pulled over on a country road near London for exceeding the 25mph speed limit. The motorist gave his name and address, but suggested the matter was a trifling one and that the bobby should forget it. He also showed the man a gold piece, which he dropped on the road and pointed to before taking off again.

An effort is being made to deal with the plague of rats in England. At the docks, they’ve been known to consume whole carcasses of bullocks and scarcely a ship comes into dock that is not overrun with them. Many attempts have been made to solve the problem of extermination. The rat catcher has been abandoned at some docks for poison and cats. Though these have been found to keep the numbers down and lessen the damage, it is insufficient to exterminate the pests.

Hunting in England is hardly the pastime now that it was 30 years ago. Almost as many people follow the chase today as before but the farmer has arisen as an active enemy to the sport. In the past, it seemed the English farmer was proud and pleased to have a band of red coated huntsmen jump over his fences, trample his crops, frighten his cattle and run over any stray child who happened to be walking in the field. Alas, this is no longer true today.

March 11, 1909 – Enderby Press and Walker’s Weekly

Word was received the government has decided to use only BC flour in the provincial asylums. The Vancouver mill is to supply Westminster and the Enderby mill to Vernon. As the Westminster institution uses 600 barrels to Vernon’s 50 barrels, it looks like discrimination. The board of trade immediately wired the department to this effect and asked for an equitable division of orders between all mills in the province or throw it all open to tender.

Millions of dollars are in the hands of the Chamberlain of New York and the State Treasurer awaiting owners. Lawyers are working on the task of searching for heirs of these funds, succeeding or failing in the most unusual ways. Additionally, some of the most valuable property in New York is not improved and remains occupied by ramshackle buildings because the owners have disappeared and large rents are being collected by those who have no right to them whatsoever.

The question of abolishing all level crossings on Belgian lines is now being considered by the Ministry of Railways. The sum required to meet this ambition is about 12 million pounds sterling. There are about 6,125 on Belgian lines and in most cases, where it will not be possible to change the direction of the roadway, it will be necessary to carry it either under or over the railway.