100 years ago

According to the "Telegraaf" great demonstrations by young Belgians against their compulsory registration as ordered by the German authorities had taken place in Brussels and the surrounding districts.

The first day of the registration had been fixed for March 29th. At noon about 400 young men marched through the streets singing the "Brabanconne" and the "Marseillaise," and shouting "We won't sign."

Three police motor cars pursued the demonstrators who dispersed when the police approached.

At Turnhout a similar demonstration was held, but the military quickly arrived on the scene and fired into the crowd, wounding a number of young men of whom two died in hospital.

A petition for the relief of Burgomaster Max, who was still in the fortress of Glatz, had now been signed by 200,000 persons.
 

50 years ago

Eighteen books on York and Yorkshire, dating as far back as 1680, had been presented to the York Gild of Freemen at the Station Hotel, York.

They were presented by Mrs M Pickering, in memory of her father, the late Mr Arthur Barton, of Marygate, and were received by the Master of the Gild, Mr Harry Ward.

The gifts, which included prints by Prout, Cave and Halfpenny, would be looked after for the time being by the Gild's chronicler, Mr Dennis Shaftoe, until a permanent home could be found for them.

"We are anxious for people to come forward with any old books or works relating to York as we wish to start a collection," said Mr Ward.
 

25 years ago

The change in management of the River Ouse between York and Goole had taken place officially today - six months after the event actually happened.

The switch from York City Council to the British Waterways Board in October had been without ceremony.

That could not be corrected until today when the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Jack Archer, presented an official scroll beside the Ouse to the board chairman, Mr David Ingman, to mark the change.

The pair then retired to the Mansion House where Mr Ingman gave the council a painting of the Ouse showing craft using it near Lendal Bridge with the Guildhall in the background.

Official guests afterwards accompanied them on a trip on the Duchess of York pleasure cruiser from the Guildhall to Naburn Lock.

They included the Archbishop of York, whose official residence, Bishopthorpe Palace, stood beside the river.

The Rivers Ouse and Foss Navigation Trust, made up of city councillors, had been set up in 1727.

In formally accepting control today, Mr Ingman assured Councillor Archer that the river would be in good hands.

He said the board was committed to improving the quality of life and the environment around it.