THE ladies' home column in the Messenger gave advice on summer gowns, lining and sleeves. It advised women that smart petticoats in brighter colours were in this year but black, the most useful colour, was still popular. Headgear for elderly women was also discussed and it seemed milliners were taking a malicious pleasure in designing unbecoming bonnets for elderly ladies. White hair, when not prematurely white, was rarely thick, especially about the face, and most bonnets seemed to be designed only for women gifted with abnormal hair growth.

IN the Messenger's local gossip column, subject to confirmation, the district council had decided to invite Herefordshire and Worcestershire Agricultural Society to hold its 1906 show in Bromsgrove. It would be necessary to raise funds locally but as £700 was contributed when the old Worcestershire Society visited Bromsgrove in 1878 there wasn't great difficulty in this. Red Cross Farm, off Kidderminster Road, was suggested as a suitable site as the society required 20 acres of land. The 1878 show was held in New Road but many Bromsgrovians regarded the proximity of the train station a disadvantage. Townspeople had gone to considerable trouble and expense to erect arches and decorations but complained that large numbers of visitors to the show left without seeing the town.

John Harrison, of Lickey End, failed to appear in court to answer the charge of being drunk in Birmingham Road. PC Walters informed the bench the defendant was very drunk and staggered about the road, nearly knocking several cyclists off their bikes. He was fined 5s (25p) and 5s 6d (27.5p) costs or seven days' hard labour.

Sidney Dale, of Whetty Farm, was charged in contravention of a Swine Fever Order when he allowed a pig to stray onto the highway in an infected area. PC Stirlock said the pig got out in Birmingham Road and he took it home. The defendant was fined 2s 6d (12.5p).