THE old saying 'February fill dyke' had not lived up to its name in 1904. The wettest month had been May when 4.01 inches had fallen. The month had also seen the wettest day of the year when 2.20inches had fallen on the 27th. October had been the driest month and November the coldest when for 17 days the temperature had fallen below freezing.

FIFTY stockings allotted to Bromsgrove by the London Daily Mail from its fund for providing gifts to poor children were distributed in Worcester Street, Sidemoor and Hill Top on New Year's Day.

HENRY Yarnold, 32, appeared at the Worcestershire Quarter Sessions charged with embezzling 27/- from his master Robert Moss of Droitwich. The jury heard Moss had taken the prisoner off the streets into his home and given him free board and lodging, only to be repaid by having him pocket the money when Moss asked him to go out and sell his potatoes. Yarnold was sentenced to six weeks' hard labour.

MANY Droitwich residents were suffering from the effects of poverty and distress and applicants for relief at the Spa's workhouse were expected to be far greater than of late. Several town worthies had taken on casual labour in a bid to bring some relief to working class families.

FOUR labourers John and George Harris, George Williams and Martin Hinton appeared before Droitwich Petty Sessions charged with gambling with cards on the Lord's day in the parish of St Nicholas near Hampton Road. Each man was fined 3/4 (16 p).