100 years ago

The caretaker of the Seaman’s Mission in Ruperra Street, Pill, a former Captain, was found with his throat cut, in an attempt to take his own life.

Tradesmen in Newport were endeavouring to extend their Christmas holidays over four days. As Christmas day fell on a Thursday they suggested that it would make sense to declare Saturday a bank holiday too.

A tragic case was reported of a two year old toddler dying from shock when both his arms were scalded after he put them in a pan of boiling water when his mother’s back was turned. He had visited hospital and received treatment for the scalds, but later died at home.

The railwaymen’s strike was still spreading, leaving colliers idle with no means of transportation for their coal.

50 years ago

10,000 steelworkers in Ebbw Vale were to assist the Welsh National School of Medicine in one of the largest medical surveys carried out in British industry.

It was announced that Chepstow was to have an additional automatic telephone exchange providing facilities for an extra 600 subscribers.

A mobile van manned by two non-smoking university graduates was due to visit Newport for a two-week anti-smoking campaign.

Newport’s winter coal crisis was officially declared over after supplies to Newport were stepped up. Coal merchants were now confident that they would be able to cope with the demand.

25 years ago

Newport council continued its hard-line policy of eviciting tenants with large rent arrears. 580 in total now faced eviction.

Pontypool Rugby Club sensationally blamed the South Wales Argus for their dismissal from the Schweppes Cup after the paper ran a story saying that the club had breached competition rules.

Fire gutted a luxury bungalow at Hafodyrynys causing £340,000 worth of damage and killing the owner’s pet alsation.

Members of a banana boat crew were being questioned after seven kilos of cocaine with a street value of £3million was discovered on the boat at Newport’s Alexandra Dock.