HERE is what was making the news in Argus 100, 50 and 25 years ago: * Baseball becomes a favourite Newport sport; * Hoppity the magpie steals jewellry in St Julians; * Risca councillor demands TV licences be because of poor reception.

100 YEARS AGO

● A meeting of the Monmouthshire standing joint committee, at county council offices, Newport, discussed salaries of police officers – a proposal to increase the pay of constables with 10 year’s service from £1 10s per week to £1 15s.

● Councillor Morgan, of Brynmawr, unsuccessfully suggested at a meeting of Breconshire standing joint committee that in appointing the new chief constable they should stipulate he should have a knowledge of Welsh.

● Baseball caught on and established a place for itself among the popular sports with the people of Newport. A visitor to Shaftesbury Park on Saturday was not a little surprised to see a large and enthusiastic crowd of spectators.

● Abergavenny inquest hears man died from from sunstroke after he collapsed in a field while making hay.

● A fire broke out at Tivoli Picture Palace, Pill, near the tram terminus.

At 9.45pm there was a flash from the film box caused by a film becoming ignited. Management, as a precautionary measure, opened all exits for the audience. Newport fire brigade attended but were not needed and audience returned to their seats shortly afterwards.

50 YEARS AGO

● Thanks to a rise in iron ore imports, the total inward traffic passed the figure for the previous year at Newport Docks. But exports suffered a slump of more than 50,000 tonnes.

● Hoppity the magpie caused havoc in St Julians – perching on people’s heads and thieving jewellery. He was captured by a resident with a towel over his head and was taken to RSPCA kennels in Caerleon.

● Anti-polio clinics continued at Abertillery, Blaina, Llanhilleth and Ebbw Vale, where thousands who received their first sugar dose during a recent outbreak were appearing for their second treatment.

25 YEARS AGO

● Gwent’s Risca Central councillor Keith Griffiths demanded TV licences for his constituents be waived or reimbursed because of poor reception.

● Police plea to ban beer tent at Monmouth carnival turned down.

Police inspector Barry Collin said it was a family day which a lot of children attended. But magistrates granted the licence in line with times for other town pubs.

● Magor with Undy community councillor Pat Belsten, who was running the local post office, said a lane between her house and the church was being used as “one big toilet” by youngsters.