For 30 years Mr John Rukin has carried His Majesty’s mail from Keld over the fells to isolated farmsteads, and on to bleak Tan hill, that outpost on the heights which fair-weather explorers visit in summer, but leave strictly to itself during the dark months. ... Mr Rukin does his 15 mile walk every day without undue strain a. ... The lonely farming folk regard him as an envoy from the outer world bringing news by tongue and letter ... The Tan Hill postman will have a hard and cold task on Christmas Day but he will have the satisfaction of knowing that at lonely outposts in the hills of Swaledale he is regarded as a grown-ups Santa Claus.

On Monday evening a walking match of some importance was decided between the Buck Inn at Reeth and Wilson's House on the Arkendale Road, a distance of about three miles. The competitors were Ward Peacock, one of the crack runners of Swaledale, and Frank Gill, a well known sporting character. It was a very interesting race. Gill held the lead until a couple of hundred yards from the goal when he was passed by "Wardey" who won by twenty yards. Time 25 minutes.

Last Saturday Henry Pratt late of Healaugh in Swaledale (The remarkable quack-Cow- Doctor) was Committed to Richmond Gaol in this County on Suspicion of stealing a Cow Hide, the Property of Thomas Husband, of Reeth, Tanner. And as the Constables of Middleham were conveying him to the Magistrate at Bedale, the doctor, when he came upon Ulshaw Bridge, took a sudden Resolution to get rid of his attendants and threw himself over the Battlements into the River Yore, being at that time Bank Full, but was drove to an Island where he lay many hours and was with much difficulty got off.