Haddingtonshire Courier
5 March 1886
Great snowstorm
The second day of March 1886 will long be remembered as one of almost unexampled severity. The 'oldest inhabitant' was reminded by it of the storm that broke out on the first week of March 1827 – a storm of such intensity and depth of snow as to compel the postponement of the usual communion services. On Monday, with the wind from the east, snow fell at intervals, and gave to the country a very wintry appearance. As night fell, the force of the wind increased, and along with it came blinding clouds of light, powdery snow, which rapidly filled up the hollows, and threatened to interfere seriously with all the ordinary avenues of traffic.

Perthshire Courier
5 March 1840
Singular animal
Among the high mountains of that elevated district, where Glenorchy, Glenlyon, and Glenlochay are contiguous, there have been met with, several times, during this, and also the former winter upon the snow, the tracks of an animal seemingly unknown at present, in Scotland. The print of the foot in every respect is an exact resemblance of that of a foal of considerable size, with this small difference, perhaps, that the sole seems a little longer or not so round; but as no one has had, as yet, the good fortune to have obtained a glimpse of this creature, nothing more can be said of its shape or dimensions; only, it has been remarked, from the depth to which the foot sunk in the snow, that it must be a beast of considerable size – it has been observed also, that its walk is not like the generality of quadrupeds, but that it is more like the bounding or limping of a hare when not scared or pursued.

It is not in one locality only that its tracks have been met with, but through a range of at least 12 miles, and as the season is now so far advanced, and consequently storms of snow not likely to be severe or remain for any great length of time on the ground, except on the highest ridges, this singular creature may elude every notice at least for this season, although it is now resolved upon the first discovery of the track to follow it through the highest mountains, unless prevented by the most inaccessible rocks and precipices.

John o'Groat Journal
5 March 1852
Remarkable detection
A curious story is current respecting the manner in which the plunder of the Doune bank was discovered. It is stated that the robbery was committed by a farmer, who, after securing the money, took so much pleasure in gloating over his ill-won gold, that he could not resist the temptation of counting the sovereigns over almost every night. In doing so, the coins chinked, and the sound, together with the mysteriousness of the man's actions, led an inquisitive servant lad to peep though the key-hole at his master's proceedings. He soon suspected the reality, which was confirmed by overhearing a conversation between the man and his wife; and the result was, that the party was apprehended, and almost the entire contents of the bank-box recovered.

Dumfries and Galloway Standard
6 March 1850
Old Yew Trees
Decandolle finds as the result of his inquiries, that of all the European species of trees the yew is that which attains the greatest age. He assigns to the yew (Taxus baccata) of Braborne, in the county of Kent, thirty centuries; to the Scotch yew of Fortingall, from twenty-five to twenty-six; and to those of Crowhurst, in surrey and Ripon, in Yorkshire, respectively, fourteen and a half and twelve centuries. Endlicher remarks that the age of another yew tree in the churchyard of Gresford, in North Wales, which measures fifty-two English feet in circumference below the branches, is estimated at 1,400 years, and that of a yew in Derbyshire at 2,096 years. In Lithuania lime trees have been cut down which were eighty-seven English feet in circumference, and in which 815 annual rings have been counted.

Aberdeen Press and Journal
7 March 1860
New Reformatory School
A Reformatory School has been opened at Wellington Farm, near Penicuik, for the reformation of juvenile male criminals belonging to the counties of Edinburgh and Peebles. The institution is capable of accommodating between forty and fifty boys; it will probably therefore be a year or two before it is in full operation. The farm consists of about forty acres, which will enable the directors to carry out the usual allotment of one acre to each boy for cultivation. The sum required for the full establishment of the Reformatory is about £2,000; of this sum about £1,600 has been already raised.

['Wellie Farm,' as it became known, was open for 153 years and closed in June 2013.]

Stirling Observer
7 March 1850
Destruction of insects
The easiest and most effectual way of destroying these pests of the farm and garden is to turn their natural enemies upon them. Bantums devour greedily all kinds of worms, grubs, beetles, millepedes, earwigs &c; and young ducks are equally effectual against slugs and snails, while neither create any inconvenience, except where peculiar neatness is required. Bantums scratch very little, and in a garden are ornamental rather than otherwise.

Rothesay Chronicle
11 March 1876
The new town bell was placed in position on Thursday, and rung for the first time at 6pm that day. It is now on trial to the public ear. A great variety of opinion exists as to its merits. The new bell is 56lbs heavier than the old one, and is much the same shape.