This week we’re sharing some extracts from the November 13, 1909 edition of The Hants and Sussex News.

The Hants and Sussex News was founded in 1892. It was formed from The Petersfield Weekly News, the town’s first local newspaper, which was first published on September 5, 1883 from Mr F D Button’s printing business in Lavant Street.

Arthur Wilson Childs became the next owner of the newspaper and remained with it for more than 40 years, changing the name of the title to The Hants and Sussex News in 1892.

The newspaper’s offices moved to the High Street during Arthur’s ownership and the paper became affectionately known as ‘The Squeaker’.

The ‘Squeaker’ was just eight pages and covered local issues, plus national and international events, in what appeared to be a random order.

The front page consisted exclusively of large-format local adverts, while the following pages covered national and local news, petty session reports and international events.

The back page included general articles, covering a range of topics including horticultural, fashion and lifestyle advice. The Hants and Sussex News would later become the Petersfield Post.

Other content included:

Temperance Restaurant and Coffee Tavern, The Square, Petersfield. Excellent accommodation for commercial and cyclists. Good luncheons and teas provided at moderate charges. Beds. hot and cold baths.

Home hints. When obliged to breathe the doubtful atmosphere, keep the mouth as closely closed as possible, and breathe through the nose, thus there is less chance of poisonous germs reaching the dried air passages.

Technically guilty. At the police court last Wednesday, before Messrs W C Burley and J R Bennion, William Brown, tramp, was charged with placing himself in the position to beg at Blendworth, on the 2nd inst. Prisoner said he pleaded guilty to asking for a drop of hot water.

PC Pawling’s evidence showed the man, who had 3d on him and also a quantity of food which said he had bought, simply asked a lady to give him some hot water.

The constable said he knew the prisoner quite well by sight and had frequently seen him travelling the London-to-Portsmouth road.

The chairman said the bench felt although prisoner had pleaded guilty it was purely a technical offence.

There was nothing to indicate he desired to have more than hot water and under these circumstances the bench was disposed to let him off.

But it was a dangerous thing because very often begging for hot water was simply an excuse for getting something more.

Petersfield Cottage Hospital. Pound Week, commencing November 8, 1909.

The matron will gratefully acknowledge gifts of all kinds for the use of the patients. From a pound of vegetables, groceries, jam, cakes, to a pound of money.

Stroud Roman Villa preservation. We understand that up to the present Mr A Moray Williams’ appeal for funds for the preservation of the Stroud Roman Villa has resulted in about £25 being received.

Of this total only one small contribution has come from the town of Petersfield.

This is much to be regretted and we sincerely hope the inhabitants, before it is too late, will manifest greater public spirit and help save this interesting site.