Page 169 - Reading Mercury

evening were sung most of the popular glees of the day, in all which the performers
admirably acquitted themselves.

rd
Mon 23 Dec
On Wednesday last, a meeting of the parishioners of Wokingham, was held at the
vestry-room of the church, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means
of employing the labouring Poor, during the winter season. There were present, the
Rev. Thos. Morres, the clergyman, J. Walter, esq, M.P., Mr. Hayward, Mr. Heelas,
and most of the farmers of the parish. It was proposed by Mr. Hayward, that the
churchwardens and overseers should in pursuance of the power contained in 59
Geo.3, cap. 12, s. 12, take a quantity of land, and employ the surplus labourers upon it
at fair wages. This course was objected to by several persons present, who proposed
instead thereof a fair division of the labourers among the inhabitants of the parish. Mr.
Walter said he was willing to adopt either course; he was only desirous of acting upon
some plan best calculated to promote the welfare of the poor, and at the same time, in
the most comprehensive manner to meet the views of the parishioners.
The latter suggestion was, after some discussion, unanimously adopted; and it was
determined immediately to take all the labourers into employ at fair wages, without
considering whether they were married or single. By this means, not a single labourer
throughout the whole of the three divisions of the parish, will be unemployed during
the entire winter.

1834

th
Mon 26 May 1934
WOKINGHAM ASSOCIATION
FOR PROTECTION OF PROPERTY AND PROSECUTION OF FELONS, &c.
Notice is hereby given, that the ANNUAL MEETING for the general purposes of
this Association, will be held at the Roe Buck Inn, Wokingham, on Friday, the
Thirtieth of May instant, at Two o’Clock in the afternoon, and that a Dinner will be
provided as usual at three o’clock.
By order of the Directors
Wokingham, May 20, 1834 J. I. & W. ROBERTS

1835

1836
st
Mon 21 March
THE NEW GROATS
The fourpenny silver pieces have been issued to the bankers, and are getting into
circulation. The coin is neatly executed, and will be useful in preventing the
incumbrance of halfpence. The obverse of the coin bears the head of his Majesty, and
the reverse the figure of Britannia. The coin is certainly rather a handsome one, but if
we were inclined to be critical, we should say that the figure of Britannia ought to be
in the centre, which not being the case the effect is not so good.

1837

167