Page 212 - Reading Mercury

USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTAGE-STAMPS
The Post-office stamps having to be detached, either by cutting or tearing them from
each other, great inconvenience is felt, particularly by those of extensive
correspondence. To provide a remedy for the inconvenience thus experienced, a plan
has been invented, by the aid of a machine, by which more than double the number of
stamp sheets that is now annually required, may be so minutely indented in the
direction of the white lines, as to allow the stamp to be instantly detached from the
sheet without the operation of cutting—perfect, too, in every respect. The contrivance
will also enable purchasers to fold a sheet of stamps, or any less quantity, with
unerring regularity, and in one tenth of the time that is at present consumed in the
operation,

1848
th
Sat 29 July
NEW WORKHOUSE
The guardians of the Wokingham Union propose to build a new workhouse for the
accommodation of the poor, instead of sending them to the Wargrave house; and we
are informed that Mr. John Billing was appointed the architect at the meeting on
Friday last, his designs having been preferred by the guardians and the Poor-law
commissioners, to many others which were then presented to their notice.

CRICKET
A match will be played at Rhonde's ground, Waltham St. Lawrence, on Thursday,
rdT
August 3 between the Slough and Billingbear clubs, when some good play is
expected.

INQUEST
On Tuesday last, an inquest was held before Rupert Clarke, Esq., at the Duke's
Head, Wokingham, on the body of William Henry Sowman, son of Mr. Sowman, of
the Gas Works. From the evidence of the mother, it appeared that, on the previous
evening, near seven o'clock, she saw deceased, with her other children, playing in the
yard, on her going to look for them, about ten minutes afterwards, the deceased was
missing, and she discovered him in a little tub in the wash-house, in which a small
quantity of water had been left, with his face and hands at the bottom, quite dead.
A surgeon was immediately sent for and applied the usual remedies, but without
avail. The tub was used for washing the children, and the unfortunate deceased was
very fond of being washed in it, and of playing with the water. Verdict, “Accidentally
suffocated.”

1849
th
Sat 30 June
THE NELSON MONUMENT
On Monday afternoon, about five o’clock, when the mould from Mr. Carew’s noble
design of the Death of Nelson, which is to occupy the principal face of the base of the
column in Trafalgar-square, was completed, the molten bronze was most successfully
applied to the various apertures, and in a few minutes the various portions of the
principal figures of the composition were faithfully secured in enduring bronze. The
metal was supplied to the founders, Messrs. Christy, Adams, and Hill, of Rotherhithe,
from the Government stores at Woolwich, the chief portion of which consisted of guns

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