Page 217 - Reading Mercury

th
Sat 18 Dec
Messrs Weeks and Simmons held their first Agricultural Sale on Tuesday last: the
morning was auspicious, and a very numerous company assembled together. There
was a considerable quantity of live stock, of good quality, numbering upwards of 800
head, and some useful dead stock, a large part of which was sold, at fair prices. The
place of sale being elevated, dry, and convenient, is admirably suited to the purpose.
We understand it is intended to hold similar sales, periodically, an arrangement which
promises to prove a convenience to the agriculturalists of the neighbourhood, and a
very general satisfaction appears to be felt concerning it.

CAUTION
An attempt at imposition has been lately made by some swindler, upon respectable
parties resident at Wokingham, who represented himself to have been a great loser by
the late floods, that 80 sheep and other cattle had been swept away from pastures at
Basildon. The party arrived on horseback and presented a petition, with a forged list
of subscriptions, amongst which were the names of the Vicar and churchwardens of
Basildon, and other respectable subscribers. Enquiries were, however, made before
any relief was advanced, and the fabrication was soon detected. It is always advisable
to institute similar enquiries, before any relief is given to these begging petitions.

1853
th
Sat 15 Jan
DINNER TO THE AGED POOR
On old Christmas day the aged poor of this town, were provided with a dinner and
tea, by the liberality of Mr. Thomas A. Readwin, formerly resident here. More than
fifty persons were invited, who, with a few exceptions, had all numbered 70 years and
upwards, their united ages amounting to about four thousand years. At one o’clock a
table was spread with the old Christmas fare—beef and plum pudding—in a room
belonging to the Roe Buck Inn, kindly lent by Mr. Wigg, for the occasion; the Rev. W.
Hirst, Assistant Curate of Wokingham, presiding. All those prevented by infirmity or
other cause from attending personally, had their share of the dinner sent home. The
afternoon was spent in cheerful conversation: tobacco and snuff were supplied to such
as chose to enjoy themselves in that way.
At four o’clock all present partook of tea. The proceedings of the day were closed
with an appropriate address from the Rev. W. Hirst, and at six o’clock the company
separated much pleased with the treat, and thankful to Mr. Readwin, for his good
cheer. The arrangements necessary for making the old people comfortable were well
carried into effect by the assistance of several ladies to whom great credit is due.

SMASHING
th
On the 7 inst. two men called at the Shoulder of Mutton public house at Binfield,
and attempted to pass a bad half-crown to the landlady, but it was returned to them.
The occurrence was witnessed by Mr. R. Benning of Binfield, who, suspecting from
their manner, that they were regular smashers, followed then to Wokingham, and
reported the particulars to William Belson, one of the constables, who, in company
with Mr. Benning, found two men at the Royal Exchange, in Down Street. Belson
asked one of them for the half-crown they had tried to pass at Binfield, which he
stated he had since passed, and on searching him the constable found in one pocket
twelve half-crowns and ten shillings, all counterfeit. The coins were carefully wrapt in

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