Page 267 - Reading Mercury

smallness of the premium renders it very difficult to find masters who were willing to
take apprentices to good trades, and the charity has consequently ceased to be sought
after by the class to whom it was originally a great boon.
The trustees have long been anxious to remedy this by an increase of the premiums
but the strict terms of the donor’s Will they felt precluded any voluntary departure
from it on their part, and the fear of the costs deterred them from applying to the
Court of Chancery. However, during the late visit of the Inspector of Charities, the
wish of the trustees was brought under his notice, and at his suggestion a memorial
has been forwarded to the Charity Commissioners who have sanctioned an alteration
by which the trustee will be able to award two premiums of £21 each at their annual
th
meeting at the Town Hall, on Monday, the 12 October next, a preference, as
formerly, being given to masters resident in Wokingham, and they will be required to
board and lodge their apprentices.

CRICKET MATCHES
th
A Match between the Wokingham and Hartley Row Clubs was played on the 9
inst., at Hartley-row, when the last-mentioned gained the victory. Score:-Hartley Row,
st
nd
1 innings 95, 2 innings, 101. Wokingham, 1st innings, 61.—The Second Eleven of
th
Wokingham defeated “The Velocipedes” on the 11 inst., on the ground of the
st
nd
st
former. Score:--Wokingham, 1 innings, 97, 2 innings, 36. The Velocipedes, 1
nd
innings, 75; 2 innings, 14.

A VORACIOUS PIKE
Last week, as H.R. Morres, Esq,, was angling in the River Loddon at Swallowfield,
his bait was taken by a large fish, which he succeeded in hooking, but which broke the
line and escaped; Mr. Morres ten put on a live gudgeon, and made a fresh cast, when
his bait was immediately seized, and after some play, Mr. Morres succeeded in
landing a fine pike with both hooks in its jaw. The fish weighed fourteen pounds, and
was in fine condition.

th
Sat 10 Oct
GREAT PEDESTRIAN FEAT
On Monday week, John Elson, a Pedestrian of Nottingham, started to walk from
Wokingham to Odiham and back, twice in one day—a distance of sixty miles, having
undertaken to accomplish the distance for six successive days, and although he had to
contend against bad roads, and at times very unfavourable weather, he manfully
struggled on and accomplished his task at 9 o’clock on Saturday night when he was
escorted into the town by a band of music. We understand Elson’s only remuneration
was a collection he made. He has undertaken to run ten miles within the hour, this day
(Saturday) at Wokingham.

1864

rd
Sat 23 Jan
PENNY READINGS
The Town Hall, crowded to excess on Tuesday evening, afforded the best testimony
that these “Readings” fully maintain their popularity, and the majority of the pieces
were received in such an enthusiastic manner as to prove to the committee that their

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