Page 278 - Reading Mercury

handsomely volunteered their services and given such a capital evening’s amusement,
which was received with enthusiastic applause, after which a vote of thanks to the
Alderman closed the proceedings.
The committee and a few friends afterwards entertained the performers (the
members of the Reading Elocution Society) to a supper, when a very social hour was
enjoyed. A wish for the recurrence of such an entertainment was expressed by all
present. The hall was well filled, and the committee of the Oddfellows Society are
certainly deserving of thanks for the way in which their anniversary meeting was
commemorated.

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Sat 16 Dec
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Christmas Day this year falling on Monday, the young men of this town, anxious to
obtain the concession of an extra holiday to enable them to visit their friends at a
distance, and enjoy a three days’ furlough, got up a requisition last week to their
employers, which was so favourably received, that a memorial signed by nearly all the
respectable tradesmen of the town, was presented to the Alderman, asking him to
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announce that a general suspension of business might take place on Tuesday, the 26
instant. This the Alderman (John Heelas Esq., jun.) promptly acquiesced in, and he
has issued a notice postponing the weekly market to the next day (Wednesday). It is
announced that the weekly Savings Bank meeting will not be held. This early
announcement will, it is hoped, obviate any little difficulty that might otherwise
occur.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT
This subject which since the official visit of the Government Inspector, in April last,
has remained in abeyance, and by most of the inhabitants been forgotten, has been
revived, and the necessary steps are being taken by its promoters, with a view to the
adoption of the Act within the proposed district. The order has been received from the
Secretary of State, defining the boundary of the district over which the Act shall
extend (which boundary has been reduced considerably within that originally
proposed) and a notice that the order and plan might be inspected at the Town Clerk’s
office for three weeks, was duly issued, and now a public meeting of the ratepayers
within the district, as settled by the order, has been convened by the Alderman to be
holden at eleven o’clock on Friday next, at the Town Hall, to decide finally as to the
adoption of the Act.
Great diversity of opinion prevails as to the desirability of adopting the Act. At the
public meeting this subject will be discussed, and the correct data and facts laid before
the ratepayers to enable them to arrive at a decision in this highly important question.

PENNY READINGS
After two seasons enjoying these pleasant entertainments, much surprise has been
expressed that no effort has been made this winter to renew them. The committee of
the Literary Institute (who before arranged them), have not taken action in the matter;
but the Working Men’s Club have announced that the first of a series of Readings will
be given in the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening. If they are judiciously arranged, they
will doubtless be largely patronised, and be as popular as formerly.

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Sat. 30 Dec
THE COMING OF AGE OF THE EARL OF HILLSBOROUGH.

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