Page 296 - Reading Mercury

Sat. Feb 10th
RAILWAY FARES
The London & South West Railway Company have announced in their time tables
this month that they carry third-class passengers by every train. This is a boon to the
poorer class of travellers and a concession to the public wants most honourable to the
Board of Directors as the inconvenient hours at which the third-class passengers are
compelled to travel on most of our railways is a serious hardship on those whose
circumstances compel them to avail themselves of cheap fares.

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Sat 9 March
THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE TOWN
We lately reported at considerable length the proceedings at an inquiry held by J.T.
Harrison, Esq., the inspector appointed by the Local Government Board to inquire
into the sanitary state of this town, in consequence of a petition presented to the Board
complaining of the defective drainage, and the alleged insufficiency and impurity of
the water supply. Evidence of a most conflicting nature was adduced, and at the close
the Inspector took with him four specimens of water for analysis, which he had
selected from different parts of the town. The report of the inspector has been looked
for with much curiosity and anxiety, as it was felt that the future interests of the town
would be much affected by the nature of the report, and the steps requisite to remedy
any defects that might be found. This report has now arrived, and it has been
deposited with the Assistant-overseer for inspection. A Vestry meeting is summoned
for Thursday next at three o’clock, in the Town-hall to take the document into
consideration. The following is a copy of the report. It demands the serious and
attentive consideration of the inhabitants:--

Copy:
Local Government Board, Whitehall, S.W.
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29 February 1872
Sir,--I am directed by the Local Government Board to forward herewith to the Vestry,
as the Sewer Authority of Wokingham, for their information; a copy (enclosed) of Mr.
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Harrison’s Reports on the Inquiry held by him at Wokingham on the 16 and 30
days of January last, in pursuance of the petition from inhabitants, ratepayers and
owners of property in the district, alleging default on the part of the Sewer Authority,
in respect of the water supply and sewerage thereof.
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I am to call the attention of the Vestry to the 49 Section of the Sanitary Act, 1866,
and to the duty thereby upon the Local Government Board when complaint is made of
default by a Sewer Authority.
I am to request that the Vestry will, forthwith, show cause why an Order should not
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issue on the matter, in pursuance of the Petition and of the 49 Section of the Sanitary
Act, 1866.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) T. Taylor
To the Clerk of the Vestry, Wokingham, Berkshire.

SANITARY ACT 1866
Wokingham, Berkshire
Report on a Petition presented by certain Inhabitants, Ratepayers and Owners of
Property in the Special Drainage District, comprising the Town and part of the Parish

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