Page 305 - Reading Mercury

important work as the drainage of the town would be more efficiently managed by a
Local Board chosen from the inhabitants of the district.
The Board have accordingly given notice that their inspector (J.T. Harrison, Esq.,
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C.E.) will attend at the Town Hall, on Monday, the 28 April, to receive the evidence
of any persons interested in the inquiry.

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Sat 7 June
ST. PAUL’S PARISH CHURCH
On Whit Sunday the new south aisle of St. Paul’s Church was opened. The Church
was consecrated in 1864, having been built, as is well known, at the sole expense of
Mr. Walter MP. Towards this new aisle the parishioners have contributed £250, and
the rest of the expense, which has been large, has been borne by the patron, with his
accustomed liberality. By this enlargement further accommodation for 98 adults, and
about 40 children have been provided. It is a token of the good feeling which prevails
in this parish that the appropriated sittings in front of the pulpit were given up in order
that all that part of the church might be free. The holders of those sittings accepted
others allotted to them in the new aisle. We understand that Mr. Walter does not
consider the church yet finished. The aisle on the north side is at once to be
commenced, and it is hoped that the close of the year will see the Church completed
and inferior to none in the neighbourhood in beauty and accommodation. The work
has been carried out under the superintendence of Mr. Deacon, from plans prepared
by Mr. Woodyer.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT
On Thursday afternoon last an important vestry meeting of the Parish of
Wokingham was held, to determine whether or not the Local Government Act should
be adopted within the entire parish. The Local Government Board require the decision
of this question before they will entertain any application to allow the Act to be
adopted within a smaller district, comprising the town and its suburbs as desired by
many of its inhabitants. There were about fifty ratepayers present, and the Rev.
Edward Sturges was unanimously chosen chairman. The requisition of the ratepayers
to the churchwardens, and the notice by the latter convening the meeting having been
produced and read, Mr. J.L. Roberts, at the request of the chairman, briefly explained
the present position of the question and stated what had transpired since the last vestry
meeting. He also read a correspondence with the Local Government Board, which had
resulted in the calling of the present meeting. The chairman then explained that in
compliance with the conditions of the Act it became his duty to propose to the
meeting “That the Local Government Act be adopted within the Town and Parish of
Wokingham,” and then invited an expression of opinion from all those present. The
meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. Wheeler, the Rev. J T Brown, r Dunning,
Mr T May, Mr S Sale, Mr E Morres, Mr E Lane, Mr H Lane, and others.
Great diversity of opinion seemed to prevail as to the effect in a pecuniary view of
the adoption of the Act by the whole parish, instead of a more restricted area. An
amendment was put and lost for the adjournment of the meeting, when the chairman
put the original resolution for the adoption of the Act in the entire parish, when there
appeared 21 in favour of it, and six against it, whereupon the chairman declared the
resolution carried. Mr. Henry Lane having demanded a poll it was resolved to take the
votes in the manner prescribed by the Act, that is, by means of voting papers, and it
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was stated the votes would be declared on Thursday, the 26 inst.

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