Page 309 - Reading Mercury

With great regret we have to announce the death, on Tuesday night, at his seat,
Easthampstead Park, of the fifth Marquis of Downshire. He had long been in
declining health, but he was only 29 years of age, and it was hoped almost to the end
of last year that he might regain strength. The deceased Arthur Wills Blundell
Trumbull Sandys Hill, Marquis of Downshire, Earl of Hillsborough, Viscount
Hillsborough and Kilwarlin, and Beron Hill of Kilwarlin, county Down, in the
peerage of Ireland, also Earl of Hillsborough, Viscount Fairford, county Gloucester,
and Lord Harwich, Baron of Harwich, Essex, in that of Great Britain, Hereditary
Constable of Hillsborough Fort, was born December 24, 1844, and succeeded to the
marquisate on the death of his father, August 6, 1868.
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The late lord entered the army as cornet and sub-lieutenant in the 1 Life Guards in
1866, and retired from the regiment in 1868. The late marquis married on July 26,
1870, Georgiana Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. J Balfour of Balbirnie, county Fife,
by his wife Lady Georgiana, daughter of the Earl of Cawdor. He is succeeded in the
marquisate and honours by his son, born in July 1871.
The Post says the death of Lord Downshire was hastened, it is feared, by the shock
sustained on hearing that the fall of his horse, Harlequin, had caused the injuries
which proved fatal to Lord Rosemore. All knowledge of the sad occurrence was kept
from the noble marquis as long as possible, as it was naturally feared that the shock
would prove serious to him in his weakened condition.

THE GOOD TEMPLARS
On Tuesday evening a Good Templar entertainment was given in the Town Hall,
when the society engaged the assistance of Mr. W. Dunn and Miss Lizzie Dunn. The
programme consisted of vocal and instrumental pieces interspersed with anecdotes
suitable to the Templar cause, entitled “Happy moments, or a night in Sober-land.”
The audience appeared much pleased with the entertainment.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
At length the Local Government Board have announced their decision on the
memorial addressed to them by a portion of the ratepayers, praying that the outlying
parts of the parish of Wokingham might be excluded from the district proposed to be
constituted under the Local Government Act. By an order issued by the Board they
assent to such request, and order that the district shall be limited to the boundaries set
out under the Sewage Utilization Act—that is the town and its suburbs. The order
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further states that the Act shall come into force within the said district on the 6 April,
and appoints Mr. Edward Frankum to be the summoning Officer to take the necessary
steps for conducting the next election of a Local Board for the new district.
It will thus be seen that this long-protracted business is now decided, and the future
management of the local affairs of the town will vest in the board now to be elected.

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Sat 11 April
FUNERAL OF THE MARQUIS OF DOWNSHIRE
On Sunday morning the remains of the Marquis of Downshire arrived at
Hillsborough Castle, County Down, from Easthampstead Park. They were taken
across from Fleetwood in the steamer Thomas Dugdale, which reached Belfast at
seven o’clock. The coffin was in a hearse which was immediately brought ashore,
and, four horses having been yoked to it, proceeded for Hillsborough, which is distant
about eleven miles. Amongst those who accompanied the remains, was Lord Arthur

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