Page 336 - Reading Mercury

THE BOROUGH CHARTER
The new Charter of Incorporation creating the Borough of Wokingham has at length
been issued from the Privy Council Office, and duly received in the town. By its
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provisions 12 Councillors will have to be elected on Monday, the 2 November next,
and on the 9th November the first Mayor will be chosen. By the scheme of the Charter
the boundary of the new Borough is a co-extensive with the limits of the present Local
Board, whose functions and duties will merge in the new Corporation in November,
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although we believe, the present Board will continue in existence until the 25 of
March next. We can but hope that the new dignity attained by the town will tend to
increase its importance and prosperity, and that the enlarged powers and duties
conferred may be judiciously carried out, so that the Borough of Wokingham, which
is beyond doubt one of the oldest chartered Corporations in the Country, may long
continue to flourish.

THE RECORDERSHIP
We understand that the learned Recorder of Wokingham, Sir George Russell, Bart.,
having been adopted as the Conservative candidate for the County, to fill the vacancy
caused by the elevation of Sir R. Loyd Lindsay to the Peerage, has resigned from the
Recordership, lest it might be thought that the office gave any political advantage.
Although appreciating the sense of honour which has prompted Sir George’s
resignation, many of the inhabitants would have wished that he had continued in
office until the dissolution of the old Corporation in November next when the office
would have come to an end with the other old Corporate offices. The new Corporation
has no separate Commission of the Peace, but if it should petition for that privilege a
new Recorder would have to be found.

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Sat 22 Aug
FIRE BRIGADE COMPETITION
Four members of the Wokingham Volunteer Fire Brigade, Messrs. Ifould, Brant,
Green and Caiger attended the Grand Competition at Shoreham, under the auspices of
the Brighton Fire Brigade, on Monday last when 28 brigades from different parts of
the country competed. In the two-man drill Messrs. Caiger and Brant obtained the first
place performing the work in the exceedingly short space of 43 2/5 seconds. In the
four-man drill the Wokingham Brigade obtained the fourth prize, their time being 45
4/5 seconds.

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26 September
DEATH OF MR. EDWARD NICHOLSON
We regret to announce the death of Mr. Edward Nicholson which took place on
Friday morning.

Sat 3rd Oct
THE NEW CHARTER
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The municipal election on the 2 of November is causing considerable excitement
in Wokingham. We understand that about 25 candidates have already been nominated.
The members of the Local Board have been nominated in a body by ten of the
Burgesses. The time in which nominations can be handed in closes this (Saturday)
afternoon. Great satisfaction is expressed at Wokingham being chosen as the place of
nomination of Parliamentary candidates for the Wokingham Division of Berkshire.

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