Page 341 - Reading Mercury

application was made by him, and he would lend all his influence to make the market
successful.
Mr. Hutt thanked the Mayor and Mr. Watts for their kind expressions, and alluded
to his experience at markets in Reading and other towns. Wokingham had now got a
Mayor and Corporation, and they were going to have a cattle market, and he would
spare no effort to make it a success.

th
Sat 9 Oct
WOKINGHAM TOWN COUNCIL
LIGHTING OF THE TOWN
A special meeting was held on Monday to consider the letter received from the Gas
Company, in answer to that of the Council on the question of public lighting. The
letter stated that the Gas Company could not, without injury to the shareholders,
reduce their terms of below £2. 10s. per annum per lamp, this representing a lump
sum of £189 per annum. It was proposed by Mr. Watts and seconded by Mr. Brant,
that the offer of the Gas Company be accepted. After considerable discussion, the
matter was adjourned until the following Thursday.
At the Council meeting on Thursday there were present the Mayor, Alderman
Goodchild, Martin, and Moorcock, and councillors Heron, Sale, Johnson, Knight,
Mower, Hall, Brant, and Watts. After transacting some business relating to finance
and instructions to the Medical Officer, Mr. Johnson said he considered that a fair
amount payable for lighting the borough with gas would be £175 per annum. Mr. Hall
considered that this estimate would be very much too high. He thought £25, was too
much per annum for a man to attend to the lamps, and argued that £28 10s. was
sufficient for this purpose. Mr. Sale complained that the letter from the directors of
the Gas Company had not been handed to the Gas Committee. The original
proposition, proposed at the special meeting on Monday by Mr. Watts, was then read
by the Mayor, viz., that the offer of the Gas Company to light the 75 lamps of the
borough for £2. 10s. each be accepted. Mr. Hall proposed, and Ald. Moorcock
seconded, that in consequence of the Gas Company charging more than 5s. per 1,000
feet for their gas, the town be illuminated with oil for one year. On being put to the
Council, these voted for the amendment: Ald. Moorcock and Martin, and Councillors
Hall, Mower, Sale, and Heron. Against: Councillors Watts, Brant and Johnson; those
members interested in the Gas Company did not vote.

th
Sat 11 Dec
WOKINGHAM VOLUNTARY FIRE BRIGADE
The members of the Wokingham Voluntary Fire Brigade, assisted by a number of
friends gave a successful entertainment in the Drill Hall on Wednesday evening. Mr.
C.T. Murdoch M.P. presided and there was a large attendance. The programme, which
included in the latter part, a practical delineation of a fireman’s duty, followed by
ambulance drill was efficiently carried out. Miss Murdoch, Miss Laird, Mr. Medcalf
and Mr. H.G. Powell were warmly applauded in their songs as was also Mr. F.
Bartlett in his excellent recital of “The Fireman’s Love.” It is gratifying to learn that
the financial result of the entertainment will place a substantial balance at the disposal
of the deserving body for which it was inaugurated. Mr. W.J. Allan acted as
accompanist and also kindly lent a piano for the occasion.

th
Sat 18 Dec
RECOGNITION OF SERVICES AT A FIRE

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