Page 348 - Reading Mercury

of the bad lighting, to put in larger burners, and three larger ones had been put in.
Councillor Hall had reported that the cost of oil would be 1s. 2d. per week, and for 80
lamps for 12 months this would amount to £232 13s. 4d. Labour, wicks, glasses, &c.
would cost at least £110 a year more. Half the lamps were cleaned and filled only
every alternate day, and he did not wonder at the bad light, as half the town was in
half darkness every alternate night. If the new burners were not kept cleaned and
trimmed every day they would be as bad as the old ones. He moved a resolution that
the lighting of the town by oil was most expensive and unsatisfactory, detrimental to
the business and general welfare of the town, and a disgrace to the council.
Councillor Hall questioned the accuracy of Ald. Wescott’s figures, and said the cost
of 1s. 2d. for oil was during only one half of the year. He (Mr. Hall) had been taunted
with stating that he could light the town with oil for £90 a year; so he could, if the
original hours had been adhered to. Ald. Wescott had not given him a chance of
meeting this report. The treasurer’s book showed £101 for oil last year; he himself put
it at £102. He maintained that the best system was to let the lighting. As to the bad
lighting in January, it was for the outside public, if they had any complaint, to
complain in a proper manner.
Councillor Sale and Ald. Moorcock, as members of the Lighting Committee,
protested against the way the committee had been treated, and asked for a vote of
confidence.
After a heated discussion,
Ald. Martin proposed and Councillor Heelas seconded a motion expressing
confidence in the Lighting Committee, and requesting them to continue their duties
till the end of the year. This was carried unanimously.
The council afterwards transacted some formal business.
The proceedings during the discussion of the lighting question were very stormy,
several members at times speaking loudly together, and personal remarks being freely
interchanged.

th
Sat 4 Feb
FIRE BRIGADE SUPPER
The annul supper of the Wokingham Voluntary Fire Brigade was held at the Rose
Hotel on Monday evening. Mr. Ifould (the Captain) took the chair and in addition to
the other members of the brigade there were also present the Mayor of Wokingham,
the ex-Mayor, Mr. S. Watts, and Mr. White.

th
Sat 18 Feb.
SIR EDWARD WALTER AND THE COMMISSIONAIRES
Sir Edward Walter commanding the Corps of Commissionaires, who for the last
four months has been travelling through Northern India in connection with his
schemes for providing employment for old soldiers, left Calcutta for Madras last
Sunday. He will proceed thence to Australia. I understand, (says the Calcutta
correspondent of the Times) that his enquiries are likely to have a most useful result
and if he succeed in opening a prospect of work for time-expired soldiers in Australia
he will have conferred a distinct benefit upon the British Army in India.

DEATH OF MISS FLORENCE WALTER
We learn with regret that a telegram has been received from Colombo to the effect
that Miss Florence Walter, third daughter of Captain Sir Edward Walter, died after a
short illness on board the P. and O. steamer, Robilla, on the voyage from Calcutta to

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