Page 371 - Reading Mercury

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Sat 11 March
RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT
A railway signalling box is in course of erection at the station (S.E.R.) when the
signals will be worked upon improved principles.

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Sat 18 March
BERKSHIRE DAIRY SCHOOLS
A Dairy School under the auspices of the Royal counties Agricultural Society, will
be opened in the Drill Hall, Wokingham on Monday next, the first course of lessons to
last ten days. Particulars are advertised.

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Sat 25 March
OPENING OF A DAIRY SCHOOL
Under the auspices of the technical committee of the Berks. County Council a dairy
school for Wokingham and the neighbourhood was started under very favourable
circumstances in every respect. Mr. T.M. Wescott, the popular and energetic
representative of Wokingham on the County Council, took the matter in hand, and
with the kind co-operation of Mr. Alderman Walter, of Bearwood, made excellent
arrangements. Mr. Arthur F. Walter having kindly granted the use of the Drill Hall for
the purpose, and a more suitable building could not have been found
The full complement of ten students—eight females and two males—formed the
class on Monday morning, when all the various appliances which have been used at
the other dairy schools in the county were placed in position, the art of butter-making
being demonstrated in a very lucid and practical way by Miss Walsh, who has
conducted the other schools in so able a manner.
Mr. E. Simmons was present as representing the Berks County Council, and there
was no formal opening. Each day the proceedings have been watched with much
interest by many ladies and gentlemen of the district, and Mr. Wescott has filled the
duties of local steward to satisfaction. On the last day of the school there will be a
special prize competition, open to students who have attended an entire course. There
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will be a second course of instruction commencing on Friday, April 14 , for which
there are already several entries.

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Sat 27 May
INTERESTING MUNICIPAL FUNCTION
(Presentation of Mayor’s Chain)
Some four years ago an attempt, which at that time met with anything but an
encouraging reception, was made to provide a Mayoral chain for the Borough of
Wokingham. The matter fell into abeyance for a time, but the promoters—who felt
that such insignia were necessary to the maintenance of civic dignity, pretty well
every other Corporation in the Kingdom owning a chain of office for its chief
magistrate—stirred the question from time to time, and at last Ald. Heron took upon
himself to collect the necessary fund, which he quickly succeeded in doing, the High
Steward (Mr. John Walter), Sir George Russell, M.P., the Rector of Wokingham, the
Rev. J.T. Brown, Mr. Murdoch, Mr. D. Heelas (deputy-Mayor of Reading), and other
gentlemen being amongst the first and most liberal of the subscribers. A committee
was then formed, and, ultimately a very handsome chain was manufactured to their
order by Messrs. Garrard & Co., of the Haymarket, while out of the surplus fund
Messrs. Earle & Co., of Chancery-lane supplied a fitting robe of office for the Mayor.
The chain is of silver-gilt, of very handsome design, and has as a pendant a fine

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