Page 376 - Reading Mercury

The monthly meeting of the Town Council was held on Thursday last week in the
Council Chamber, Wokingham, the Mayor (Mr. W.B. Mower) in the chair. There
were also present the ex-Mayor (Councillor White),Aldermen Wescott, Phillips, Sale,
Seaward, P. Sale and E. Ifould.
In answer to Coun. P. Sale who enquired what the Lighting Sub-Committee had
done with regard to the extension of time for repayment of the loan. The Mayor stated
that they had received a mass of correspondence from the Local Government Board,
who agreed that a deputation should be received from the Town Council. The Sub-
Committee with Mr. Jones, the valuer, had waited on the Board. Mr. Jones pointed out
the injustice of such a short time being allowed for repayment of the loan for the
purchase of the Gas Works, and also laid a written statement before the Board
explaining why extra time for repayment should be granted. The deputation was very
courteously received, and the Local Government Board promised to consider the
matter carefully. He (the Mayor) believed that the reason why the time of repayment
had been put at so short a time (20 years) was that the existing works were old and the
Local Government Board probably thought the Town Council might build a new gas
works instead. As the Council did not wish to do that, he was quite sanguine that the
time of repayment would be extended.

th
Sat 8 Dec
GAS WORKS
In the Gas Works Committee report the chief point was that the Local Government
Board had agreed to sanction at once the borrowing of the £6,444 required for the
purchase of the Gas Works. There was some discussion on the arrangements for the
purchase; the appointment of a manager and certain steps taken by the company. The
report was adopted.

1895

th
Sat 5 Jan
SOUP KITCHEN
A handbill has been issued by the Mayoress stating that good soup can be obtained
at the Coffee Tavern two days in the week at a nominal sum during the cold weather.

TOWN COUNCIL
The Mayor offered to present new dials and the necessary apparatus for illuminating
the Town Hall Clock, provided the Corporation would undertake the future lighting
The offer was unanimously accepted.
(N.B. A plate recording the mayor’s generosity was later fixed to the clock.)

th
Sat 16 Feb
THE SEVERE FROST AND THE PREVAILING DISTRESS
The Mayor of Wokingham has opened a fund for the relief of the poor of the
parish who are in distress owing to the continuance of the severe weather. He will be
grateful for subscriptions.

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