Page 397 - Reading Mercury

FIRE BRIGADE
Captain A. Hill M.P. has generously presented the Fire Brigade with a pair of
massive “Salisbury Flario” lamps of 200 candlepower for use on the steam (fire
engine)“Alert”. Captain Hill’s present is much appreciated by the members of the
brigade.

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Sat 2 May
We understand that the County Authorities have recently had under consideration
the subject of improved police accommodation at Wokingham. There is room for
improvement in this respect, the present buildings being inadequate and unsuitable,
and unworthy of the centre of the important Forest Division. Negotiations for the
acquisition of a site for the buildings are said to be proceeding. The proposed site is
the ground belonging to Mr. P. Sale, and used as a nursery garden in the Rectory and
Milton-roads. If report be correct, the new buildings will be extensive, and will
comprise officers’ quarters, stables, cells, offices, and magistrates’ clerk’s office, and
court room.

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Sat 8 Aug
We understand that the offer of the Town Council of £1,500 for the purchase of
their interest in the Police and Municipal buildings has been accepted by the Standing
Joint Committee.

RESULT OF SALE
The property and business belonging to the late Mr. H. Barringer Hollis advertised
for sale in last week’s Mercury has been sold by Mr. James Watts to Mr. J.B. Pither of
Swallowfield by private treaty.

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Sat 15 Aug
WOKINGHAM TOWN COUNCIL
FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
The committee considered the question of improving the Terrace, and the surveyor
was instructed to prepare comparative estimates of the cost. It was agreed to
recommend that the central opening to the Terrace be closed for vehicular traffic, and
a flight of steps constructed at that point; that the points be removed from the water
table in Reading-road, and the road surface be made level; and that the lower chain to
the whole of the posts and chain fence be removed. The surveyor produced
comparative estimates of the cost of repairing and improving in various ways the
Terrace-road. It was agreed to recommend that the road be gravelled and made up.
The Town Clerk read a letter from the Chief Constable of Berks. (Major Poulton),
stating that the standing Joint Committee of the County Council had approved of the
recommendation of the sub-committee that the offer of this Council of the sum of
£1,500 to purchase their interest in the Police and Municipal Buildings should be
accepted.
The Town clerk read a letter from the Board of Trade, in reply pointing out that the
Board had no power to call upon the South Eastern and Chatham and Dover Railway
Company to erect a bridge at the level crossing, and calling the Council’s attention to
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the offer contained in the letter from the Company of Feb. 28 . It was agreed to
recommend that a copy of the letter from the Railway Company, promising procedure
with the erection of a bridge, be forwarded to the Board, and also that the attention of

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