Part 30

19.--The first really notable journey upon a bicycle was performed by Percy Everett, of Ryburgh, a lad aged 16. He started at 4.45 a.m. from Ryburgh station, and rode to Newmarket, where he had breakfast; thence to Whittlesford, where he lunched; and at 5.30 p.m. he reached Ware, in Hertfordshire, having accomplished the distance of 110 miles in about 12.5 hours. Everett rode one of the first of the rubber-tyred bicycles--a machine of Coventry make, known as the "Aeriel."

20.--Died, Mr. Edmund Harbord Lushington Preston, Mayor of Great Yarmouth. Mr. Preston was born in 1806, at the period when the Hon. E. Harbord (second son of the then Lord Suffield) and Mr. Stephen Lushington were returned to Parliament as members for Yarmouth--hence two of his Christian names. After the passing of the Municipal Reform Act, he was one of the first burgesses returned to the Town Council on Conservative principles, and, with the exception of a short period, from November, 1868, to November, 1869, he continued to be a member of the Corporation. Mr. Preston was for twenty years one of the magistrates of the borough, and a member of the Port and Haven Commission.

27.--The Blake-Bignold incident occurred at the Norwich Police-court. Mr. Blake, on September 2nd, was charged with assaulting a publican, and fined, and, on his leaving the court, was followed by a mob, who endeavoured to overturn the cab in which he had taken refuge.

28.--Lord Walsingham, while shooting on Blubberhouse Moor, Yorkshire, killed with his own gun 842 head of grouse, between the hours of 5.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The birds were driven, and before one o'clock 550 had been bagged.

29.--A portion of the Reserve Squadron, consisting of nine ironclad war vessels, under the command of Admiral Randolph, entered Yarmouth Roads, and sailed on the 30th for the Nore. The officers and men numbered 4,500.

--A 300 yards swimming match took place at Thorpe, between John Morris, ex-champion of England, and "Victor Natator, the champion under-water performer," for 10 a side. "Natator" received ten yards' start, and, after an exciting race, was beaten by three yards.

SEPTEMBER.

2.--Died at Slough, Buckinghamshire, aged 95 years, Mrs. Anne Rigby, widow of Dr. Rigby, of Norwich, whom she survived 51 years.

5.--The Norwich Board of Guardians, after a long and acrimonious discussion, agreed, on the motion of the Rev. A. C. Copeman, seconded by Dr. Bateman, to accede to the request of Professor Humphrey, of Cambridge, that he be supplied, for the purposes of dissection, with the unclaimed bodies of persons who died in the Workhouse. At a meeting on October 3rd an attempt was made to rescind the resolution, which, however, was confirmed by 16 votes against 12. On December 12th a third debate resulted in the rescission of the original motion by one vote.

9.--The first election in the Eastern Counties under the new Ballot Act took place at Great Yarmouth, when a councillor was returned to fill in the Town Council the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Preston.

10.--Lord Walsingham was presented by his Merton tenantry with an address of welcome upon his return after a prolonged visit to America.

16.--Norwich Theatre was opened for the winter season, under the management of Mr. G. H. Chaplin. "It has been our lot to witness some very indifferent acting upon the Norwich boards, but we never remember having seen a whole company (with the exception of Mr. Chaplin) so thoroughly destitute of histrionic talent, or so wretchedly poor in the dresses whereby to represent the characters."

--The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced with an evening performance of the "Festival Te Deum" (composed in celebration of the recovery of the Prince of Wales) and of "The Creation." The morning performance on the 18th was "Elijah," on the 19th "St. Peter" (first time of performance in Norwich); and on the 20th "The Messiah." On the evening of the 17th a grand ballad concert took place, and on the 18th and 19th miscellaneous concerts. The principal vocalists were Mdlle. Tietjens, Mdlle. Florence Lancia, Mdlle. Albani, Madame Patey, Madame Trebelli-Bettini, Mr. W. H. Cummings, Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. Kerr Gedge, Mr. J. G. Patey, and Mr. Santley. Sir Julius Benedict conducted. The Festival ball was held on the night of the 20th.

25.--Great rejoicings took place at Gunthorpe, in celebration of the return of Mr. and Mrs. E. Bowyer Sparke, from their wedding tour. The squire was presented by the tenantry with an illuminated address.

27.--Died, Mr. John Longe, of Spixworth Park. He was the second son of the Rev. John Longe, vicar of Coddenham, Suffolk. Educated at Norwich Grammar School, under Valpy, and subsequently at Cambridge, he succeeded to the estate in 1828, on the death of the widow of his cousin, Mr. Francis Longe, who was High Sheriff in 1786. He married, in 1829, Caroline Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Lieut.-Colonel Warnford, of Warnford Place, Wilts., and niece of Henry, fourth Viscount Ashbrook. As a Valpeian, Mr. Longe always took the greatest interest in the success of the Norwich Grammar School, of which he was a governor. He was a Deputy-Lieutenant of the county, and for some years captain in the East Norfolk Militia, and was succeeded in his estates by his brother, the Rev. Robert Longe, vicar of Coddenham, who was born in 1800.

--A heavy gale prevailed off the East coast, and many shipping casualties were reported.

28.--Died at his seat, Melton Constable, the Right Hon. and Rev. Delaval Loftus, ninth Baron Hastings, in his 48th year. His lordship had been summoned from Wiesbaden, in consequence of the alarming illness of Lady Hastings. He was at the time recovering from a severe attack of gout, and little fitted to undertake a long journey. On reaching Melton Constable he was seized with an illness which proved fatal. Lord Hastings was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and, on taking holy orders, was appointed to the family living of Foulsham, and subsequently to that of East Barsham and Little Snoring. He married, in 1848, the Hon. Frances Diana Manners Sutton, daughter of the first Viscount Canterbury, by whom he left three sons and a daughter, and succeeded to the title and estates on the death of his brother, in March, 1871. His successor was the Hon. Bernan Edward Delaval Astley, who was born in 1855, and was, at the time of his father's death, completing his term at Eton.

OCTOBER.

1.--The Norwich Town Council decided to purchase, for sewerage and irrigation purposes, a portion of the Crown Point estate, for 27,000. (_See_ February 11th, 1873.)

--Died at his residence, Cambridge House, Westling-on-Trym, Bristol, in his 77th year, the Rev. William Charles Wollaston, for upwards of thirty years rector of East Dereham. "Mr. Wollaston was the thirty-seventh and last of the sinecure rectors of Dereham, and the exceptional custom of tolling the muffled bell, which had long been held in this parish when any of its rectors or vicars died, was observed."

14.--The ceremony of laying the first rail of the East Suffolk Tramway was performed at Yarmouth by Sir E. H. K. Lacon, M.P. for North Norfolk. As originally planned, the tramway was to extend from Southtown Railway station to Gorleston, and thence to Lowestoft and Southwold, and eventually to form a junction with Halesworth. On March 22nd, 1873, it was announced: "From present appearances, it would seem that the East Suffolk Tramway scheme has been abandoned. The works have been wholly stopped for months past, and the Southtown Road has been restored to its former state." (_See_ April 1st, 1875.)

19.--At a meeting of the Governors of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the thanks of the Board were accorded to Mr. William Peter Nichols "for his able, humane, and successful services as surgeon to the charity during the last 21 years, and for the active and zealous part he has taken during the same period in promoting the general interests of the Hospital." Mr. Nichols afterwards became honorary consulting surgeon to the institution, and on March 22nd, 1873, was presented by public subscription with a valuable, silver centrepiece, in recognition of his eminent services. Mr. T. W. Crosse was elected to the office rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Nichols.

23.--The second Diocesan Conference was held at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, and was continued on the 24th, whereby the meeting in the Fakenham district was dispensed with. The remaining meetings were held at Lynn on the 25th, Ipswich on the 30th, and Halesworth on the 31st.

28.--The ceremony of opening the first school built by the Norwich School Board--the Mariners' Lane School--was performed by the Rev. Canon Heaviside, chairman of the Board. It was intended for the accommodation of 125 boys.

31.--Died at Costessey, where he laboured as a Roman Catholic priest for more than fifty years, the Very Rev. Frederick Charles Husenbeth, D.D., President of the Brotherhood, Provost of the Chapter of Northampton, and Vicar-General of the Roman Catholic Diocese. Dr. Husenbeth, who was in his 77th year, was a frequent contributor to "Notes and Queries," and was the author of many works, the best known of which was "Emblems of the Saints."

NOVEMBER.

1.--The municipal elections were, for the first time, conducted under the provisions of the Ballot Act. At Norwich, where fourteen out of a possible sixteen Conservative candidates were returned, the elections were rendered noteworthy by all the members of the firm of Messrs. Bullard and Sons intimating that in future it was their intention to adopt Conservative principles.

4.--The Prince and Princess of Wales passed through Thetford, on their way to Elveden, on a visit to the Maharajah Duleep Singh, and were received with great enthusiasm by the inhabitants of the borough.

--Mr. George Grossmith, "of the Temple, London," made the first of his visits to Norwich, and appeared at Noverre's Rooms in an entertainment entitled, "The Comic Side of Life."

9.--Sir Samuel Bignold was, for the fourth time, elected Mayor of Norwich; Dr. Frederic Bateman was appointed Sheriff.

10.--Hospital Sunday was, for the first time, observed in Norwich. The amount collected was 454 6s., 3d.

14.--The new schools of St. Philip, Heigham, Norwich, completed through the munificent donation of Mr. James Harford and his late sister, and the voluntary efforts of the friends of Church of England education, at the cost of 2,000, were opened by the Bishop of Norwich. The architect was Mr. Edward Power, of London, and the builder Mr. James Youngs.

18.--Died, in his 60th year, Mr. Henry Kett Kett-Tompson, of Brooke House and Witchingham Hall. He was the last representative of an old Norwich family, whose connection with the city dated back more than three centuries, and who during nearly two centuries were extensive brewers in King Street. Messrs. Morgan, in 1846, purchased the business of Mr. Kett-Tompson and his brother, their landed property in the county rendering it unnecessary for them to continue the brewery. Mr. Kett-Tompson was one of two sons of Mr. Charles Tompson (High Sheriff in 1827), by Juliana, second daughter of Thomas Kett, of Seething Hall, and sister and co-heiress of George Samuel Kett, of Brooke House. His grandfather was Timothy Tompson, formerly of Denton, and afterwards of Witchingham Hall. He was born in 1813, and married, in February, 1843, Margaret Amelia, second daughter of Rear-Admiral the Hon. Frederick Paul Irby, C.B., of Boyland Hall, and second son of the second Lord Boston. The name of Mr. Kett-Tompson stood first upon the list of gentlemen to fill the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1873.

19.--Died, Elizabeth Harvey, widow of James Harvey, of Rollesby, in her 102nd year.

20.--A heavy gale occurred. Several vessels were lost off Yarmouth, and a ship wrecked at Wells.

21.--A grand fancy dress ball, attended by representatives of the principal families in Norfolk, was held at Hillington Hall, in celebration of the twenty-fifth birthday of Sir William ffolkes, Bart.

24.--Died at his residence, Heigham Grove, Norwich, aged 73, Major-General Burton Daveney, formerly of the Royal Scots Regiment. He was born at Colton, in December, 1799, and obtained his commission as ensign in the 57th Regiment. In 1825 he went to Australia as lieutenant in command of a detachment which had charge of nearly 200 convicts. On the voyage small-pox broke out, and the vessel was placed in quarantine. The young lieutenant throughout a period of the greatest difficulty discharged his duties with conspicuous success. In 1830 he exchanged into the 1st Royals (afterwards the Royal Scots), and served in one or other of the battalions of that regiment for thirty-one years. He passed through the Canadian Rebellion in 1837, was present at the affairs of St. Charles and St. Eustache, and returned to England in 1841. In the Crimea, as commandant at Balaclava, his duties were so arduous that when he left, completely broken down in health, in January, 1855, the work was divided among three officers. In the absence of the colonel he brought the regiment to Aldershot, and afterwards had the honour of dining with her Majesty, to whom he was presented by the Prince Consort. He next sailed to India, and assisted in quelling the Mutiny, and returned in 1862, when he retired on full pay, with the rank of Major-General. He had seen forty-one years of active service without passing a single day on half-pay. General Daveney was the possessor of three clasps for the Crimea, the Order of the Medjidie, and several other decorations presented by the Sultan to British officers who had served in the war against Russia.

DECEMBER.

8.--A fearful storm swept over East Anglia. At Norwich and other towns in the county great damage was done to buildings; in the country trees were uprooted and stacks overturned; and on the coast there were many shipping casualties.

21.--Mr. James Bacon was elected secretary of the Norfolk Agricultural Association, in place of Mr. Cross, resigned. Mr. E. C. Bailey resigned the office of honorary director.

--A conference was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which representatives of the sanitary authorities in city and county discussed the best method of carrying out the provisions of the new Public Health Act, more particularly as to the appointment of medical-officers of health and inspectors of nuisances. It was suggested that the county be divided into seven districts, exclusive of the city of Norwich; that a medical-officer of health be appointed to each district, the election to be made by representatives of the sanitary authorities; and that a similar course be adopted in regard to inspectors of nuisances. Mr. T. W. Crosse, on January 23rd, 1873, resigned his seat in the Norwich Town Council as a representative of the First Ward, and was appointed Medical-Officer of Health for the city, at the salary of 200 per annum.

26.--A pantomime (titled not stated) was produced at Norwich Theatre by Mr. G. H. Chaplin. "The transformation scene," it was stated, "has not been surpassed for gorgeous beauty on our stage." Edmonds' (late Wombwell's) Menagerie was exhibited on the Castle Meadow.

30.--The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Holkham, on a visit to the Earl of Leicester.

31.--Colonel Peyton and officers of the 7th Dragoon Guards gave a grand invitation ball at the Crown Bank building, Norwich. It was attended by many of the leading families of the county.

1873.

JANUARY.

2.--Died at his residence, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, Mr. Claude L. Nursey, artist, the painter of the well-known pictures illustrating scenes in the early days of the local Volunteer movement. He was a son of Mr. Perry Nursey, of Little Bealings, Suffolk, and was in his 54th year.

15.--The Norwich Town Council received a letter from Whitehall, intimating that as Mr. Secretary Bruce had received no information that any steps had been taken by the Corporation for erecting a pauper lunatic asylum, he had instructed the Solicitor to the Treasury to proceed in the matter of the _mandamus_. (_See_ July 21st, 1874.)

21.--The resignation of Mr. A. W. Morant, City Engineer, and the author of the first sewerage scheme, was received by the Norwich Town Council, on his appointment as engineer to the borough of Leeds. On March 25th Mr. Christopher Thwaites, C.E., of London, was appointed to the vacant post.

27.--Died at Trinity College, Cambridge, the Rev. Adam Sedgwick, LL.D., aged 87, Woodwardian Professor of Geology. He came of a North country family, and was born at Dent, in Yorkshire. In due course he entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his Bachelor's degree in 1808, as fifth wrangler. In 1810 he was elected to a Fellowship in his College, of which at his death he was the senior member. He succeeded, in 1818, Professor Hailstone in the chair of Geology, founded at Cambridge by the celebrated Dr. John Woodward. Professor Sedgwick had been a Canon of Norwich Cathedral since 1834.

FEBRUARY.

11.--A Local Government Board inquiry was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, by Mr. R. Morgan, C.E., as to an application made by the Town Council to borrow the sum of 32,500, for the purchase of a portion of the Crown Point estate, for sewerage and irrigation purposes. The amount required for the purchase of the land was 27,500, for legal and other charges, 500, and the remainder was for erecting buildings, &c. The application was opposed by the Norwich Ratepayers' Protection League. Another phase of the sewerage question occupied the attention of the Town Council at a special meeting on May 13th, when the City Engineer presented a report stating that serious defects existed in the low-level sewer, and part of the works had given way. It was resolved to borrow 20,000, at four per cent., on mortgage of the sewerage farm, as a permanent loan for ten years. On August 19th the City Engineer submitted to the Council three alternative plans for dealing with the difficulty--(1) By plating the sewer, at a cost of not less than 17,178; (2) by reconstruction, at a minimum cost of 25,000; and (3) of providing a new lining at not less than 33,000. Up to that time the total expenditure on the works amounted to 113,000. On October 21st the Council decided to consult Messrs. Hawkesley and Bazalgette, who, on December 16th, presented a report suggesting that certain remedial works be carried out at an approximate cost of 34,000. (_See_ January 20th, 1874.)

20.--In consequence of the demand by agricultural labourers for increased wages, an important meeting of employers resident in the district of the Wayland Agricultural Association was held at Watton, under the presidency of Lord Walsingham, when resolutions were adopted whereby the meeting pledged itself to decline to recognise the system of compulsion exercised by the Labourers' Union, and to refuse any demand for higher wages made by those who were members of the Union, "although willing to give favourable consideration to any request made in a proper manner whenever circumstances might be found to justify it." It was further decided to invite co-operation from a larger area, and to form a society to be called the Wayland Farmers' Defensive Association. Similar action was taken by employers in the North Walsham district, at Swaffham, and in the Blofield and Taverham Hundreds. (_See_ March 14th, 1874.)

MARCH.

25.--The Sheriff of Norwich (Dr. Bateman) and the Mayor (Sir Samuel Bignold) attended at the Shirehall, on the conclusion of the Norfolk Assizes, when the former, addressing Mr. Baron Martin, presented his lordship with a pair of white kid gloves, in commemoration of the fact that for the first time in forty-three years the city of Norwich had had a maiden Assize. The Mayor corroborated the statement, and said that in that year, 1830, he happened to be Sheriff of the city. His lordship remarked it was extremely creditable that a city of 80,000 inhabitants should have no cases for trial at the Assizes.

29.--Two meetings were held at Norwich, in furtherance of an effort to secure a visit of the Royal Agricultural Society to the city in 1874. The Norfolk Agricultural Association agreed to suspend its own show, and to vote 500 to the funds of the Royal; and a gathering of county and city gentlemen promised subscriptions to the amount of 1,100. The Mayor authorised the secretaries to guarantee the full amount required--2,000.

29.--A fire occurred at Mr. Darken's music warehouse, Norwich, and damage was done to the amount of 1,500.

APRIL.

2.--The Docking Union Association, founded in 1839 for the purpose of promoting habits of industry and frugality and of rewarding good conduct amongst labourers, was dissolved, and the balance of 87 paid to the funds of hospitals in the county.

4.--Died at Southtown, Great Yarmouth, aged 82, Commander George Jenner, R.N. He entered the Navy in 1806, and served on board the Milan; in 1810 he joined the Desire, was at the taking of San Sebastian, and was awarded the medal for gallant service.

12.--At the All England Champion Athletic meeting, held at Lillie Bridge Grounds, London, A. R. Upcher won the quarter-mile and H. K. Upcher the 120 yards hurdle race. "This makes seven championships won by Norfolk men, namely, the walking, in 1868, by W. Rye; the four miles, in 1870, by H. C. Riches; the quarter-mile, in 1870-71-73, by A. R. Upcher; the pole jump, in 1872, by H. C. Fellowes; and the hurdle-race, in 1873, by H. K. Upcher."

14.--The foundation-stone of the Norfolk County School was laid by the Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness, with whom was the Princess of Wales, left Wolferton station by special train, and was accompanied by the Bishop of Norwich, Lord and Lady Suffield, and Viscount Newry. At Holkham the Royal party was joined by the Earl of Leicester and Lady Anne Coke, and other members of the family. At Elmham station the Prince and Princess were received by Lord and Lady Sondes. A detachment of picked men of the 3rd Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, under the command of Captain Bulwer, formed a guard of honour at the entrance to the enclosure on the school site. After an address had been read to their Royal Highnesses by Prebendary Brereton, chairman of the Board of Directors, the Prince laid the stone, inscribed, "Albert. Edward, Prince of Wales, April 14, 1873." The Lord Bishop offered prayer, and a hymn was sung, after which a large and distinguished company, presided over by the Earl of Leicester, partook of luncheon in a marquee. Their Royal Highnesses, after taking tea with Lord and Lady Sondes, at Elmham Hall, returned to Wolferton by special train. The school was opened on September 16th, 1874, when an inaugural luncheon was held, and an address delivered by the Right Hon. Earl Fortesque.

--Mr. Henry Leslie's Opera Bouffe Company commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. The pieces produced included "Lischen and Fritzchen," "Genevieve de Brabant," "The Princess of Trebizonde," and "The Brigands."

28.--The headquarters of the 7th Dragoon Guards marched from Norwich for Manchester. On the regiment reaching the Market Place, the officers adjourned to the Royal Hotel, where the Mayor, on behalf of the traders of the city, presented to Colonel Peyton and the officers a massive silver cup and an illuminated address. The cup was filled with champagne, and the officers drank "Health end Prosperity to the City of Norwich." At Costessey Park the regiment was entertained by Lord Stafford.

MAY.

6.--The depot of the 51st Regiment, from Yarmouth, arrived at Norwich and took over the Cavalry Barracks.

24.--The Queen's birthday was observed at Norwich with the customary festivities. The event was further marked by the presentation to the Mayor and Sheriff of a set of official robes, purchased by public subscription.

26.--A specially-organized company, under the management of Mr. Craven Robertson, performed the comedy of "Caste" at Norwich Theatre. "School" was also produced during the six nights' engagement. On this occasion the favourite actress, Miss Fanny Addison, made her first appearance in Norwich, and Mr. J. F. Young was a member of the company.