Part 53

9.--Mr. William Howard Dakin was elected Mayor and Mr. Edward Orams appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

13.--Died, at Tunbridge Wells, in his 81st year, Sir S. Morton Peto. He received his baronetcy for having contracted, in December, 1854, to construct a railway from Balaclava to Sebastopol, and other works, without profit or remuneration for superintendence. He was Liberal member for Norwich from 1847 to 1855, and successively represented Finsbury and Bristol. Sir Morton Peto was a civil engineer, and formerly a member of the firms of Grissell and Peto and of Peto and Betts.

16.--Died, Mr. Charles Edward Tuck, of St. Giles' Street, Norwich, and the Grove, Blofield, in his 81st year. He was the fourth son of Mr. Thomas Tuck, of Strumpshaw Hall, and for many years practised as solicitor, and took an active part in public affairs. A Conservative in polities, he was elected in 1864 Mayor of Norwich. Mr. Tuck was a justice of the peace for the city, and vice-president of the Norwich Union Fire Office.

DECEMBER.

4.--Died, at Mount Pleasant, Norwich, Mrs. E. Ling, aged 101 years.

9.--The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived at Didlington Hall on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Tyssen Amherst.

10.--Sir Harry and Lady Bullard entertained the members of the Norwich and Norfolk Conservative Club, and their friends, to a _soiree_ given at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.

17.--At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council it was reported that notice had been received from the solicitor to the Norwich Tramways Company of their intention to abandon the tramway scheme authorised by the Norwich Tramway Order, 1887. (_See_ January 19th, 1897.)

--A resolution in favour of petitioning the Queen for an Order in Council authorising the alteration in the number or boundaries of the wards of the city, was adopted by a nominal majority of the Norwich Town Council. A majority of two-thirds of the members of the Corporation was necessary in order to make the motion effective. (_See_ July 21st, 1891.)

--Died, at Taplow, aged 62, Colonel J. E. Harvey, of Thorpe, Norwich, and Springfield, Taplow. He was the eldest son of Mr. Kerrison Harvey, and entered the Army as ensign in the 36th Regiment. He took part in the suppression of the insurrection in Cephalonia, when that island was placed under martial law in 1849, and served with the 41st Regiment in the Crimean campaign. In 1869 he was appointed staff officer of pensioners, and served in that capacity in Jersey and at Great Yarmouth until 1881, when he retired into civilian life. Colonel Harvey married, in 1858, Octavia, daughter of the Rev. Richard Stevens, vicar of Belgrave, Leicestershire.

21.--Mr. George Ginnett's Circus opened for the season at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich.

26.--Lord Hartington arrived at Westacre as the guest of Sir Henry James. After three days' shooting his lordship proceeded to Sandringham on a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and remained there until January 6th, 1890, when he left for Merton Hall on a shooting visit to Baron de Hirsch, the then tenant of the Hall. Lord Hartington was taken ill immediately on his arrival, and was confined to bed for nearly three weeks by severe congestion of the lungs. His lordship was enabled to return to town on January 30th.

1890.

JANUARY.

7.--Died, at St. John's House, Norwich, Mr. Samuel Grimmer, in his 76th year. Mr. Grimmer for many years sat in the Town Council as a representative of the Second Ward, and was chairman of the Sewerage and Irrigation Committee. He was Mayor in 1880-81, and entertained the Prince and Princess of Wales and other distinguished visitors on the occasion of the opening of the Fisheries Exhibition.

8.--Maria Brown, aged 62, wife of a labourer, was murdered at Pulham St. Mary Magdalene, by Elijah Snelling, her son-in-law. Snelling was tried at the Norfolk Assizes on March 5th before Mr. Justice Denman, found guilty, and sentenced to death. The sentence was afterwards commuted to penal servitude for life.

10.--A white-tailed eagle of nine pounds weight was shot near Wretham decoy.

--Died, at Brundall, Mr. George Lovick Coleman, in his 78th year. He was for more than half a century proprietor of a well-known drapery establishment in St. Giles' Street, Norwich. In 1843 Mr. Coleman was appointed Sheriff, and four years subsequently was elected Mayor, and at the close of his term of office was presented by the citizens with a handsome epergne in recognition of his services to the city. He took great interest in the Volunteer movement, served originally in the Rifle Corps, afterwards in the Norwich Light Horse, and finally in the Artillery, of which he ultimately became captain commandant. In his early days Mr. Coleman professed Liberal principles, but became Conservative.

11.--Mr. C. S. Read gave an address at the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, in which he adversely criticised the working of the Agricultural Holdings Act, and moved and carried a resolution affirming that the failure of the Act demanded the attention of the President of the Board of Agriculture. Mr. Read addressed the Farmers' Club, in London, on the same subject, on March 31st, when a similar resolution was adopted.

14.--Mrs. Punt, of East Wretham, the oldest pauper upon the relief books of the Thetford Union, attained her 102nd year.

18.--Many persons in Norwich were reported to be suffering from influenza. Several men at the Cavalry and the Britannia Barracks were attacked by the complaint, which, however, was not of an aggravated character.

21.--The Town Council of Norwich voted the honorary freedom of the city to Mr. William Cadge "in recognition of the services he has rendered to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and especially in the noble gift recently made to its funds." The certificate of freedom was formally presented in a silver casket to Mr. Cadge at the Guildhall on March 21st.

FEBRUARY.

7.--The Mayor of Norwich (Mr. W. H. Dakin) presided at a common hall at which a resolution was passed calling upon the Charity Commissioners to remove from their scheme certain obnoxious clauses affecting the administration of the local charities. On March 28th the Mayor received from the Charity Commissioners a letter explaining that the restrictions in the scheme against the benefits of the charities being extended to persons who were, or who had recently been in receipt of Poor-law relief, were in the view of the Commissioners calculated to encourage habits of thrift and to give effect to the well-known law against persons in receipt of Poor-law relief participating in such charities. In the circumstances the Commissioners did not consider that they would be justified in entertaining the application to amend the scheme with the view of allowing those in receipt of Poor-law relief to benefit by the funds.

15.--The Rev. O. W. Tancock, it was announced, had resigned the headmastership of King Edward VI. School, Norwich, on accepting the living of Little Waltham, near Chelmsford. He was succeeded by the Rev. E. F. Gilbard.

18.--Mr. Melton Prior, special artist on the staff of the "Illustrated London News," lectured at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, on "What I saw in Burmah."

21.--Two large granaries at North Walsham, belonging to Messrs. Cubitt and Walker, were destroyed by fire. The damage amounted to 4,000.

22.--Died, at the residence of her sister, at Weybridge, Surrey, Lady Sophia Jane Beevor, in her 66th year. She was the daughter of the Rev. Clement Chevallier, of Bedingham, Suffolk, and was twice married. Her first husband was Mr. Isaac Jermy Jermy, one of the victims of the terrible murders committed by James Blomfield Rush at Stanfield Hall on November 28th, 1848. In that outrage Mrs. Jermy Jermy narrowly escaped with her life; she was hit in the arm by a bullet, and the limb was afterwards amputated. In 1850 she married Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., and became greatly esteemed at Hingham, where she resided for many years.

24.--A military tournament given by the 20th Hussars in aid of the city charities, commenced at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, and was continued until March 1st.

25.--The Norwich Town Council addressed a memorial to the Postmaster-General praying for the cessation of the Sunday delivery of letters. The Post Office authorities declined to accede to the request.

--The City Committee recommended the Norwich Town Council to sanction the opening of St. Andrew's Hall on Sunday evenings for two months for the purpose of giving recitals of sacred music therein by and under the direction of the committee. A memorial, signed by the clergy and Nonconformist ministers, was presented, protesting against the proposal, and requesting the Corporation to receive a deputation upon the subject. The meeting declined to accede to the latter request, and the recommendation of the committee was deferred. Meanwhile sermons were preached in churches and chapels for and against the proposal, and public meetings were held at which remarkable opinions were expressed. At the adjourned meeting of the Council, held on March 4th, the committee's recommendation was negatived by 30 votes against 14.

MARCH.

1.--Severe wintry weather was experienced in Norfolk; snow fell heavily on the 2nd, accompanied by a keen north-east wind and frost of great intensity.

--The Rev. Ambrose Johnson, rector of Toftrees, arrived at Norwich for the purpose of consulting a firm of solicitors about bankruptcy proceedings. After transacting his business he was seen walking in Prince of Wales Road in the direction of Thorpe railway station; then all trace was lost of him. On the 12th the unfortunate gentleman was discovered in a shrubbery at Bramerton Hall, in a weak and emaciated condition. He was at once removed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and upon recovering somewhat, stated that he took shelter in the shrubbery during a heavy snowstorm on the 1st or 2nd, and had remained there up to the time of his discovery. His feet were severely frostbitten and he was in a most feeble state of mind and body, the result of starvation and exposure. One foot dropped off upon his admission to the Hospital, and it was found necessary to amputate the other. Mr. Johnson lingered until May 2nd, when death put an end to his sufferings.

5.--The course of "Science Lectures for the People," arranged by the Corporation of Norwich, was continued at St. Andrew's Hall. The lecturer was Mr. Louis Fagan, of the Prints and Drawings Department, British Museum, and the subject, "Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian Antiquities." The concluding lecture was given on the 26th by Mr. Henry Seebohm on "Adventures in Siberia." It was descriptive of the lecturer's travels with Captain Wiggins, whom he described as "a Norwich man whose father drove one of the coaches which ran between Norwich and London in those dark days before railways were introduced. Captain Wiggins as a young man did not think that driving a coach was sufficiently ambitious for him, and he therefore made up his mind to drive a ship." Another course was commenced on November 13th, when Sir Robert Ball lectured on "An Astronomer's Thoughts about Krakatoa." (_See_ January 6th, 1891.)

7.--The Norwich School Board agreed by a majority to petition Parliament to enact that public elementary schools be thrown open free of all charge, and that they be placed under "popular control."

12.--Died, at Old Post Office Street, Norwich, Mr. John Goldsmith Atkinson. A son of Mr. Funnell Goldsmith Atkinson, he was born July 14th, 1814, and was admitted a solicitor in the Easter Term of 1836. He represented the Second Ward as a Conservative from 1872 to 1881, and had served for twenty-nine years in the Norwich Artillery Volunteers, of which he was honorary quartermaster.

12.--Died, at Oby Rectory, the Rev. Wm. Cufaude Davie, M.A. He was born at Yarmouth on November 13th, 1822, and educated at the Grammar School in that town and at St. John's College, Cambridge. After fulfilling for two years the duties of assistant mathematical master at Eton, he was in 1846 appointed headmaster of Yarmouth Grammar School. In 1852 he became curate-in-charge of Intwood and Keswick, and from 1858 to 1875 was principal of the Norwich Diocesan Training College. Mr. Davie was closely identified with educational work in the diocese, and was a candidate for the headmastership of Norwich Grammar School in opposition to the Rev. Dr. Jessopp.

23.--Father Ignatius held a mission service at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, and on the 24th preached to a crowded congregation at the church of St. John de Sepulchre.

26.--Died, at Rokeles, Watton, Mr. Henry Woods, agent for the Merton estate. He was a well-known authority upon the breeding and management of sheep.

APRIL.

2.--A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, for the purpose of furthering the efforts made by Mr. T. W. Richardson and Mr. W. S. Warlters for the formation in the city of a bearer company of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps. A few weeks afterwards Mr. Richardson was gazetted surgeon, Mr. Warlters acting surgeon, and Mr. Frederic Mills quartermaster.

10.--The Norwich Diocesan Conference met at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, under the presidency of the Lord Bishop. The session was concluded on the 11th.

20.--Died, at Northrepps Hall, Mr. John Henry Gurney, in his 71st year. The only son of Joseph John Gurney, of Earlham Hall, so prominently associated with Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton in his efforts to abolish slavery in the West Indies, Mr. Gurney married Mary Jary, daughter of Richard Hanbury Gurney, of Thickthorn. Of the marriage there were two sons, Mr. J. H. Gurney and Mr. Richard J. H. Gurney. In 1854 he entered Parliament as member for King's Lynn, and sat for that borough until his resignation in 1865. As a naturalist Mr. Gurney was a recognised authority both in Europe and America, more especially on raptorial birds, and the magnificent collection in the Norfolk and Norwich (now the Castle) Museum owes its existence almost entirely to his energy and liberality. He was for many years a member of the East Anglian banking firm of Gurneys and Birkbecks, a justice of the peace for Norfolk, senior member of the Norwich Bench, and a magistrate for Lynn.

23.--Bellringers from all parts of the diocese assembled at Aylsham to ring opening peals on the church bells, which had been re-hung at the cost of 301.

26.--Died, at Cromer, where he was staying for the benefit of his health, Mr. Henry Blake Miller, Town Clerk of Norwich, aged 65. He was a son of Mr. Henry Miller, solicitor, of the Town Close, and had been officially connected with the Corporation since 1853. For upwards of twenty years Mr. Miller was clerk to the Board of Health, and on the death of Mr. W. L. Mendham, in July, 1876, when the two offices were amalgamated, he was appointed Town Clerk and clerk to the Sanitary Authority. Legal work of great importance had devolved upon Mr. Miller. He was entrusted with the drafting of the Norwich Act, 1867, relating to the sewerage and drainage of the city, and after his appointment as Town Clerk he prepared the way for the passing of the Norwich Improvement Act. He acted for the Corporation in the Mousehold Heath litigation, and in the dispute with the freemen as to the Town Close Estate; he had also much to do with the London and Castle Street improvements, the Chapel Field improvement, and the framing of the Norwich Corporation Act, 1889. A Liberal and Nonconformist, Mr. Miller was senior deacon of Princes Street Congregational church, and for twenty years treasurer to the Norfolk Auxiliary of the London Missionary Society. He was also some time president of the Norwich Solicitors' Amicable Society.

30.--The stables and coach-houses at Merton Hall, a range of buildings sixty yards in length, were destroyed by fire. The horses, including two valuable stallions and twelve carriage horses, were rescued uninjured.

MAY.

3.--A disorderly scene occurred at a fire at the furnishing shop of Mr. H. Cole, St. Giles's Gates, Norwich. The Chief Constable (Mr. Hitchman) was hooted by the mob, who also impeded the work of the fire brigade. The contents of the shop were destroyed.

5.--A remarkable charge was investigated at Grimston Petty Sessions. Mr. Algernon Charles Fountaine, of Narford Hall, was summoned for obstructing a railway engine "by placing himself in the four-foot-way of the Lynn and Dereham branch of the Great Eastern Railway, and making signals thereon, on March 18th, at East Winch." The defendant wished to travel to Narborough by a fast train which was not advertised to stop at East Winch, and notwithstanding the warning of the station master, he placed himself in the four-foot-way, and as the train approached made the customary signal for it to stop. The engine-driver obeyed the signal and brought the train to a standstill, whereupon Mr. Fountaine entered one of the carriages and travelled to Narborough. Proceedings were taken against him under Section 36 of 24 and 25 Vic., chapter 95, and the magistrates committed defendant for trial. On July 9th, at the adjourned Norfolk Quarter Sessions, at Swaffham, the defendant pleaded guilty, and was sentenced by Lord Walsingham to pay a fine of 25 and to enter into his recognisances of 100 to be of good behaviour and to keep the peace for six months.

10.--A fire occurred at Messrs. Boulton and Paul's timber yard at Norwich, and resulted in damage to the amount of between 4,000 and 5,000.

13.--Mr. George Buttler Kennett, clerk to the justices, was appointed Town Clerk of Norwich, in place of Mr. H. B. Miller, at the salary of 1,200 per annum.

15.--Died, at his residence, Pine Banks, Thorpe, Mr. John Oddin Howard Taylor. The son of Mr. John Oddin Taylor, he was born March 2nd, 1837, and received his education under the tuition of his uncle, the celebrated Dr. Brewer, at Mile End School, Norwich, and was afterwards placed with the Rev. Francis Valpy, rector of Garvestone. Having adopted the legal profession, he became a partner with his father in the firm of Taylor and Son. In addition to carrying on a large and responsible private practice, they acted as local solicitors to the Great Eastern Railway Company. As secretary to the undertaking for the improvement of the Cattle Market and the construction of Prince of Wales Road, Mr. Taylor discharged the duties relating to the legal and Parliamentary business with great efficiency. In October, 1862, he was appointed secretary to the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival. In collaboration with Bishop Fraser he was instrumental in bringing about a change of the law with reference to the system of employing women, and children of tender years, in hard agricultural labour. In later years Mr. Taylor devoted himself to the task of developing the fisheries of East Anglia, and was the principal author, in conjunction with Mr. Field, of the Act for the preservation of the inland waters of Norfolk and Suffolk. His literary ability was of a very high order. He was a great chess player, and as a writer on that game acquired world-wide fame by his "Chess Brilliants" and "Chess Skirmishes."

16.--Mr. Gladstone visited Norwich. The right hon. gentleman, accompanied by Mrs. Gladstone, arrived by special train at Thorpe station, where he was received by Mr. Colman, M.P., and Mrs. Colman, and by the representatives of Liberal associations in the city. On his way to Carrow Abbey, the residence of the senior member for Norwich, Mr. Gladstone was warmly welcomed by the citizens. In the evening a great meeting was held at the Agricultural Hall, under the presidency of Mr. Henry Birkbeck, at which Mr. Gladstone was presented with an illuminated address by the Liberal and Radical associations and trades unions in Norwich and Norfolk. After addressing the vast assemblage Mr. Gladstone proceeded to Stoke Holy Cross as the guest of Mr. Birkbeck. Returning to the city on the 17th, the ex-Premier visited the Castle and the Cathedral, and in the afternoon left for Lowestoft, _en route_ to Corton, where he remained as the guest of Mr. Colman until the 20th.

21.--Mr. Sims Reeves made his farewell appearance at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.

28.--Died, at Norwich, Mr. John Gunn, M.A., F.G.S., many years rector of Irstead with Barton Turf, aged 89. "It was with painful surprise that the public received a few years ago the announcement of Mr. Gunn's retirement from the Church on the ground of conscientious scruples concerning certain Biblical statements which he conceived to be irreconcilable with the teachings of Natural Science, and of his desire no longer to be addressed by his clerical title. He did not dissociate himself from the observances of religion, for he was a constant attendant at the Cathedral services." Mr. Gunn, in 1864, was one of the founders of the Norwich Geological Society, and its first president. "He has left behind him in his great collection of fossils a monument, _aere perennius_. His association with the investigation of the Mammalian remains of the Cromer beds is recorded in the classics of English geology, and will be handed down to posterity long after the fossils in our Museum have crumbled into dust."

JUNE.

2.--Major F. A. Cubitt was presented by past and present officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the 1st Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment with a silver candelabrum upon retiring from the adjutancy of the battalion, after nearly fifteen years' service.

6.--Mr. W. R. Cooper, solicitor, was elected Clerk to the Norwich magistrates in succession to Mr. G. B. Kennett, resigned.

11.--Died, at Unthank's Road, Norwich, Mr. James Calthrop Barnham, aged 82. He was descended from an old Norwich family, and one of his ancestors, James Barnham, was a Sheriff of the city in 1738. Mr. Barnham was a governor of Norwich Grammar School, and one of the original members of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society.

12.--Died, at Newmarket Terrace, Norwich, Mr. Samuel Daynes. Born in December, 1815, he was a member of the Town Council, and a persistent advocate of the adoption of the wood pavement scheme. A Guardian of the Poor, he was thoroughly versed in the details of Poor-law administration, and as a member of the School Board he displayed great earnestness as a public economist. Mr. Daynes was prominently associated with the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, and in 1851-52 served the office of "Grand Master" of that body.

--The Rev. William Pelham Burn, curate of St. Mary Abbot, Kensington, was elected vicar of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, in succession to the Rev. F. Baggallay, who had accepted the living of Holy Trinity, Weymouth.

13.--At a meeting of the Yare Preservation Society, it was resolved, "That the society be called the Yare and Bure Preservation Society, whose objects shall be the preservation of the rivers Yare and Bure, and their tributaries, from illegal fishing."

14.--Died, at Park Lane, Norwich, Mrs. Phillips, widow of Mr. Frederick Lawrence Phillips, aged 77. Mrs. Phillips was well known to playgoers of a past generation as the beautiful and accomplished Miss Ellen Daly, a favourite actress in London and provincial theatres.

--An outbreak of rabies occurred in Norfolk. A mad dog ran through the southern portion of the county, and bit several persons; it was ultimately shot at New Buckenham. On June 30th the Norwich Town Council adopted the muzzling order, and similar regulations were introduced by the Norfolk County Council. A fund was raised for the purpose of sending to Paris for treatment by Pasteur the eight persons who had been bitten by the dog. The muzzling regulations in Norwich were withdrawn in the last week in October.

19.--The annual meeting of the East Anglian, Cambridge, and Huntingdonshire branches of the British Medical Association was held in Norwich under the presidency of Dr. Beverley, who, with Mrs. Beverley, received on the 20th a large number of distinguished visitors at a garden party given by them at Brundall.

23.--Two squadrons of the 20th Hussars marched from Norwich for Aldershot. The headquarters of the regiment left on the 24th under the command of Colonel Graves.