Norfolk Annals
Chapter 157 : 6.-A new type of traction engine (Thompson's patent) was tested in the streets of

6.-A new type of traction engine (Thompson's patent) was tested in the streets of Thetford by Messrs. Burrell, of the St. Nicholas Ironworks.

"The peculiarities of the engine consist of its wheels, three in number, being fitted with a length of indiarubber, six inches thick and twelve inches wide, covered with steel and kept on the wheels by endless chains.

The great use of these indiarubber tyres is to give elasticity."

8.-Mr. George William Perrepoint Bentinck, of Davies Street, Berkeley Square, London, was, at Swaffham, returned unopposed to fill the vacancy caused in the representation of West Norfolk by the elevation to the Peerage of the Hon. Thomas de Grey.

10.-A storm of great violence swept over the Eastern coast, and strewed the sh.o.r.es from Yarmouth to the Humber with wrecks and drifting spars.

"Off Yarmouth vessel after vessel went down bodily with all hands, and left no clue as to their names or of the ports to which they belonged."

Six Lynn vessels were lost in the Deeps. On this day large flocks of wild geese and swans, with mallards and widgeon, were seen in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth, and the stormy petrel was observed.

20.-The nomination of candidates to fill the vacancy caused in the representation of Norwich by the unseating of Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett for bribery took place at the Guildhall. Sir Charles Legard, of Ganton, Yorks.h.i.+re, was the Conservative, and Mr. J. J. Colman, of Carrow House, Norwich, the Liberal candidate. The show of hands was in favour of the latter, and a poll was demanded by Sir Samuel Bignold, on behalf of the Conservative nominee. The election took place on the 21st, with the following result: Colman, 4,637; Legard, 3,389.

28.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, a report was received from a special committee appointed on January 17th to consider the question of the necessity of a School Board for the city. The committee stated that after communication with the Education Department of the Privy Council, they considered the appointment of a School Board for the corporate district to be inevitable. Mr. Tillett moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. Youngs. Mr. Priest moved, and Dr. Copeman seconded, a resolution-"That, in the opinion of the Council, a School Board is not at present desirable, and that they see no sufficient reason why it should be inevitable." Mr. Tillett's motion was carried, by 29 votes to 5. (_See_ April 12th.)

-The Norwich Town Council authorised the Sewerage and Irrigation Committee to borrow a further sum of 10,000 for the completion of the drainage works. On April 17th the works were used for the first time for delivering sewage upon the land at Kirby Bedon.

MARCH.

3.-The foundation-stone of the new pa.s.senger station for the Great Eastern, the Midland, and the Great Northern Railways, at King's Lynn, was laid by the Mayor (Mr. E. E. Durrant).

8.-Died at his Norfolk seat, Melton Constable, Jacob Henry Delaval Astley, twenty-third Baron Hastings. His lords.h.i.+p, who was in his 49th year, succeeded his father in 1859. He married, in 1848, the Hon.

Frances Diana Manners Sutton, daughter of Viscount Canterbury. He took no part in public affairs, but he was much esteemed for his amiable disposition, and deservedly popular in the county for the spirited manner in which he promoted field sports, and for his courteous bearing as a Master of Foxhounds. Having no issue, his lords.h.i.+p was succeeded by his brother, the Hon. and Rev. Delaval Loftus Astley, of East Barsham.

9.-At Norwich Police Court, Richard Hoskins, a clerk in the employment of the National Provincial Bank of England, was charged with feloniously stealing divers sums, amounting altogether to 1,835, the moneys of his employers. The magistrates consented to deal with the case summarily, and, on the prisoner pleading guilty, he was sentenced to six months'

imprisonment, with hard labour.

10.-Mr. Henry Haigh's Opera Company, with Madame Haigh-Dyer as _prima donna_, opened the Easter season at Norwich Theatre with a performance of "The Grand d.u.c.h.ess."

15.-Died at his residence, St. Andrew's, Norwich, Mr. James Newbegin, aged 51. He was Chairman of the Norwich Board of Guardians, and was possessed of considerable scientific attainments. Mr. Edward Field was elected to the chairmans.h.i.+p of the Board on April 17th.

21.-The marriage of Princess Louise was celebrated at Norwich by the ringing of bells and by the partial decoration of the city. The Town Council, at a special meeting, adopted a congratulatory address for presentation to the Queen, and in the evening the Scottish residents in the city held a banquet at the Norfolk Hotel. "Although a number of their English friends were invited to join it, the gentlemen from North of the Tweed a.s.sembled in sufficiently preponderating numbers to give a distinctive character to the gathering, and the whole of the arrangements were carried out by a committee of Scotchmen." The "Number Twenty-Four"

Club also dined at the same hotel, and the event was similarly celebrated at Yarmouth, Lynn, and Thetford.

26.-Died at Morningthorpe, Mr. Edward Howes, member of Parliament for South Norfolk. Born July 7th, 1813, he was the eldest surviving son of the Rev. George Howes, rector of Spixworth, his mother being a daughter of Mr. Robert Fellowes, of Shotesham Park. From St. Paul's School he proceeded to Cambridge, and came out high in the list of Wranglers of his year (1835); in 1836 he was elected a Fellow of his College (Trinity), and three years after was called to the Bar. In 1859 Mr. Howes was returned without opposition for the Eastern Division of the county, in conjunction with Colonel c.o.ke, and in 1865 he was again elected, with Mr.

Clare Sewell Read as his colleague. In 1868, when the county was subdivided, Mr. Howes and Mr. Read selected the Southern Division, and were again returned. Mr. Howes was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese on the death of Mr. Chancellor Evans; he was a Chairman of Norfolk Quarter Sessions, and one of her Majesty's Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

He married first, in 1842, Agnes Maria, daughter of Mr. Richard Gwyn, who died in 1843; and secondly, in 1851, his cousin, the fourth daughter of Mr. R. Fellowes, deceased, by whom he left a son and a daughter.

APRIL.

1.-Died, in his 88th year, Mr. George Samuel Kett, of Brooke House. He served the office of High Sheriff in 1820, and was a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of the county.

4.-Died, suddenly, while on a visit to Norwich, Mr. G. Middleton, of Wimbledon. Mr. Middleton, who was a magistrate of the city, served the office of Mayor in 1859.

11.-The dedication-stone of a new church at Harleston was laid by Mr.

Sancroft Holmes. The building was designed to accommodate 400 persons, and the contract amounted to 3,150, exclusive of fittings. Mr. Phipson was the architect, and Mr. Grimwood, of Weybread, the contractor.

-The nomination of candidates to fill the vacancy in the Southern Division of the county, occasioned by the death of Mr. Howes, took place at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich. Sir Robert Jacob Buxton, Conservative, and Mr. Robert Thornhagh Gurdon, Liberal, were nominated. The polling took place on the 14th, and resulted in the return of the Conservative candidate. The official declaration was made at the s.h.i.+rehall on the 17th, as follows: Buxton, 2,868; Gurdon, 2,547.

12.-The first School Board election took place at Norwich. "There was a total absence of excitement, and not much interest was shown." The following candidates were elected:-Mr. J. H. Tillett, Mr. H. Morgan, Mr.

H. Birkbeck, Mr. J. W. Dowson. Mr. T. R. Pinder, Mr. R. A. Cooper, the Rev. Hinds Howell, Mr. A. J. N. Chamberlin, Mr. C. J. Bunting, the Rev.

E. P. Costello (Roman Catholic), the Rev. A. C. Copeman, the Rev. J. W.

L. Heaviside, and Mr. J. C. Barnham. The unsuccessful candidates were Mr. John Youngs, Mr. F. Paul, the Rev. G. S. Barrett, and the Rev. A.

Jessopp. On April 27th Canon Heaviside was elected Chairman, and Mr.

Barnham Vice-Chairman; and on May 22nd Mr. E. P. Simpson was appointed Clerk.

15.*-"In consequence of the Purchas judgment, the clergy of Yarmouth intend to wear the surplice in future instead of the black gown when preaching. This resolution was carried into effect during Pa.s.sion week, and on Easter Sunday at the various churches. At St. John's, St. James', and St. Andrew's churches the black gown has long been discarded."

18.-The sale of the stud and foxhounds of the late Lord Hastings, at Melton Constable, attracted an enormous number of persons from all parts of England. About 4,000 was realised. On the 19th the daily cows and red and fallow deer were sold for 1,600.

21.-Died at his residence, the Crescent, Norwich, the Rev. Samuel t.i.tlow, vicar of St. John Timberhill and rector of St. Peter Hungate, aged 78.

Mr. t.i.tlow was a native of Harleston, and was seventh Wrangler in the mathematical tripos of 1817. Ordained deacon in the same year, he was appointed curate of Broxbourne, and in 1818 received priest's orders. He came to Norwich in 1819, as mathematical master at the Grammar School, under Dr. Valpy, and held the curacy of St. Clement. Mr. t.i.tlow afterwards opened a school in Pottergate Street, which he carried on for several years with great success. In 1831 he was appointed to the vicarage of St. John Timberhill, and in 1839 the Lord Chancellor presented him to the rectory of St. Peter Hungate.

22.-Died at his residence, h.e.l.lesdon House, Norwich, Mr. John Norgate, a warm supporter of the benevolent and educational inst.i.tutions of the city, and a good judge of the fine arts.

27.-A great meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Watson), "for the purpose of protesting against the Intoxicating Liquors (Licensing) Bill introduced into the House of Commons by the Home Secretary, Mr. Bruce." The princ.i.p.al speakers were Sir Samuel Bignold, Mr. W. P. Nichols, Mr. S.

Gurney Buxton, and Mr. H. Patteson. Resolutions were adopted affirming that the Bill was unjust in its character and indefensible in its confiscating the rights of property, and ought to be opposed by every const.i.tutional means, and that it was an undue interference with the rights, liberties, and necessities of the working man, and inconsistent with the true spirit of freedom.

MAY.

7.-Died, at Great Plumstead, Robert Maidstone, in his one hundredth year.

For the last twenty years of his life he was postmaster of the village, and had served for more than half a century the office of parish clerk.

13.-The census returns for Norwich were published on this date. The number of houses inhabited was 18,328; uninhabited, 1,117; building, 181; the total population was 80,382-males, 36,583; females, 43,799.

17.-Snow fell at Norwich, "and the weather was more like that of midwinter than of the merrie month of May."

18.-The sale of the late Lord Walsingham's Merton herd was conducted by Mr. John Thornton. Forty-six cows realised 1,906 16s., and eleven bulls, 402 3s., a respective average of 41 9s. and 36 11s. 2d. The total amount was 2,308 19s. The Southdown flock was sold by Mr.

Thornton on June 29th. The highest price paid for a yearling ram was 180 guineas, and the total amount realised 5,489 15s.

21.-Died, at St. Augustine's, Norwich, Mr. John Sultzer, in his 69th year. Since the year 1839 he had carried on an extensive manufacturing business; he was a magistrate of the city, a member of the Town Council, and chairman of the Norwich Waterworks Company, and of the Board of Management of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Mr. Sultzer was a native of Leicester, and at the age of 25 settled in Lichfield, of which city he was Mayor at the time of the Coronation of Queen Victoria. In politics he was a Liberal.

24.-The Queen's birthday was celebrated in the customary manner at Norwich. The Royal Horse Artillery and Volunteers were reviewed on Mousehold, and the Mayor and Sheriff, besides entertaining a large number of guests at the Drill Hall, gave a dinner at St. Andrew's Hall to 1,200 of the aged poor.

JUNE.

7.-A rifle match between two teams of 22 men each, representing the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, took place on the Billingford range, East Dereham, and was won by Norfolk by 589 points against 562.

20.-A fine barque, cla.s.sed A 1 at Lloyd's for fourteen years, named the Oleander, was launched from the s.h.i.+pyard of Mr. J. H. Fellows, at Southtown, Yarmouth. The vessel was 440 tons builder's measurement, and 386 tons register, 133 feet in length, and 27 feet beam, and was intended for the South African trade.

21.-The annual show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation commenced at East Dereham, and was continued on the 22nd. It was the most successful that the society had held. Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., presided at the public dinner, which took place at the Corn Hall.