Norfolk Annals
Chapter 149 : 12.-Died at Bedford, Colonel Vincent Matthias, Madras Army, aged 73.Born at Norwich, h

12.-Died at Bedford, Colonel Vincent Matthias, Madras Army, aged 73.

Born at Norwich, he was of a family of fifteen, and nine of his brothers entered either the Navy or Army. He was appointed a cadet in 1810, and received his commission as ensign on August 24th, 1811, Colonel Mathias'

service extended over a period of more than thirty years. He was an ardent sportsman, and while in India made a valuable collection of natural history specimens, which he presented to the Norfolk and Norwich Museum.

15.-The proceedings of the Town Council relative to the Norwich sewerage scheme commenced this year with the payment to Mr. P. E. Hansell, solicitor, of 205, the amount of taxed costs allowed to the informants in obtaining the injunction restraining the Corporation from putting sewage into the river Wensum. On the 22nd the Council, after considerable debate, decided that the dry earth system advocated by Mr.

Edward Boardman was not applicable to the district. The Court of Reference appointed by the House of Commons to try the merits of the Norwich Local Board of Health Bill with reference to its engineering details and the estimated cost of the proposed works, commenced its investigations on March 11th. The object of the Bill was "to provide for the better sewering of the city and the applying of the sewage to the irrigation of land." The referees reported to the House on the 14th that the works and estimates were sufficient for the objects proposed. The Bill was before a Select Committee of the House of Commons on March 13th, and on March 26th it was, with certain amendments, reported to the House.

(_See_ January 28th, 1868.)

16.-A deep snow caused considerable inconvenience to railway traffic. A train from Norwich to Lowestoft came to a standstill in the Mutford cutting, and was not got out until the afternoon of the 17th. The snow drifted to the depth of seven feet upon most of the lines, some of which remained closed for three days. Many of the roads were impa.s.sable for vehicular traffic, and in some instances the mail bags were carried across country on foot. Great distress prevailed amongst the poor, and special funds were raised in several towns for their relief. At Norwich the amount contributed was 2,227. On the 22nd a rapid thaw commenced.

FEBRUARY.

14.-Sir S. W. Baker, the discoverer of the sources of the Nile, delivered a lecture at St. Peter's Hall, Norwich, upon the political condition of Egypt. The Mayor presided over the large audience, who accorded a warm reception to Sir Samuel, who, at that time, was a resident in the county.

MARCH.

19.-The boiler of an engine at work in a field near Watlington Station exploded, killing five persons outright, and injuring seven others, two of whom died on the following day. Such was the force of the explosion that the boiler was blown a distance of forty yards. It was proved at the inquest that the accident resulted from the tying down the safety-valve.

29.-Charles d.i.c.kens appeared at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, and read, before a numerous audience, "Dr. Marigold" and the trial scene from "Pickwick."

APRIL.

5.-Mr. Sothern appeared at Norwich Theatre, in the character of Lord Dundreary. On the 6th he performed the part of David Garrick. The house was crowded to excess on both occasions.

22.-Mr. Loveday's English Grand Opera Company commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. Madame Haigh-Dyer was the _prima donna_, and Mr. and Mrs. Aynsley Cooke were of the company. The works produced included "Robert le Diable," "The Fairy and the Cobbler," "The Puritan's Daughter," "The Barber of Seville," "Faust," "Don Giovanni," "Satanella,"

"The Quaker," &c.

24.-Lord Hastings and Mr. Anthony Hamond, masters of Norfolk foxhounds, were entertained at dinner at the Corn Hall, Fakenham, "in appreciation of their efforts to provide sport during the season." The Earl of Leicester presided.

MAY.

8.-Died at Yarmouth, aged 76, Lieut. William Simpson, R.M., of North Walsham. He was one of the officers who received the Emperor Napoleon on board the Bellerophon, on July 15th, 1815.

14.-A great public meeting, in support of the United Kingdom Alliance, was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, and was addressed by General Neal Dow, who had taken a prominent part in the pa.s.sing of the Maine Liquor Law.

18.-A meeting of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, presided over by Mr.

C. S. Read, M.P., was held "to discuss the future aggregate representation of the county in Parliament, in the event of the loss of three of its borough members," namely, of two on the disenfranchis.e.m.e.nt of Yarmouth, and of one on Thetford being const.i.tuted a "single membered"

borough. The following motion was adopted: "That the attention of the Chamber having been directed to the clauses in the Bill before Parliament for the redistribution of seats, it is resolved that the proposal to take away three members from the county is unjust, and that the most strenuous efforts be made to retain twelve members, to which it is justly ent.i.tled, by reason of its population, wealth, and importance." It was announced on June 15th that, under the redistribution scheme, Norfolk would in future have three divisions, namely, West, North-East, and South-East.

The Boundary Commissioners appointed under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act held inquiries at Thetford on September 24th, at Norwich on September 27th and October 9th, at Lynn on October 2nd, and at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, on October 7th. (_See_ June 18th, 1868.)

21.-Died at West Bilney Hall, Mr. Thomas William c.o.ke. He was born in January, 1793, and was the eldest son of Edward c.o.ke, of Longford, Derbys.h.i.+re. In his youth he was frequently at Holkham, and was long regarded as heir to the estate, but this prospect ended by the marriages in 1822, of his uncle, Thomas William c.o.ke (created Earl of Leicester in 1837), to Lady Anne Keppel, the issue of which was the large family of whom the present Earl is the head. Mr. c.o.ke was very popular, and in early life was a fearless and accomplished horseman.

24.-The Queen's birthday was observed at Norwich by a parade of the Volunteers and the firing of a _feu de joie_ in the Market Place. The Volunteers were entertained at dinner at the Drill Hall, 700 old people were invited by the Mayor and Sheriff to a feast at the Corn Hall, and luncheon was served at St. Andrew's Hall for many of the leading residents in city and county.

28.-A modified observance of the old custom of "beating the bounds" took place in the parish of Colkirk. "The existence of t.i.the maps and other circ.u.mstances halving rendered actual perambulation comparatively unnecessary, the circuit of the parish was omitted; but two brief services were held in the pretty green lanes at the opposite extremities of the parish, and were attended by 60 or 70 persons, including the little children of the village school, who marched through the village singing hymns, preceded by a modest banner." An address was given at both services by the Rev. W. A. Chapman.

JUNE.

4.-Died, at the age of 53, Dr. W. H. Ranking, formerly of Norwich. He was descended from a family living on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk, who had for three generations been engaged in the practice of medicine.

Dr. Ranking received his early education at Hastings, and subsequently entered the University of Cambridge. After spending some time in the hospitals of Paris, he settled at Bury St. Edmund's, and became physician to the Suffolk General Hospital, a post which he filled for seven years.

After the death of Dr. Lubbock, Dr. Ranking removed to Norwich, and became physician to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and editor of the Journal of the Council of the Provincial Medical and Surgical a.s.sociation. "He was a most uncompromising enemy to quackery in all its forms, and he always testified to the absurdity of what he considered the fas.h.i.+onable humbug of the age-h.o.m.opathy."

19.-The annual show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation commenced at Fakenham, and was continued on the 20th. By special permission granted by the Privy Council, at the request of a deputation introduced on May 9th by Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., cattle were exhibited under certain restrictions. At the dinner, presided over by the Earl of Kimberley, Mr.

E. C. Bailey was presented with a handsome testimonial, on his resignation of the office of secretary, after twenty-five years' service.

24.-The First Administrative Battalion of Norfolk Volunteers, commanded by Col. James Duff, encamped in Hunstanton Park.

JULY.

5.-Mr. J. L. Toole commenced a two nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre, and appeared in "The Spitialfields Weaver," "Ici on parle Francais," and "The Area Belle."

6.-Died, in his 70th year, at his residence, Surrey Road, Norwich, Mr.

William Day, who for upwards of forty years had held the office of magistrates' clerk.

9.-Died, Sir George James Turner, the senior Lord Justice of Appeal. He was born at Great Yarmouth in 1798, where his father, the Rev. Richard Turner, was for thirty years vicar. His education commenced at the Charterhouse (of which he was afterwards a governor), and finished at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where his uncle, Dr. Joseph Turner, Dean of Norwich, was then master. In 1819 he took his degree as wrangler, and was soon afterwards elected a Fellow of Pembroke. Having entered at Lincoln's Inn, he was called to the Bar in 1821, and became Queen's Counsel in 1840, and from 1847 to 1851 sat in the House of Commons as member for Coventry. In 1851 he was selected as a Vice-Chancellor, and in 1853, when Lord Cottenham was appointed Lord Chancellor, he was promoted Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal. Sir George married in 1823, Louisa, youngest daughter of Mr. Edward Jones, of Brackley, Northamptons.h.i.+re.

AUGUST.

1.-A new lifeboat, the cost of which had been generously defrayed by a lady residing at Bath, was launched at Sheringham. It was named the Duncan, and was housed in a commodious building, with reading-room attached for the use of the fishermen.

8.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Byles, Hubbard Lingley, aged 22, was indicted for the murder of Benjamin Black, his uncle, by shooting him at Barton Bendish, on May 17th. The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to death. The execution was carried out by Calcraft, on the Castle Hill, Norwich, at eight a.m. on August 26. "The holding of an execution upon Monday instead of on the market-day (Sat.u.r.day) is a vast improvement, but it is to be hoped the time is not far distant when executions will take place within instead of outside the prison walls." (This was the last public execution in Norwich.)

-Died at her residence, at Weybridge, Mrs. Austin (Sarah Taylor, of Norwich). She was born in 1793, and married, in 1820, Mr. John Austin, a barrister on the Norfolk Circuit. A miscellaneous writer of some repute, she never aspired to original literary compositions, but devoted the singular power of her pen to the reproduction in English of many of the best contemporary works of German and French literature. Her translations, from the German especially, were of the highest excellence.

12.-Chapel Field, Norwich, which had for some months been closed to the public, was re-opened. Several portions of the old city wall had been removed, and railings erected, and efforts were also made to level the area.

14.-The Norfolk and Eastern Counties Working Cla.s.ses Exhibition and Industrial Festival was opened at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Watson). The exhibition consisted of works of art, industry, and mechanical invention, and remained open for one month.

30.-Mr. George b.u.t.tler Kennett, formerly of Great Yarmouth, was appointed clerk to the justices of Norwich, in place of Mr. William Day, deceased.

SEPTEMBER.

4.-A new lifeboat, named the "Licensed Victualler," was launched at Hunstanton. Its cost was defrayed by a fund inaugurated by Mr. James Wyld, editor of the "Licensed Victuallers' Guardian."