Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 67

June 15th. Mr. S. Sparrow, 14 years hon. treasurer to Court Star of West (A.I.O.F.), presented by the brotherhood with a silver watch, suitably inscribed.

June 17th. Opening of the new Congregational School Room and Lecture Hall, South Howard Street. Cost, with fittings, 3,000.

June 29th. A handsome bra.s.s-bound family Bible presented to Bro.

Spanton, 10 years auditor to the St. Nicholas' Lodge (N.O.O.), as a memento of esteem.

June 31st. J. Worlledge, Esq., resigned his position as County Court Judge. On Nov. 6th he was presented with an illuminated address, with 153 signatures. He died on July 19th, 1881. T. B. Bristowe, Esq., Q.C., was appointed Judge on July 28th.

July 1st. Captain Giles, A Company, 2nd N.R.V., presented with a testimonial in commemoration of his marriage by his brother officers and privates.

July 16th. The new Drill Hall, for the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers, opened. The hall is 73 ft. by 40 ft., with orderly and committee rooms attached, each 17 by 13 ft.

July 20th. The first Gorleston Marine Regatta held in the South Ham and Roadstead.

July. On the retirement of Mr. S. Swarbrick from the office of General Manager of the Great Eastern Railway, Mr. William Birt, many years Goods Manager, succeeded to the post. Mr. Swarbrick was presented with a service of silver plate, value 250 guineas, by the heads of the department.

Aug. 14th. The _Yarmouth Independent_ permanently enlarged. (See July 28th, 1855.)

Aug. 20th. Fire at Messrs. R. and A. Brown's fis.h.i.+ng premises, Friar's Lane.

Sept. Mr. E. Hawkins resigned the management of the Southtown Tramway, and was succeeded by Mr. George Wright.

Sept. 3rd. The mail steamer "Grantully Castle" pa.s.sed outside the sands on a voyage from Leith to Gravesend, having on board the Hon. William E.

Gladstone and family. About 50 Yarmouth gentlemen went out in the tug "Meteor" to present him with an address of congratulation upon his convalescence.

Sept. Part of the original MSS. of "Swinden's History of Yarmouth" and "Mans.h.i.+p's History" purchased by T. P. Burroughs, Esq., F.S.A. (See 1772).

Sept. 18th. The old wooden Grand Stand on the South Denes totally destroyed by fire.

Oct. 2nd. The three-masted schooner "Curlew," with her captain and four of the crew, lost off Yarmouth, the result of a collision.

Oct. 4th. Heavy gale and loss of the lugger "Ebenezer" on the South Beach. About 400 worth of damage done to South Pier. On the 29th there was another gale, and many men injured and drowned at sea as well as great destruction of fis.h.i.+ng property. The Yarmouth schooners "John Snell" and "Isis" lost. The smacks "Expert," "Luna," "Mystery," "Harry,"

and "Defiance" each lost six hands. The Swedish barque "Systers," which came into port after the gale in a wretched state of dilapidation, was the best criterion of what she had encountered. The "Systers" was valued at 927 14s. 1d., and salvors were awarded 384. She was sold in London on Feb. 1st, for 295.

Oct. 7th. The wine and spirit stores and building site of Messrs. S.

Grimmer and Co., at the south-east corner of Regent Street, sold by auction, and realized 5,300, but was afterwards re-sold to Mr. Bayfield by private contract.

Oct. 15th. The resident Inspector at the Vauxhall Station (Mr. Reeve) run over by a train and killed.

Oct. 18th. The Rev. R. Nicholson, founder of the Boys' and Girls' Homes, presented with a public subscription (61) prior to leaving the town.

Oct. 18th. A petty juryman fined 5 for refusing to appear at the Quarter Sessions when summoned.

Oct. 24th. Great communion at the Parish Church, and 1,102 persons partook of the Sacrament this day.

Oct. 30th. A lad named Charles Meffin (15) fell from the inner scaffolding at the new Town Hall (26 ft.), and died from injuries received.

Oct. Cornelius Harley Christmas, a native of this town, whose property was sworn under 60,000, willed 15,800 to the poor of Great Yarmouth _for ever_, the yearly interest of which was upwards of 770, which sum was to be divided and spent every year, the week before Christmas, in coal, bread, and money. The 770 was reduced by other expenses to 696, viz., 199 for bread, 398 for coal, and 99 in money, to be distributed in wards, namely, North and South Wards each 100 coal, 50 bread, and 24 in money; Market, Regent, and St. George's each 66 coal, 33 bread, and 17 in money. Not more than 2 cwt. of coal, 1s. in bread, and 1s. to 2s. in money, to be given to one house. But "if difficulties arose through litigation, the property to be realised, and the money to be distributed among the poor of Yarmouth, not more than 20 to occupier of each house." This year nearly 8,000 cwts. of coal, 16,000 loaves, and more than 100 in money was distributed among 6,000 families, but Mr.

Christmas' death occurring afterwards (see Feb. 4th, 1881) the gift was pa.s.sed into Chancery, and the poor will have to wait its resuscitation before they get further aid. Other charities were to be benefited. (See Feb. 4th, 1881).

Nov. 4th. Several uproarious meetings of the Board of Guardians commenced, relative to the election of a registrar of births and deaths for the South District.

Nov. 8th. First burial in Yarmouth under the New Burial Law; and on Dec.

27th, the first Nonconformist was buried in the churchyard without the rite of the Church of England.

Nov. 6th. Mr. B. Press elected as an Alderman in place of Mr. P. Case, resigned.

Nov. The beautifully-carved pulpit (designed by the Vicar) in the Parish Church finished. It cost 579 14s., and was 3 years in making.

Nov. 25th. Mr. Waters presented with a marble timepiece by the senior members of St. James' choir.

Dec. 23rd. That "a cat has nine lives" was partly verified by the fact that a feline was accidentally nailed under the floor at 47, South Quay, for three weeks without food, and was taken out alive.

Dec. 25th. The dead body of a woman named Harriet Parsons (60), of Norwich, found on Yarmouth Beach. Her husband left her for 27 years, and she, believing him dead, in the interval married again; and her first husband's return home is supposed to have caused her to commit suicide.

Dec. 26th. Mr. H. T. Stonex ordained by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and licensed to a curacy at Taunton.

Launches: Jan., smack "Nellie"; Jan. 28th, smack "Silver Dart"; May 3rd, smacks "Busy Bee" and "Edith Mary"; May 10th, smack "Greenheys"; Sept.

27th, smack "Francis"; Nov. 6th, fish carrier "Bessie"; Nov. 22nd, cutter "Phnix."

Marriages: March 31st, Rev. G. Merriman, of Martham, to Miss E. S.

Steward; May 20th, Mr. G. W. Giles to Miss A. E. L. Blake; June 8th, R.

E. Pinhey, Esq., to Emily Gertrude, eldest daughter of F. Palmer, Esq., J.P.; Oct. 21st, Mr. E. H. Morgan to Miss E. K. Press, of Southtown.

Deaths: Feb. 5th, Mr. Marcus John Grimmer, aged 63; Feb. 23rd, Mr. Thos.

Todd, boatowner, aged 52; March 11th, Mr. Walter J. Lincoln, Town Hall keeper, aged 48; March 13th, Mr. Geo. Hastings, boat builder; May 28th, Wm. Danby Palmer, Esq., of Southtown, aged 46, June, Daniel Gurney, Esq., at North Runcton, aged 89; July 1st, Arthur G. W. Neale, B.A., aged 23; Aug. 27th. Hezekiah Martin, Esq., aged 86; Sept. 22nd, Mr. Wm. Hewke, many years head master at the Hospital School, aged 68; Oct. 19th, John Wilton Sh.e.l.ly, J.P., aged 70; Oct. 21st, Dr. J. Baily, aged 74; Dec., Frank Buckland, Esq., H.M's. Inspector of Fisheries, aged 54.

1881.

Jan. 6th. Mr. W. H. Willis, boat owner of Gorleston, presented with a handsome timepiece by the Pilot Lodge (M.U.O.O.), of which he was hon.

sec.

Jan. The Local Government Board consented to lend the Corporation 2,000 for wood and concrete pavements, the money spent in wood to be refunded in 15 years, and that for concreting in 20 years.

Jan. New Coastguard House on Gorleston Pier erected.

Jan. 7th. Mr. Robert Warner's sail and net stores at Gorleston destroyed by fire; damage about 3,500; and on Jan. 26th a large fire at Mr. C.

Seiver's net chamber, at Gorleston. March 28th, one occurred at Mr. T.

Gallant's, "William the IV." public house, Gorleston.

Jan. 11th. The North End Mission Room opened.

Jan. 11th. A large gallery in the north-west aisle of St. Nicholas'

Church removed.

Jan. 17th. Mr. C. H. Wilts.h.i.+re elected an Alderman in the place of the late Mr. R. S. Watling.