Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 79

27.-The Marquis of Hartington visited Norwich and addressed a large meeting of the Unionist party held at St. Andrew's Hall. The Earl of Leicester presided, and was supported by several representatives of the n.o.bility and county gentry.

MARCH.

5.-Hengler's Circus company commenced a season's engagement at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich. Mr. George Gilbert, a native of the city, and Miss Jennie O' Brien (Mrs. Gilbert), members of the company, were enthusiastically received at the opening performance.

19.-The Norwich Town Council unanimously adopted a farewell address to the Very Rev. E. M. Goulburn on his resignation of the Deanery of Norwich. The address was presented to Dean Goulburn at the Deanery on April 23rd by the Mayor (Mr. J. Farrar Ranson), who was accompanied by the Sheriff (Mr. G. White) and other members of the Corporation. (_See_ July 5th.)

APRIL.

2.-The new lifeboat, Mark Lane, presented to the National Lifeboat Inst.i.tution by traders at Mark Lane, was launched at Yarmouth.

-Captain Wiggins, F.R.G.S., lectured at Norwich, upon his experiences in the Arctic Seas and Siberia. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., F.Z.S., F.L.S., who presided, introduced the lecturer as a native of the city. Captain Wiggins referred to the fact that forty-three years previously he lived as a boy at Norwich, and expressed the pleasure it gave him to return to his native town to tell them of things which he never dreamed of years ago. On the previous day Captain Wiggins was received at Marlborough House by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

9.-The Sheriff of Norwich and Mrs. White gave a _soiree_ at St. Andrew's Hall, at which many residents in the city and county were present.

12.-The Earl of Rosebery addressed a great Gladstonian meeting held at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Earl of Kimberley. His lords.h.i.+p, after making an eloquent speech in favour of Home Rule, entered Mr. J. J. Colman's carriage, and, preceded by two bra.s.s bands, and escorted by torchbearers, was driven to Carrow House.

13.-Died, at Mill Hill Road, Norwich, aged 60, Mr. James Darkin, a well-known music seller, who had been the means of introducing to the city many talented singers and musicians.

16.-In the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, before Lord Coleridge and Mr. Justice Hawkins, was mentioned the case, Ford _v._ Wiley. This case arose out of the question whether the operation of dishorning cattle, _i.e._, sawing off their horns at the roots, was cruelty within the meaning of the Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Blofield Bench of magistrates had ruled in the negative.

Lord Coleridge said: "All that we have to say for the present is that we have made up our minds distinctly and clearly to give judgment reversing the decision of the magistrates, holding as we do that the practice of dishorning is unlawful. But as we differ from several judgments we think it only respectful to the learned judges who decided those cases to say that we have duly considered everything they have said on the subject, and therefore we have thought right to take time to put our judgment into writing (though we entirely agree in it), and we will deliver judgment early in the next sitting." On May 18th the Lord Chief Justice, in delivering judgment, said the operation of dishorning was detestably brutal, and it was also unnecessary except to enable its owner to obtain a pound or two more for the animal on its sale. Mr. Justice Hawkins concurred, and the case was remitted to the magistrates for further hearing.

23.-The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise, arrived at Sandringham on a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales. His Royal Highness, with whom was Prince Albert Victor, welcomed her Majesty at Lynn railway station, where she was presented with an address by the Mayor (Mr. G. G.

Sadler) on behalf of the Corporation of the borough. On driving from Wolferton station to Sandringham House her Majesty was escorted by a large number of the members of the Norfolk Hunt, headed by Sir Dighton Probyn; and in the grounds one hundred men of the Norfolk Artillery formed a guard of honour. The officers in attendance were Colonel Lord Suffield, Major Dawson, Lieutenant the Hon. H. Tyrwhitt Wilson, and Lieutenant Lombe. On the 22nd her Majesty visited the Artillery camp in the park, and drove to Castle Rising and inspected the ruins; on the 23rd several of the neighbouring villages were visited, and in the afternoon the Queen received a deputation of the tenantry on the estate, who presented to her a loyal address; and on the evening of the 26th her Majesty witnessed a performance of "The Bells" and "The Merchant of Venice," given by Mr. Henry Irving, Miss Ellen Terry, and the Lyceum Company. Her Majesty returned to Windsor on the 27th.

25.-The Norwich Diocesan Conference was opened at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, under the presidency of the Bishop of the Diocese, and was continued on the 26th.

26.-The phonograph, described as "Edison's wonderful talking machine,"

was exhibited for the first time in Norwich, "with a unique library of voices," by Mr. William Lynd, M.I.C.E.

MAY.

7.-Died, at Norwich, aged 36, Mr. Edward Preston Willins, A.R.I.B.A. He was the youngest son of Mr. William Willins, and published a handsome volume, ent.i.tled, "Quaint Old Norwich," a work much sought after by local collectors.

9.-Lieutenant Campbell, Quartermaster of the 20th Hussars, was accidentally drowned in the Yare by the capsizing of his sailing boat, near Buckenham Ferry. His wife, who was with him at the time of the accident, was saved by his servant, Private Moore. Mr. Campbell was 33 years of age, and had been in the regiment since 1872. He had served through the Egyptian campaigns, and had received the Egyptian and Khedive's stars and the clasp for Suakim. His remains were interred at Norwich Cemetery with full military honours on the 13th. Private Moore on June 11th was presented at the Cavalry Barracks, on the occasion of a full-dress parade of the regiment, with the silver medal and certificate of the Royal Humane Society, handed to him by Colonel Blake, the officer commanding; and with a purse, containing 45, presented by the Mayor (Mr.

J. Farrar Ranson) on behalf of the citizens.

24.-The western portion of the Castle Gardens at Norwich was thrown open to the public at noon.

27.-Lydia Baker, widow, of Alburgh, completed her 100th year, and was entertained with her nearest relatives at the rectory by the Rev. C. W.

and Mrs. Lohr. Among the many presents received by the old lady was a stocking containing 100 s.h.i.+llings.

27.-Died, at Longford, Derby, the Hon. Edward Wentworth c.o.ke, aged 64. A son of the first Earl of Leicester, he for five years represented the old Division of West Norfolk, for which he was elected on August 16th, 1847, as a Liberal, in conjunction with Mr. William Bagge, the Tory and Protectionist. Mr. c.o.ke was formerly a captain, in the Scots Fusiliers, and was widely known as a breeder of s.h.i.+re horses.

JUNE.

1.-Heavy and destructive thunderstorms occurred throughout Norfolk, and especially in the western portion of the county. Immense damage was done to the growing crops.

6.-The Church of England portion of Attleborough Cemetery was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich. The ceremony had been delayed by a prolonged and unpleasant controversy.

8.-The 1st Volunteer Brigade Norfolk Artillery went into camp at Yarmouth. During the night of the 9th tents and marquees were overturned by a heavy gale from the north, accompanied by torrents of rain. The camp was struck on the 12th.

18.-The Norwich Town Council decided to purchase the Carrow Bridge undertaking, under powers conferred by the new Corporation Act, at a cost not exceeding 3,000, towards which sum Messrs. J. and J. Colman offered to contribute 1,500.

19.-The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation opened at Swaffham. Mr. Anthony Hamond was president.

21.-The Sheriff of Norwich and Mrs. White entertained 700 of the aged poor of the city to dinner at St. Andrew's Hall in celebration of the marriage of their daughter, Miss Ellen Constance White.

-Died, at Antingham Rectory, the Rev. John Dolphin, in his 85th year.

"He was among the few survivors of the University elevens that first competed for cricketing honours in the year 1827, when he played as an old Etonian captain for Cambridge."

22.-An aeronaut named Grais made a balloon ascent from the Newmarket Road Cricket Ground, Norwich, and upon attaining an alt.i.tude of about 3,000 feet descended by means of a parachute. Grais made a similar descent at East Dereham on August 10th.

25.-Died, at West Lodge, Easton, Mr. Edward Fountaine, aged 68. He was a son of Mr. Andrew Fountaine, of Narford Hall, and was much devoted to the pursuit of ornithology. Mr. Fountaine achieved some fame as a breeder of eagle owls and was a regular contributor to "The Ibis."

JULY.

1.-The sale of Mr. T. Fulcher's herd of red polled cattle was conducted at Elmham Park by Mr. John Thornton. Thirty-nine heifers realised 1,026 18s., an average of 26 6s. 7d.; and eight bulls 159 12s., an average of 19 19s.

2.-The first biennial sale of shorthorn cattle and Southdown sheep, the property of the Prince of Wales, took place at Wolferton. His Royal Highness, accompanied by Prince George of Wales, was present at the luncheon, and during the subsequent proceedings. The total amount realised for the cattle was 3,000 guineas, an average of 50 each. The sheep made high prices. Mr. John Thornton was the auctioneer.

5.-The Ven. William Lefroy, Archdeacon of Warrington, was installed Dean of Norwich in succession to the Very Rev. E. M. Goulburn, D.D., resigned.

Dean Lefroy preached his first sermon at the Cathedral on October 15th, on the occasion of the festival of the Church of England Temperance Society.

10.-Died, at Walpole House, Thorpe, Mr. William Houghton Clabburn, aged 69. He was for many years a partner in the firm of Clabburn, Sons, and Crisp, shawl manufacturers, whose products achieved for Norwich a world-wide celebrity. Mr. Clabburn was chairman of the directors of the Norwich c.r.a.pe Company, and served the office of Sheriff in 186667.

16.-The Norwich Town Council voted a loyal and dutiful address to the Prince and Princess of Wales on the approaching marriage of Princess Louise with the Earl of Fife. The wedding on the 27th was celebrated in Norwich by the ringing of St. Peter Mancroft bells, and the display of flags on public buildings. The ladies of Norfolk presented to her Royal Highness a diamond bracelet and a grand pianoforte, and the farmers on the Sandringham estate gave a handsome diamond cross.

21.-Thunderstorms were general throughout the county. At Beechamwell seventeen sheep were killed by lightning, and everywhere the ripening corn crops were greatly damaged by rain and hail.

27.-The four Volunteer Battalions of the Norfolk Regiment went into brigade camp on Rushford Heath, under the command of Brigadier-General Bulwer. The marching in state was 1,563. General Buchanan, C.B., inspected the brigade on the 30th, and the camp was struck on August 1st.

AUGUST.

1.-The chancel of Cromer church, which had been restored at the cost of 6,800, under the superintendence of Sir A. W. Blomfield, A.R.A., was re-opened.

6.-The Royal Archaeological Inst.i.tute of Great Britain and Ireland visited Norwich, and held its inaugural meeting at St. Andrew's Hall. The proceedings were attended by the Mayor and Corporation and by the members of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society. The Duke of Norfolk, as president for the week, delivered an opening address; and from this day until the closing meeting on the 15th many places of interest in the city and county were visited. On the 8th the Mayor and Mrs. Hanson gave a _conversazione_ at St. Andrew's Hall in honour of the visit of the Inst.i.tute.