Yarmouth Notes Part 81

May 28th.-On Her Majesty's Birthday, the Rifle Volunteers under the command of Major Orde had fired a _feu de joie_ in the Market Place, and the Artillery, under the command of Captain William Danby-Palmer, had fired a salute of 21 guns from the South Battery. In the evening the officers messed at the Crown and Anchor, when the following were among the guests present-The Mayor (C. Woolverton, Esq.), the Deputy-Mayor (S.

Nightingale, Esq.), Rev. B. Vaux, J. C. Smith, Esq., E.N.M., C. Diver, Esq., (Town Clerk), Captain Cubitt, Captain Alderson, N.M.A., Major Foreman, C. J. Palmer, Esq., and I. Preston, Esq.

June 4th.-The following had been the result of the East Suffolk Election:-

Lord Mahon (Con.) 3,456 Sir A. S. Adair, Bart. (Lib.) 3,285

Captain Alderson and Lieutenant Partridge, of the Norfolk Artillery Militia, had given a Ball at the Town Hall.

June 11th.-The Nottingham Order of Odd Fellows had held its annual festival at the Corn Hall, Bro. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., P.I.F., taking the chair, supported by Bros. Moxon, E. P. Youell, W. Laws, W. J.

Foreman, W. T. Fisher, J. H. Fellows, J. Bracey, and Mr. Wilts.h.i.+re.

Mr. Cattermole (Librarian) had been presented with a testimonial in the shape of a watch of the value of 25 and a cheque for 31 10s.

June 15th.-Admiral Smyth, R.N., had resigned the office of Pier-Master after 35 years service.

June 18th.-The decision of the Local Government Board being in favour of Mr. F. Danby-Palmer's contention, and against that of Mr. Cufaude, consequent thereon Mr. Neave was ent.i.tled to his seat at the Board of Guardians.

June 22nd.-The brigantine "Ethel" had been launched from Mr. Rust's yard.

June 25th.-The officers of the Norfolk Artillery Militia had given a grand Military Ball at the a.s.sembly Rooms.

Mr. C. S. D. Steward and party had caught 10 perch on Ormesby Broad, four of which weighed 12lbs.

The Yarmouth Co-operative Society was in liquidation, and Mr. Lovewell Blake, the liquidator, had summoned several of the contributors for arrears of call.

July 2nd.-Quarter-Master Doughty, Colour-Sergeant Chipperfield, Sergeants Lay and Wilshak and Privates Harpour and Wales had been selected to go to Wimbledon.

Mr. I. Preston, accompanied by his friend, Mr. T. M. Baker, had sailed for Holland in the river yacht "Otter."

July 16th.-The opening services in connection with the New Middlegate Congregational Church had taken place. The Rev. J. C. Harrison preached from Psalm cxvi., 12 and 13; the cost of this building, &c., (less sale of old material) had amounted to 3,515 8s. 8d.; the architect was Mr. J.

T. Bottle, the contractor Mr. William Hood, and the sub-contractors Messrs. Burgess, Dumbleton, Sargeson, and Barge.

The luncheon, in connection with the event, was held at the "Crown and Anchor," when the Rev. W. Tritton presided; about 250 persons were present, addresses were delivered by the Chairman, the Rev. J. C.

Harrison, the Rev. Dr. Mellor, and Messrs. S. W. Spelman, J. Crossley, J.

T. Bottle and others.

July 23rd.-The D Troop B Brigade of the Royal Horse Artillery had arrived at the Southtown Barracks under the command of Colonel Mitch.e.l.l, comprising 150 officers and men with 120 horses and 6 guns.

July 27th.-Upon Mr. Neave attending to take his seat at the Board of Guardians a "scene" took place, several members accusing Mr. Cufaude of partiality, which that gentleman indignantly denied.

August 13th.-Mr. Attwood had been returned as a Councillor for the St.

Andrew's Ward without opposition, in the place of Mr. Richmond deceased.

August 20th.-The following officers and men of the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers had gone to s...o...b..ryness:-Captain Commandant William Danby-Palmer, Lieutenants T. Burton Steward and T. M. Baker, Sergeant Smith, Corporals Harrison and Sadd, Bombardiers Steward and Sayer, Gunners Allc.o.c.k, Millican, and Woodhouse.

Captain Youell had (after eleven years' service) retired from the Rifles.

Sept. 3rd.-A meeting had been held to raise a fund for the sufferers by the Franco-German war. The Mayor, the Vicar, Dr. Vores, Mr. J. H. Orde, Mr. C. C. Aldred, the Rev. W. Griffiths, and Mr. S. W. Spelman took part in the proceedings, and upwards of 100 was raised in the room.

Sept. 17th.-Mrs. Gray had bequeathed by will 100 to the Hospital, 19 19s. to the Sailors' Home, and 10 to the Lying-in Charity.

Upwards of 60 boats had delivered fish at the Wharf, the price being 16 to 22 per last for fresh fish.

Sept. 24th.-The Queen's bounty had been forwarded to Mrs. Spurge.

Oct. 5th.-At a meeting held at the Turk's Head, J. Scott, Esq., in the chair, Mr. F. Danby-Palmer and Mr. Hinchman Hammond had been selected as candidates to contest the St. George's Ward in the Liberal interest.

Mr. J. Petts, R.N., had resigned his command in the Coastguard after 40 years' service, twelve of which had been spent in Yarmouth.

Oct. 15th.-No minister had attended at St. Peter's Church to perform service in the afternoon of Sunday.

The old Jetty had been lengthened 60 feet.

Mr. E. Stagg (one of the Councillors for the Regent Ward) had died.

149 13s. 6d. had been raised for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Sergeant Berry (of the Police).

Mr. S. K. Smith had landed from one of his boats 24 lasts of herrings, which sold for 264.

It was calculated that some 2,000 French fishermen were then in Gorleston.

Oct. 26th.-Mr. Robert Rising (of Horsey) had been elected a Haven and Pier Commissioner in the place of Mr. Burroughes resigned.

Nov. 5th.-Owing to the extension of the franchise and the "split" in the Conservative camp, the Munic.i.p.al Election had excited a good deal of attention, as the following report shows:-

"MUNIc.i.p.aL ELECTION."

As was expected, these elections were fought out with considerable spirit, the town throughout the day presenting all the aspects of a contested general election, cabs duly placarded with the names and claims of the candidates rus.h.i.+ng about the streets in all directions _en route_ to the various polling-places or committee-rooms.

In the North Ward the Conservatives were early at work, and were enabled to put their candidates considerably ahead, Messrs. Wors.h.i.+p and Hilton counting a formidable majority at an early stage of the contest. The friends of Messrs. Neave and Blyth were, however, far from dismayed, and worked with a degree of zeal that certainly deserved if it did not ensure success. In the course of the afternoon the Conservative majority had been greatly reduced, and it looked at one time as if Mr. Neave's return would have been secured.

The aspect of things nerved the Conservatives to renewed efforts and enabled them to keep ahead of their opponents, the result being the return of their candidates, Messrs. Wors.h.i.+p and Hilton.

In the Market Ward the greatest excitement prevailed, popular feeling being in favour of Mr. J. Norman (L) and Mr. I. Preston. The latter, although a Conservative, came forward on independent grounds, and as opposed to the compromise that has been entered into for the return of Messrs. Norman and Combe. The last-named gentleman was brought out under the auspices of that section of the Conservative party, better known as the "clique," which evoked the determined opposition of the "independent" portion of the party. There was another candidate in the person of Mr J. Garratt (L), but that gentleman retired at an early stage of the contest in favour of Mr. Combe.

Soon after the commencement of the polling, it became evident that Mr. Norman's election would be safe, and that the real fight would be between Messrs. Combe and Preston. The last-named had a large staff of energetic supporters, and he was soon placed in a majority which no efforts on the part of his opponents could break down. The result, therefore, in this ward was the return of Messrs. Norman and Preston, which must be regarded as a great blow to the dominant section of the Conservative party, who strained every nerve to carry their man.

The contest in the Regent Ward was of diminished interest as compared with the other parts of the town, and resulted in the return of the Conservative candidates, Messrs. Barber and Tomlinson. Against these gentlemen were arrayed Messrs. Woodger and Page; but the candidature of the two last-named was carried on in a sort of guerilla fas.h.i.+on that evinced little confidence in a successful result, and their respective chances will be found very fully ill.u.s.trated in the returns given at the close of the poll.

In the St. George's Ward the battle was between Messrs. Doughty and Baker, (C), and Messrs. Palmer and Hammond (L). Here a most determined fight was made, the Liberals commencing the business of the day in a style that evidently meant winning. Soon after the first hour's polling, Messrs. Palmer and Hammond took a commanding lead, and although the utmost zeal was evinced on the part of their opponents, they kept increasing their majority until by noon it had a.s.sumed such proportions as to place the issue of the contest beyond all question. The result was unexpected, and created quite a sensation among the Conservatives, who chagrined at the turn of affairs in the Market Ward, were little prepared for this fresh source of annoyance and discomfiture.

In the Nelson Ward there was no contest, Messrs. Woolverton, (C), and Stone (L) being unopposed.

The election in the Southtown or St. Andrew's Ward was provocative of the usual excitement, the Gorlestonians coming out in considerable force, and testifying their Conservative or Liberal proclivities in the liveliest manner. The candidates were Messrs. Steward and Hammond, (C), as opposed to Messrs. Beevor and Nelson. The contest was well fought throughout, and resulted in the election of the Conservative candidates.

In celebration of the victory in the St. George's Ward, the Liberals paraded a band, which did honour to the occasion by playing a selection of popular music through the princ.i.p.al streets.

OFFICIAL DECLARATION.

The official swearing-in of the newly-elected members took place on Thursday afternoon, the proceedings creating more than their wonted interest from the expectation of a "scene." These antic.i.p.ations were fully realised. Previous to the commencement of the usual routine, Mr. J. F. Neave, one of the defeated Liberal candidates in the North Ward, addressed Mr. S. Nightingale, and, in a tone of considerable vehemence, charged that gentleman and his supporters with having secured the election by unfair practices by bringing forward individuals to personate voters who were dead or at sea, or by other means equally discreditable. The scene which ensued was of the most lively character, some half-dozen Councillors speaking at once.