Yarmouth Notes Part 83

respectively.

Mr. Woodger had given 20 tons of coal to the poor in the South Ward.

Feb. 8th.-Contains the following account of the death of Robert Steward, Esq.:-

"We regret to record the death of this gentleman who expired suddenly at his residence in Cambridge, on Sat.u.r.day evening. Mr. Steward for a number of years occupied a very prominent position in this borough, having filled the office of Chief Magistrate on five occasions. He was until recently an active member of the Town Council, having represented the Southtown or St. Andrew's Ward for a lengthened period, during which time he exhibited a warm interest in all that related to the welfare of the borough. Mr. Steward was one of the first to a.s.sociate himself with the Volunteer movement, and was ever ready with his purse to aid the cause. It was the occasion of his fifth election to the Mayoralty that his fellow-townsmen determined to present him with a testimonial in recognition of his public services, and so heartily was the appeal responded to, that a sum was soon raised sufficient for the purchase of a handsome service of plate, which was publicly presented at the Town Hall. Latterly Mr.

Steward had been suffering from failing health, and had taken up his residence at Cambridge, but on all occasions when anything of public interest was under discussion he was at his accustomed post in the Town Council. Mr. Steward was a Justice of the Peace for the Borough, and also for the County of Suffolk. As a public man his loss will be much felt, for though occasionally overbearing and impetuous, his faults were overlooked in the thorough earnestness with which he applied himself to the promotion of those measures which he considered for the general good. Out of respect the flags on the Town Hall and s.h.i.+pping have been hoisted half-mast."

A quant.i.ty of human remains had been discovered in a vault in Row 112.

Feb. 11th.-A fine hare had been captured in the Market Place, after an exciting chase.

Feb. 15th.-Mr. E. H. H. Combe and Mr. Nelson had been nominated to fill the vacancy, created by Mr. Steward's death, in the Southtown Ward.

J. C. Smith, Esq., had presided at the anniversary of the "Loyal Prince of Wales Lodge," M.U.O.F., at the Market Tavern, when about sixty brethren were present.

Feb. 25th.-There were 900 boats then engaged in the fis.h.i.+ng, of the gross tonnage of 14,788 tons, manned by 4051 men and 531 boys.

Mr. E. H. H. Combe had been returned as a member of the Council for the Southtown Ward.

March 8th.-Police-constable Shreeve had met with a fatal accident by falling from the fire escape.

The pauper lunatics, 18 in number, had been removed from London to the Ipswich Asylum.

An old house in Row 132 had fallen down.

March 11th.-The late R. Steward, Esq., had bequeathed a legacy of 19 19s. to each of the following charities:-The Great Yarmouth Hospital, the Priory, St. Peter's, and Gorleston National Schools, the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the Norwich Blind Inst.i.tution, the National School Society, the Boys' Hospital School (Norwich), the C. M. Society, and the S. P. G. Society.

March 22nd.-A fine pike, weighing upwards of 25lbs., had been shot in one of the neighbouring Broads.

April 18th.-At the Guardians' Election the new and largely augmented const.i.tuency was polled for the first time. There was a regular party fight, Mr. John Cooper acting as Conservative agent, and Mr. F.

Danby-Palmer for the Liberals, the following being the result:-

_North Ward_.

J. F. Neave (L) 844 H. Blyth (L) 662 S. Nightingale (C) 662 J. T. Buston (C) 567 J. Rant (L) 542 S. Barge (C) 478 _Market Ward_.

J. A. Norman (L) 621 Wm. Laws (C) 476 J. G. Overend (L) 427 R. Dumbleton (C) 418 R. B. Ellis (C) 397 _Regent Ward_.

R. D. Barber (C) 470 W. Wors.h.i.+p (C) 426 J. H. Norman (L) 375 C. Diver (C) 367 J. Clowes (Grocer) (L) 289 R. Bryant (L) 198 _St. George's Ward_.

J. W. de Caux (L) 557 J. Scott (L) 478 J. Rivett (L) 371 W. J. Foreman (C) 298 W. Harrison (C) 248 D. Gooch (C) 244 T. Todd (C) 115 _Nelson Ward_.

F. Palmer (L) 966 C. Woolverton (C) 934 J. Bracey (C) 766 J. Clowes (Solicitor) (L) 678 W. T. Fisher (L) 534 T. C. Foreman (N) 376 G. Harvey (C) 267 J. H. Harrison (N) 8

Previous to the declaration of the numbers by the returning officer,

Mr. John Cooper, on behalf of the Conservative candidates, who had met the previous night, announced his intention not to proceed with the scrutiny before the returning officer, who had no authority to call witnesses, but stated that the whole conduct of the election would be laid before the Poor Law Board with a view to a thorough enquiry being inst.i.tuted. The election had been conducted in a fraudulent manner. Mr. Cooper, in support of his a.s.sertion, instanced the case of Hurr, one of the collectors, who, he alleged, had only returned 113 papers out of 300. Names had also been put on various papers without authority, while the collector (Hurr) had taken his papers to the house of one of the candidates, where they were examined and sorted. Another collector in the Liberal interest, named Norman, had been convicted and sentenced to twelve months'

imprisonment for robbery. Mr. Cooper went on to say that in the Market Ward (Hurr's district) upwards of twenty papers had never been called for, and he understood that there were upwards of 50 which had been signed by one person. The election had been conducted in such an unfair and scandalous manner, that the Conservatives had resolved upon demanding a Poor Law enquiry.

Mr. Livingston said it would be for Mr. Cooper and his friends to make good the allegations just made. He hoped if there had been any irregularity it would be fully enquired into.

Mr. J. A. Norman (who headed the poll for the Market Ward) supposed that Mr. Cooper had suspected the Liberals had been adopting the former tactics of their opponents, and had taken a leaf out of their book. (Laughter.)

Mr. Overend (another successful candidate for the Market Ward) denied that the papers had been sorted in the shop as alleged, and said the collector called for information.

Mr. Cufaude (the Returning-officer) said the collector ought not to have done this, as it was most irregular and contrary to the instructions given to the collectors. He then gave the return as above, and the proceedings closed.

The result has caused considerable heart-burning among the Conservatives, who have so long held the sway in all matters pertaining to local administration, and they cannot be expected to view with equanimity the storming of one of their chief strongholds by the enemy.

April 22nd.-Mr. Bowgin, who had died at the age of 90, had left a considerable sum of money to local charities.

April 26th.-At the first meeting of the recently elected Board of Guardians, Mr. Frederick Palmer and Mr. John A. Norman were respectively elected chairman and vice-chairman, in the place of Mr. C. Woolverton and Mr. W. Laws.

The smack "Sevastopol" (belonging to Mr. H. Fenner) had been destroyed by fire on the fis.h.i.+ng grounds.

Judge Worlledge had been appointed Chancellor of the Diocese in the place of Mr. Howes, deceased.

May 6th.-The _Free Lance_, a notorious local newspaper, had been proceeded against for libelling Mr. King, of Gorleston.

May 10th.-Records the death of Richard Hammond, Esq., as follows:-"It is with deep regret that we announce the death of this much respected gentleman, who expired at his residence, Regent Road, on Sat.u.r.day morning last, after a rather lengthened illness. Mr. Hammond during his long career has occupied so prominent a position, and has ranked so high in the opinion of all cla.s.ses of his fellow-townsmen, that his death, although regarded as imminent, created much sensation. The deceased, who was born in 1792, and was consequently at the time of his decease in his 79th year, was one of the oldest Magistrates of the borough, having been called to the Bench in 1841. During the long period that Mr. Hammond was a.s.sociated with the administration of justice he was remarkable for his uprightness and thorough independence of character. Wealthy, but yet conspicuous for his unostentatious mode of life, he was at all times accessible to those of his poorer fellow townsmen, many of whom were wont to seek his counsel, and advice. In the exercise of his magisterial functions, he was ever disposed to temper justice with mercy, and in his death there must be many who must feel that they have lost a true and valued friend. The deceased for many years occupied a leading position as among the most prominent, forward, yet consistent members of the Liberal party, and although he had of late ceased to take any active part in political controversies, he was always deeply interested in everything that pertained to the advancement of the cause which he had so greatly at heart. Mr. Hammond, who was largely connected at one time with the fisheries, had also a considerable stake in the s.h.i.+pping of the port, and acc.u.mulated a large property, the bulk of which will, doubtless, have been bequeathed to his three nieces, as he was unmarried. Out of respect to the deceased, the flags on the Town Hall, public buildings, and s.h.i.+pping have been hoisted half-mast, while many private families have shown similar marks of regard to the memory of the deceased."

The Guardians had decided to allow Nonconformist Ministers to visit at the Workhouse.

May 17th.-One boat had landed 1,000 mackerel, and that fish was selling at from 20s. to 25s. per hundred.

May 20th.-The late Mr. Hammond had left the following charitable legacies:-Hospital, 50; Sailors' Home, 19 19s.; Priory schools, 50; and St. John's, St. Andrew's, St. Peter's and Primitive Methodist schools, 19 19s. each.

The cost of taking the census had amounted to 110 15s.

June 3rd.-Records the death of David A. Gourlay, Esq., as follows:-"We regret to record the death of this gentleman, who expired at his residence on Wednesday, at the advanced age of 89 years. During his long connection with the town, Mr. Gourlay contrived to ama.s.s considerable wealth, having been largely connected with the s.h.i.+pping interest of the port. The deceased was a much respected member of the Liberal party in the borough, and in 1849 filled the office of Mayor. He was also a Magistrate, having been placed on the roll of Justices in 1858, and for many years represented the Market Ward in the Town Council, which position he only resigned last year. Mr. Gourlay was of a singularly quiet habit, devoting his entire time to business pursuits, which he continued until advancing years and infirmities compelled retirement.

The deceased was deeply interested in the educational movements of the town, and a few years since presented the magnificent donation of 1,000 towards the Wesleyan Schools. As a mark of respect to his memory the flags on the Town Hall and s.h.i.+pping have been hoisted half mast. The number of borough magistrates who have died since 1863 has now reached 15."

June 10th.-There had been a stormy discussion in the Council with regard to the proposal to appoint Messrs. Salmon Palmer, Garson Blake, and John W. de Caux, Justices for the Borough, when Mr. James W. Bunn moved, and Mr. C. Woolverton seconded a resolution to the effect that such appointments "would be objectionable"; and Mr. F. Danby-Palmer moved, and Mr. James Scott seconded an amendment approving such appointments, which was lost by 25 to 7 votes, those voting in the minority being Messrs. F.

Danby-Palmer, J. Scott, Frederick Palmer, J. W. de Caux, T. W. Attwood, H. Hammond, and J. A. Norman.

Mr. I. Preston's "Otter" had made a pa.s.sage from Yarmouth to Harwich, a distance of 52 miles in four and a half hours.

June 14th.-Mr. Stafford had resigned the surgeons.h.i.+p for the North District, his salary being 100; he stated that he had 2,093 paupers on his books.

June 17th.-One hundred and twenty-seven men of the R.H.A. were encamped on the North Denes, the officers being Captains Fox-Strangeways and Scott; Lieutenants Rothe, Hardinge-Brown, and P. F. Blackwood; Surgeon-Major Lewer, and Vet.-Surgeon Walker.

Messrs. J. Tolver Waters, Frank Burton, and F. W. Dendy had pa.s.sed the Legal examination.

June 21st.-Mr. A. D. Stone had been elected a Haven Commissioner in the place of Mr. Hammond, deceased, without opposition, owing to Mr. de Caux's nomination paper having been left at the wrong office.

June 24th.-The "Oleander," a barque of 440 tons had been launched from Messrs. Fellows and Son's yard.

July 12th.-At the Water Frolic the "Halcyon" won the first match, and the "Vivid" the second match; Mr. I. Preston, junr., acted as Secretary.

There had been a destructive fire at Mr. Bland's premises on the Queen's Road.

July 26th.-There had been a Volunteer Encampment on the North Denes with a brigade field day, when the troops were under the command of Major-General Murray.