Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 89

17.-Died, at Heigham Grove, Norwich, Mr. William John Utten Browne, barrister-at-law, aged 88. Mr. Browne had been for many years an active and painstaking magistrate, and in the early decades of the century occupied a very prominent position in the public life of the city. In 1833 he served as one of the Sheriffs of Norwich, and was elected Mayor in 1860. In July, 1837, he contested in the Conservative interest the borough of Ashburton, Devons.h.i.+re, and was defeated by Mr. Lus.h.i.+ngton. On attaining his 80th birthday he was entertained to a banquet by his colleagues on the Bench. Mr. Browne was a staunch Tory and High Churchman.

20.*-"A meeting of owners and occupiers of property at Thorpe St. Andrew was recently held to protest against a proposal of the Norwich Town Council to annex Thorpe to their munic.i.p.al district. It was resolved that a fund be guaranteed for the purpose of opposing by every possible means any attempt at annexation on the part of Norwich. The sum of 5,000 was guaranteed in the room."

21.-Mrs. Brown, a woman in humble circ.u.mstances, living at Winterton, celebrated her one hundredth birthday. She had been a widow from her 81st year, and was entirely dependent upon her daughter, aged 77, with whom she lived. Mrs. Brown had never travelled further than the neighbouring town of Gorleston.

27.-A special meeting of the Norfolk County School a.s.sociation was held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, at which the chairman of the directors and trustees, the Rev. H. Smith, proposed, and it was agreed, "That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the a.s.sociation that it cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business, and that it is desirable that the same should be wound up voluntarily, and that the company be wound up accordingly." The original scheme, it was stated, was too large and ambitious, and the a.s.sociation was weighted at the outset with a capital expenditure and an annual working outlay beyond its strength and capacity. On September 9th it was announced: "After struggling for some years under heavy mortgage and liabilities the Norfolk County School a.s.sociation has been compelled to wind up. The property has pa.s.sed into the hands of Lord Leicester, who has made arrangements which will enable the late head-master, Mr. W. E. Humphreys, to re-open next term."

-The Conservative and Unionist voters of East Norfolk adopted Colonel McCalmont, C.B., Unionist candidate for the const.i.tuency. Colonel McCalmont retired in March, 1895. Mr. H. Rider Haggard was then announced as the Conservative candidate.

31.-The _conge d'elire_ for the election of a new Bishop of Norwich having been received, a meeting of the Dean and Chapter was held at the residence of Canon Heaviside, when the Rev. John Sheepshanks, M.A., of St. Margaret's, Anfield, Liverpool, was elected. The election was confirmed at Bow Church, Cheapside, London, on June 28th; the ceremony of consecration was performed at St. Paul's Cathedral on the 29th; and Bishop Sheepshanks did homage to her Majesty at Windsor Castle on June 30th. His lords.h.i.+p was enthroned and installed at Norwich Cathedral on July 13th with the usual ceremonial. The Dean afterwards entertained a large company to luncheon at the Deanery, and in the afternoon the clergy waited upon his lords.h.i.+p at the Palace and presented him with an address.

JUNE.

1.-A meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, to protest against the Suspensory Bill for the Church in Wales. Lord Egerton of Tatton presided, and Mr. Stanley Leighton, M.P., and Mr. W. S. de Winton, M.P., were among the speakers.

22.-Mr. Albert Chevalier gave his first recital in Norwich at the Agricultural Hall, and repeated the entertainment on the 23rd.

27.-The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation was opened at the Grove, Ipswich Road, Norwich, the residence of the Mayor (Mr. A. R.

Chamberlin), who was this year president of the society. The exhibition closed on the 29th. This was the only occasion upon which a three days'

show had been held by the a.s.sociation.

JULY.

6.-The marriage of the Duke of York and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck was celebrated throughout the county. At Norwich the Artillery Volunteers and the 1st Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment paraded in the Market Place and fired a _feu-de-joie_, and a Royal salute was fired upon Mousehold Heath by the mounted battery of the first-named corps.

One thousand persons above sixty-five years of age were presented with gifts by the Mayor and Sheriff at the Agricultural Hall; and in the afternoon the 8th Hussars and the Volunteers were reviewed on Mousehold.

An illuminated _fete_ was given in the evening in Chapel Field Gardens, and the day's festivities concluded with a ball given by the Mayor at St.

Andrew's Hall.

8.-A severe thunderstorm occurred after very close and sultry weather.

Another storm took place on the 9th and 10th, and on the 11th it raged with increased violence, and did much damage in various parts of the county. A man was killed by lightning at Long Stratton.

13.-The third biennial sale of shorthorns and Southdowns, the property of the Prince of Wales, was conducted at Wolferton by Mr. John Thornton, and resulted in a total of 2,151.

18.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Mathew, Sarah Bligh (22), domestic servant, was indicted for the wilful murder of her child, Isaac Bligh, at Holme Hale, on June 7th. She was found guilty and strongly recommended to mercy. The judge, without a.s.suming the black cap, pa.s.sed sentence of death. The capital sentence was subsequently commuted.

19.-The first squadron of the 8th Hussars marched from the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich, and the remaining squadrons left on the 20th. Prior to their departure the non-commissioned officers were presented with gifts for their mess, subscribed for by the citizens. The 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel H. P. Douglas Willan, marched in on the same dates.

22.-Mr. Clement Higgins, Q.C., M.P., intimated his intention to the electors of Mid Norfolk not to seek re-election for the division at the next election. Mr. F. W. Wilson was subsequently adopted the Gladstonian candidate.

28.-Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Dawson Paul celebrated their silver wedding at Norwich.

29.-The 3rd and 4th Volunteer Battalions Norfolk Regiment went into camp at Colchester.

AUGUST.

30.-A meeting was held at Norwich at which it was decided to take steps for the formation of golf links. On November 8th an adjourned meeting took place, at which it was announced that land had been acquired for the purpose at h.e.l.lesdon. The Royal Norwich Golf Club, with the Duke of York as president, was then formed, and the links were opened on February 1st, 1894.

SEPTEMBER.

7.-In consequence of a telegram received from the War Office the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards left Norwich for the scene of the colliery riots in the Midland counties. The regiment entrained at Trowse, the horses being conveyed in bullock trucks. A Squadron proceeded to Mansfield, B to Rotherham, C to Wakefield, and D to Dewsbury. On the 8th 50 men of the Norfolk Constabulary, under the Chief Constable (Mr. Paynton Pigott), were drafted to Nottingham, and on the 9th 20 men of the Norwich city police proceeded to the scene of the disturbances.

OCTOBER.

2.-Died, in London, Lady Eastlake, widow of Sir C. L. Eastlake, a former President of the Royal Academy. Her ladys.h.i.+p, who was in her 84th year, was a daughter of Dr. Edward Rigby, of Norwich, and was distinguished for her literary work.

3.-The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced at St.

Andrew's Hall, Norwich. The princ.i.p.al vocalists were Madame Albani, Mrs.

Helen Trust, Miss Anna Williams, Madame Belle Cole, Madame Marion McKenzie, Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. Ben Davies, Mr. George Henschel, Mr.

Bantock Pierpoint, Mr. J. H. Brockbank, and Mr. Norman Salmond. The solo instrumentalists were M. Paderewski (pianoforte) and Senor Sarasate (violin). The princ.i.p.al productions were: On the evening of the 3rd, "St. Paul"; on the 4th, morning, "The Golden Legend" and New Symphony in A minor, No. 2 (Edward German); evening, new Polish Fantaisie (Paderewski), first time of performance, pianoforte solo by Paderewski; new cantata, "Una" (A. R. Gaul), first time of performance, and a miscellaneous selection; 5th, morning, "Judith," first time of performance in Norwich; evening, new cantata, "The Wis.h.i.+ng Bell" (J. F.

Barnett), first time of performance, and a miscellaneous selection; Pibroch (Mackenzie), Rondo Capriccioso (Saint Saens), for violin and orchestra, Senor Sarasate; 6th, morning, "The Messiah"; evening, "The Water Lily" (Cowen), first time of performance. The gross receipts amounted to 5,082 13s. 3d., the gross payments to 4,456 7s. 6d. Of the balance of 626 5s. 9d., the sum of 325 was distributed among the charities.

14.-An influential meeting was convened at the Guildhall by the Mayor of Norwich (Mr. A. R. Chamberlin) for the purpose of affording the Dean an opportunity of calling attention to the necessity of undertaking the reparation of Norwich Cathedral, the estimated cost of which was 12,000.

(_See_ May 2nd, 1894.)

16.-Died, the Rev. William Cowper Johnson, Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral. He was a son of the Rev. John Johnson, LL.D., a near relative of the Poet Cowper, and addressed by him as "Johnnie of Norfolk" and "My dearest of all Johnnies."

25.-Lord Randolph Churchill addressed a great Conservative meeting held at Yarmouth Aquarium under the presidency of Sir Edward Birkbeck.

NOVEMBER.

9.-Sir Peter Eade was elected Mayor and Mr. John Barwell appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

19.-A gale of great severity swept over the county after a day of exceptional brilliancy. Several wrecks occurred on the coast, lives were lost, and much damage done inland.

20.-The Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of York arrived at Didlington Hall on a visit to Lord and Lady Amherst of Hackney.

25.-An important meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, presided over by Mr. R. Harvey Mason, for the purpose of urging that effectual measures be taken for the preservation of order, the suppression of nuisances, and the protection of property upon the public navigable waters of Norfolk and Suffolk.

DECEMBER.

4.-Miss Fortescue, supported by her London company, commenced a three nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre in "Moths" and "The School for Scandal."

-A special vestry meeting was held at the church of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, under the presidency of the vicar (the Rev. W. Pelham Burn), "to read correspondence that had taken place between himself and the Hospital Board relative to the skull of Sir Thomas Browne, alleged to have been stolen from the church and now in possession of the Hospital." The Hospital authorities asked the vestry not to press for the return of the skull. The vicar dwelt upon the crime of sacrilege and maintained that it was the duty of the Hospital to make rest.i.tution of the skull. In support of his contention he adduced the doctrine of the Church as to the resurrection of the body. After much discussion it was resolved to refer the matter to Bishop Pelham. At an adjourned meeting of the vestry on the 15th the Board of Management intimated that the reference of the question to an arbitrator would not release them from their obligation to protect the property of the Hospital. Ultimately it was agreed that no further steps be taken in the matter.

14.-The Judicial Council of the House of Lords heard a pet.i.tion from Mr.