Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 33

10.-A surf lifeboat was launched at Caister-next-the-Sea. It was provided, at the cost of 300, by means of a fund raised by the editor of "Routledge's Magazine for Boys," and was christened by Mrs. Routledge, "The Boys' Lifeboat."

11.-The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report on the employment of children, young persons, and women in agriculture, for the purpose of ascertaining to what extent and with what modifications the principles of the Factory Acts could be adapted for the regulation of such employment, and especially with the view of the better education of such children, commenced its investigations in Norfolk in the Docking Union. The a.s.sistant-Commissioner (the Rev. James Frazer) held similar inquiries in other parts of the county, and, in an address to the members of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, on September 28th, said he had met at forty-eight meetings 500 Norfolk farmers, "and not on one occasion had he heard a single painful or discourteous word drop from anybody's lips."

16.-The first annual regatta of the Norfolk and Norwich Rowing Club was held at Whitlingham.

17.-The Norfolk and Norwich Licensed Victuallers' a.s.sociation was formed at a meeting held at the Three Pigeons, Charing Cross, Norwich.

19.-A new church erected at Overstrand, in place of the old church, which had fallen into decay, was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich. The architect was Mr. A. Salvin, of London, and the builder Mr. R. Cornish, of North Walsham. The necessary funds were provided princ.i.p.ally by the Dowager Lady Buxton and the descendants of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, deceased, by Mr. Gurney h.o.a.re, Mr. Joseph h.o.a.re, and others.

21.*-"A destructive parasitical weed has made its appearance on some of the small farms at Navarina, an open district forming a part of the very extensive manor of Lord Ashburton, at Thetford. It is known as 'the dodder.' It completely absorbs or destroys the crop wherever it appears, and leaves the land barren of all but its own hair-like fibres. So powerful and fatal is the grasp of this singular plant, that even the hardy and p.r.i.c.kly gorse succ.u.mbs to the pressure of its delicate fibres."

OCTOBER.

1.-The 15th Hussars, from Aldershot, marched into Norwich, under the command of Col. F. W. J. Fitzwygram.

12.*-"The county having for upwards of a year been free from cattle plague, the Norfolk Cattle Plague a.s.sociation has been wound up, and the balance in hand, amounting to upwards of 4,000, has been invested in the names of trustees, Mr. Howes, M.P., and Mr. Read, M.P., to be available in case of any further emergency." The "London Gazette," on October 23rd, contained an Order to take effect on November 4th, for the withdrawal of restrictions on the movement of cattle in the interior of the kingdom.

14.-A huge female elephant, weighing five tons, and belonging to Edmonds'

(late Wombwell's) Menagerie, started from Diss with the show, but had not gone far when she fell in Denmark Street. Poles and tackle had to be procured, and after four hours' labour the ponderous animal was raised, put in the caravan, and taken back to the fair green, where she was placed in slings. Cordials and other restoratives were administered, but the animal died on the following day. She was valued at between 800 and 900, and had been fifteen years in the collection.

22.-An immense eel was taken from the river Ouse, near Denver Sluice. It measured 5 ft. 8 in. in length, 17 in. in girth, and weighed 36 lbs.

before and 28 lbs. after being skinned. "Yarrel, in his 'British Fishes,' mentions having seen the skins of two at Cambridge which together weighed 50 lbs.-one 27 lbs. and the other 23 lbs., which were taken within a few miles of this spot."

28.-The new fishmarket, wharves, and tramways constructed at Great Yarmouth, at the total cost of 15,799, were opened.

NOVEMBER.

5.-The new Drill Hall at Great Yarmouth, erected at the cost of 1,300, by Mr. Leggett, from designs by Mr. J. T. Bottle, was opened.

6.-St. Andrew's church, Norwich, was re-opened after restoration. The architect who superintended the work was Mr. William Smith, the Adelphi, London, and the contractor, Mr. Burrell, of Norwich. The Bishop of Norwich preached the sermon.

-Died at Yarmouth, aged 82, James Sharman, the keeper of the Nelson monument on the South Denes. He was a native of Yarmouth, and entered the Navy in 1799, having been "pressed" when a waiting lad at the Wrestlers Inn, and taken on board H.M.S. Weazel, Captain Durben. After four years' service he was wrecked off Cabaratta Point, near Gibraltar.

He then joined the Victory, under Captain Thomas Hardy, and at Trafalgar "a.s.sisted in carrying the dying Nelson from the lower deck to the c.o.c.kpit."

9.-Mr. Jeremiah James Colman was elected Mayor, and Mr. Robert Fitch appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, a memorial was received from the parents of boys educated at the Commercial School, praying that the efficiency of that school should not be impaired in consequence of the large outlay required for making alterations in and additions to the Grammar School premises. The Parliamentary and Bylaws Committee, to whom the memorial was referred, reported to the Town Council on November 26th that they strongly deprecated any increase in the fees of the Commercial School, but they considered the successful maintenance of the Grammar School of great advantage to the city. The report was adopted.

10.-Died in Paris, aged 63, Mr. W. Wilshere, of Welwyn, Herts., and formerly member of Parliament for Yarmouth. He became a candidate for that borough with Mr. Rumbold, in the Liberal interest, in 1837, when the Conservative candidates were Messrs. Baring and Gambier. On the dissolution of Parliament in 1847, he retired from the representation of the borough. "It is said that his various contests cost him a very large sum of money, and that in other respects the expenses incident to the representation of a borough on Liberal principles were too much for endurance."

16.-Reference was made to the disbandment of the 1st Norfolk Light Horse, which had been under the command of Capt. Hay Gurney since its inst.i.tution by him in 1861. The members presented to their commanding-officer a testimonial "representing in frosted silver, on an ebony stand, a mounted officer and trumpeter in full dress."

20.-The Scratby Hall estate, comprising 280 acres, was sold by auction by Messrs. Butcher, at the Star Hotel, Yarmouth, for 16,760.

26.-The Rev. Edward Marjoribanks Nisbet, M.A., was installed a residentiary canon at Norwich Cathedral.

30.-The Right Hon. Edward Stratham Gordon, Lord Advocate of Scotland, was elected to represent the borough of Thetford in Parliament, upon the resignation of the Hon. A. H. Baring. Lord Frederick FitzRoy, who had come forward as a candidate, withdrew from the contest on the day appointed for the nomination. "He departed for London, leaving behind him an address telling the electors that, by means of treachery, opposition had been brought against him."

DECEMBER.

1.-The Norfolk coast, in common with the whole of England, was visited by a gale of unusual violence. It resulted not only in great destruction of property, but in the loss of many lives. At Yarmouth the waters overflowed the banks of the river, inundated all the low-lying lands from the harbour's mouth to Reedham, and, flooding the neighbouring railways, stopped the traffic. Several vessels were driven ash.o.r.e and their crews lost. On December 2nd the lifeboat Rescuer was entering the harbour with the shipwrecked crew of the ship George Kendall, from Liverpool to Hull, on board, when she fouled with a fishing-boat and was capsized. Of the shipwrecked crew of twenty-three only four were saved, and of the lifeboat crew six were drowned. Many widows and children were left dest.i.tute, owing to the large number of lives lost during the gale.

-The parish church of Little Ellingham was destroyed by fire. The building had recently undergone extensive restoration, and the damage, due to the overheating of a new warming apparatus, amounted to upwards of 1,000. Efforts were made by the Hingham fire brigade to preserve the chancel, and were in part successful, but the nave was wholly demolished.

Under the supervision of Messrs. T. H. and F. Healey, architects, of Bradford, the nave was rebuilt and the chancel repaired by the contractor, Mr. Clarke, of Hingham; and the church was re-opened for public worship on Ascension Day, 1869.

24.-A common hall was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. J. J. Colman), at which the citizens expressed their "detestation of the late Fenian outrage at Clerkenwell, their sympathy with the sufferers, and their loyal attachment to the Queen and the Const.i.tution."

26.-The Christmas pantomime produced by Mr. Sidney at Norwich Theatre was ent.i.tled, "Hush-a-Bye Baby on the Tree Top, or Harlequin Fortunio, Clown King Frog of Frog Island, and the Fairy Queen of the Golden Flowers." At Mander's Menagerie, stationed on the Castle Meadow, "the electric light was exhibited in the interior during Maccomo's performance with the lions, tigers, and elephants." On the 30th was produced at Henry and Adams' Circus an "equestrian pantomime," ent.i.tled, "O'Donaghue of the Lakes, or Harlequin Dermot Astore and the White Horse of Killarney."

30.-The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Holkham, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Leicester, and returned to Sandringham on January 4th, 1868. Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar was of the party.

1868.

JANUARY.

2.-At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, held at Norwich, Mr. Day, the County Treasurer, gave notice of his intention at the Easter Sessions, to resign that office, which he had held for thirty-three years. Mr. Day took leave of the Court on April 2nd, and Mr. Herbert William Day was elected in his place.

-Lord Suffield, at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, moved the adoption of an address to her Majesty, expressing indignation at the Fenian outrages committed throughout the kingdom, and promising the hearty and vigorous co-operation of her Majesty's loyal subjects in the county in supporting the Government in any efforts that might be made "to repress this odious conspiracy." It was stated on January 11th that at Yarmouth precautions had been taken to prevent an outbreak in the borough. Each ward was under the special supervision of two magistrates; the store of gunpowder was removed from the outlying magazine at the North Battery to the South Battery, where a strong guard was stationed; and directions were given to the Artillery and Rifle Volunteers as to the course to be pursued in the event of their services being required.

14.-The Norwich Churchmen's Club was established at a meeting held at the Clerical Rooms. It was intended for "the self-culture and rational recreation of young men." For some years afterwards the society continued to flourish, and was instrumental during the early period of its existence in introducing to the city several eminent lecturers on scientific and other subjects.

16.-A remarkable seizure of about one hundred coombs of wheat was made at the New Mills, Norwich. This "ma.s.s of filth, one-tenth wheat and nine-tenths rats' dung and maggots," had been sent to the mills by Mr.

Orlando Barnes, of Beeston, "for the purpose of being dressed for the preparation of human food." The magistrates granted an order for its destruction, and on the 22nd and 23rd it was publicly burned in the Cattle Market. At the Norwich Police Court, on February 7th, Mr. Barnes was summoned for sending the wheat to the mills with the view of preparing it for human consumption, and was fined 40s. and costs. The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, on February 8th, discussed "the policy of destroying agricultural produce by any local authority under the Nuisances Removal Act, 1863, without sufficient proof of its unfitness for feeding or some other useful purpose." A motion was adopted affirming that such a practice was impolitic. In the following week handbills were circulated calling upon the citizens to make an "indignation visit" to Mr. Barnes' premises at Beeston on Sunday, February 16th. The Mayor issued notices warning all persons to abstain from taking part in the proposed proceedings, and the Chief Constable of the county (Col. Black) drafted to the district thirty police-officers and eight mounted inspectors and sergeants to prevent trespa.s.s upon the farm. Several thousands of persons visited the village during the afternoon, but a hostile demonstration was prevented.

18.-The colours of the 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment, bearing the marks of the severe conflicts through which they had pa.s.sed, were "laid up" at Norwich Cathedral. They were brought from Aldershot on the 17th, in charge of Capt. Shirecliff Parker, Lieut. Smart, Ensign Ibbetson, and two colour-sergeants, and were deposited for the night at the Guildhall. On the morning of the 18th the colours, escorted by the 15th Hussars, and preceded by the band of that regiment, were borne to the Cathedral.

After Morning Prayer had been said, Lieut. Smart carried the Queen's and Ensign Ibbetson the Regimental colour to the altar rails, and, kneeling, handed them to Canon Nisbet and Canon Heaviside, "who placed them leaning across the altar, one on the north and the other on the south side"; the National Anthem was played upon the organ, and the officers and escort, who wore their busbies, saluted. Canon Nisbet preached from Psalm xx., part of the 5th verse. The colours were subsequently placed in the positions they now occupy in the choir.

23.-A fire, involving the loss of three lives and the destruction of much valuable property, occurred at the house of Mr. Frederick Pigg, hosier and boot and shoe manufacturer, Market Row, Yarmouth. Mrs. Pigg, in heroically attempting to save her two children, was buried beneath the falling roof of the building, and the charred remains of the mother and infants were found the following day. The value of the property destroyed was about 3,500.

28.-The first of the many long discussions upon the sewerage question during this year took place at a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, on a recommendation of the Sewerage Committee that a memorial from the citizens, praying for the introduction of the dry earth system, instead of an expensive scheme of drainage, be not adopted. It was decided that the works had progressed too far to admit of any reconsideration of the plans. On February 28th a large meeting of ratepayers was held at the Lecture Hall, St. Andrew's, under the presidency of Sir Samuel Bignold, at which the following resolution was pa.s.sed:-"That the Local Board of Health be respectfully requested to postpone the proposed drainage works, and that Messrs. Hay Gurney, Charles Foster, J. Davey, and W. H. Clabburn and the other promoters of the injunction be earnestly entreated not to interpose any obstacle to the Board's compliance with this request." The "injunctionists," on March 2nd, received a deputation appointed by the meeting, and, after hearing their statements, Dr. Dalrymple replied on behalf of the relators in the suit that they were of opinion "the question of proceeding with the scheme of drainage did not rest with them but with the Town Council, and they were not prepared to take any steps which would prejudice their legal position for enforcing the purification of the river." On March 10th a memorial was presented to the Town Council, urging that the drainage scheme in the then perplexity of sanitary science was "a speculation with the health of the city," and that it was "stark madness to plunge into a gulf of unplumbed expenditure unwarned by the failures in other cities." A motion was adopted authorising the Sewerage and Irrigation Committee to negotiate for a loan not exceeding 60,000, required for the construction of sewerage works. On the 17th a band paraded the city to attract the citizens to a common hall, at which resolutions were adopted affirming that the rates were too high and the trade of Norwich too depressed to warrant this costly experiment in drainage. The Town Council, on April 7th, entered into a contract with Messrs. Shrimpton and Co., of Uxbridge Road, London, for the construction of certain sewerage works, at the cost of 28,874; and it was agreed to take up at interest of the Hand-in-Hand Fire and Life Office the sum of 30,000, of which 20,000 was to be paid as soon as the necessary security was prepared, and the remaining 10,000 at the expiration of six months, at the rate of 4 15s. per cent. per annum. (_See_ March 5th, 1869.)

31.-Died at Welborne, aged 100 years, Benjamin Tooley, "leaving a widow at the advanced age of 99."

FEBRUARY.

1.-During the prevalence of a severe gale from W. and S.W., shipping casualties of a very serious character occurred off the coast of Norfolk, and inland considerable damage was done to property. Trees were uprooted, stacks overturned, and many houses partially unroofed.