Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 90

Coaks asking for the dismissal of the plaintiff's pet.i.tion in the action, Boswell _v._ Coaks, on the ground of its being frivolous and vexatious.

Mr. Coaks' pet.i.tion was dismissed and the appeal ordered to proceed.

(_See_ April 30th, 1894.)

18.-The extensive maltings of F. and J. Smith, Limited, at East Dereham, were seriously damaged by fire, which destroyed several hundred coombs of grain.

26.-Mr. Edward Compton's Comedy Company commenced their Christmas engagement at Norwich Theatre; and Mr. George Gilbert, a native of Norwich, began the first of his successful series of circus seasons at the Agricultural Hall.

31.-Mrs. Pelham, wife of the Bishop of Norwich, died at Sunny Hill, Thorpe. She was second daughter of Thomas William Tatton, of Withenshaw, Cheshire, was born in 1811, and married in 1845, during her husband's inc.u.mbency of Bergh Apton.

1894.

JANUARY.

1.-Severe frost set in, and continued until the 9th. The snowfall was very heavy, serious inconvenience was caused to railway and other traffic, and many casualties were reported upon the coast as the result of a north-east gale.

2.-The Duke of York made his first public visit to Lynn, and opened the new Technical School erected by the Corporation at the cost of 3,000.

10.-A furious gale which sprung up from the south-west did not subside until the 12th. Much damage was done in town and country, and many casualties were reported among the Yarmouth fishing fleet.

11.-Died at his residence, Burlingham House, the Hon. Harbord Harbord, in his 58th year. Mr. Harbord was the sixth and posthumous son of the third Lord Suffield, and was twice married; first to Constance Adelaide, third daughter of Sir H. J. Stracey, and afterwards to Barbara Sophia Harriot, daughter of Mr. Edgar Disney, of Ingatestone, and widow of Major Philip Bennet, of Rougham Hall. Having acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture under Mr. Robert Leeds he undertook the management of the estates of his friends and relatives. "In Norfolk his relationship to the landowners whom he represented gave him a status and influence with the tenantry altogether above and beyond that of the ordinary estate agent." Mr. Harbord, who was a Deputy-Lieutenant and magistrate for Norfolk, and upon the commission of the peace for Wiltshire, for many years acted as foreman of the grand jury at the Norfolk a.s.sizes.

18.-The whole county of Norfolk, including the city of Norwich and the boroughs, was declared an infected area in consequence of the prevalence of swine fever. Major Tennant, chief inspector of the Board of Agriculture, attended a meeting of the Executive Committee at the Shirehall, Norwich, and discussed the subject of the swine fever regulations; and on October 17th an Order of the Board was published revoking restrictions upon the sale and movement of swine within the county as from October 23rd.

19.-After the lapse of many years, Blondin, "the most famous and intrepid of all rope walkers," appeared at Norwich in fulfilment of an engagement at Gilbert's Circus. On the 28th of the month he attained his 70th year.

MARCH.

6.-Father Ignatius visited Norwich and addressed a crowded audience at the Agricultural Hall.

-A special meeting of the Norwich Town Council adopted a scheme for repaving the streets of the city with wood, at the estimated cost of 38,500.

22.-A yachting and fishing exhibition was opened at St. Giles' Hall, Norwich, and was continued until the 29th.

29.-The Norwich Diocesan Conference opened its two days' proceedings at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich. The princ.i.p.al subjects discussed were the Local Government Act, 1894, and religious education in Board schools.

Bishop Sheepshanks presided for the first time.

30.-The Rev. G. S. Barrett, B.A., minister of Prince's Street Congregational Church, Norwich, was invested with the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity at the University of St. Andrew's. Mr. Barrett was introduced as "the minister of one of the most influential Congregational churches in England; he had made several important contributions to theological literature, and had this year been chosen chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales."

APRIL.

9.-Died, the Rev. George Willoughby Barrett, Minor Canon and Precentor of Norwich Cathedral, aged 45. He was a native of Bristol, where his father was well known as a musician. At an early age he was a chorister at Bristol Cathedral, and after completing his school life, entered at Worcester College, Oxford, where in 1872 he graduated B.A. and in 1877 proceeded M.A. He was ordained deacon in 1873 and appointed to the curacy of Easton Royal, Wiltshire. On his admission to priest's orders he was engaged from 1875 to 1887 in ministerial work at Hampton Lucy, near Stratford-on-Avon. After his appointment as Minor Canon and Precentor at Norwich Cathedral in the latter year, Mr. Barrett did much useful work in promoting the interests of the Norfolk and Norwich Church Choral a.s.sociation, and in cultivating a taste for the higher cla.s.s of Church music. He was for several years in succession nominated by the Bishop and Dean chaplain of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

10.-Died in London, Mr. William Waring, formerly a tenant of Taverham Hall. A partner in the firm of Waring Brothers, contractors for public works, he had constructed railways in Belgium and India. In a.s.sociation with the firm of Bra.s.sy and Peto, his firm had the contract for the construction of the greater portion of what is now known as the Inner Circle of the Underground Railway in London. Mr. Waring was a magistrate for Norfolk, and a munificent supporter of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and other local charities.

14.-Died, the Rev. John Na.s.sau Simpkinson, rural dean of Burnham and rector of North Creake, aged 77. He was a son of Sir Francis Simpkinson, was educated at Rugby under Dr. Arnold, and afterwards won a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his degree in 1838 with a first cla.s.s in the Cla.s.sical Tripos and a Junior Optime in the Mathematical Tripos. After some years' service as curate at Hurstmonceux, he was appointed a.s.sistant master at Harrow, under Dr.

Vaughan, his brother-in-law, and there remained from 1845 to 1855. Mr.

Simpkinson was then presented to the rectory of Brington, Northants, and in 1868 to that of North Creake. He was the author of a "Life of Wagner"

(1858), of "The Washingtons: a Tale of the Seventeenth century" (1860), and of many articles in the "Edinburgh Review."

30.-In the House of Lords, before Lords Selborne, Watson, McNaughton, Shand, and Morris, was heard the action, Boswell _v._ Coaks. This was an appeal from the judgment of the Lords Justices in the matter of the Harvey life interest. The case for the appellant set forth that this was an appeal from an order of the Court of Appeal, made on November 5th, 1892, in an action in the Chancery Division in which the appellant, on behalf of himself and of other unsatisfied creditors of the late Sir Robert Harvey, was plaintiff and the respondent and others defendants.

The order of the Court of Appeal affirmed an order of Mr. Justice North, dated July 27th, 1892, made upon the several motions of the respondent, dismissing the action as against all the defendants, except one, on the ground that it was vexatious and oppressive. The appellant only appealed against the order of the Court of Appeal so far as it affirmed the dismissal of the action as against the respondent. The action commenced on March 11th, 1892, and the object of it was to establish that the judgment of Mr. Justice Fry in a former action, Boswell _v._ Coaks, 1881, which judgment was reversed by the Court of Appeal, but was subsequently restored by the House of Lords, was not binding on the appellant or the other unsatisfied creditors of Sir Robert Harvey, or of the firm of Harvey's and Hudson's, on the ground that it was obtained by the fraud of the respondents, and to secure for the appellant and the creditors certain consequential relief. Mr. Crackanthorpe, Q.C., and Mr. Brabant were for the appellant; and the Attorney-General (Sir John Rigby, Q.C.), Mr. H. H. Cozens-Hardy, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Lawrence for the respondent.

Lord Selborne delivered judgment, and said it was not necessary to hear counsel for the respondent. The question was whether anything material to disturb the judgment of the House had been newly discovered by the appellant. That involved a double proposition-that something new had been discovered, and that that something new was material. There was a total defect both of allegation and of evidence as to that which alone could make it material. He had no hesitation in saying that in his opinion it had been dealt with most properly by the Court of Appeal, and that their lordships ought now to dismiss this action with costs, which he accordingly now moved. Their lordships concurred, and the appeal was dismissed with costs. (_See_ November 13th, 1895.)

MAY.

1.-Died at Sunny Hill, Thorpe, the Hon. and Right Rev. Bishop Pelham, aged 82. He was the second son of the second Earl of Chichester, Secretary of State for the Home Department in Addington's short Ministry of 1801, by Lady Mary Henrietta Juliana, daughter of the fifth Duke of Leeds. Born on June 21st, 1811, he was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford, and took his degree in 1832. His ordination was followed by his appointment, on the presentation of the Earl of Abergavenny, to the rectory of Bergh Apton, where he remained for fifteen years, during which time he was Hon. Canon of Norwich Cathedral, and in 1847 chaplain to the Queen. Two years prior to the latter appointment Mr. Pelham married Henrietta, daughter of Mr. Thomas Tatton, of Withenshaw, Cheshire. In 1852 the living of Christ Church, Hampstead, was offered to Mr. Pelham by Mr. Gurney h.o.a.re. On the death of Dr. Spry, in 1854, he was nominated by Lord Palmerston to the important Crown living of St. Marylebone. In 1857, on the resignation of Bishop Hinds, he accepted the bishopric of Norwich. "His administration of the diocese covered a period of 36 years, and in the matter of time, was surpa.s.sed only by three of the sixty-three bishops who had presided over the see during 800 years; and it was as wise in its broad and tolerant spirit as it was faithful in its discharge of duty." The remains of the deceased prelate were interred at Bergh Apton on May 5th.

2.-The choir of Norwich Cathedral was re-opened on the completion of the great work of reparation which had been in progress for two years. The "reporting architects" were Sir Gilbert Scott and Mr. John L. Pearson, R.A., and the work was superintended by Mr. C. J. Browne, surveyor to the Dean and Chapter. The total sum raised in aid of the undertaking amounted in the month of December, 1893, to 3,357, and the Dean and Chapter contributed upwards of 2,000 out of their personal income. At the opening service the sermon was preached by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was afterwards presented with an address by the Mayor and Corporation. The Dean and Mrs. Lefroy entertained a distinguished company to luncheon, and the Bishop and Mrs. Sheepshanks gave a garden party at the Palace. (_See_ April 7th, 1898.)

15.-Died, the Right Rev. Sidney Linton, D.D., Bishop of Riverina. He was a son of the Rev. H. Linton, rector of St. Peter le Bailey, Oxford, and Hon. Canon of Christ Church, and was educated at Rugby and at Wadham College, Oxford, where he graduated and took second cla.s.s in law and history in 1864. From 1877 to 1884 he was vicar of St. Philip, Heigham, and in the latter year, on the foundation of the see of Riverina, was appointed the first bishop. In the same year he received the honorary degree of D.D.

16.-Died at West Dereham, Mr. Hugh Aylmer, aged 77. Mr. Aylmer had a world-wide reputation as a breeder and exhibitor of stock. He commenced his career as a sheep breeder by introducing into Norfolk some of the best specimens of Cotswold sheep that he could procure, and with these, by the process of selection, he was enabled to produce annually a number of rams which, when distributed among the flocks of the county, had the effect of increasing both the quality and the quant.i.ty of wool and mutton. Mr. Aylmer was a noted shorthorn breeder, and his herd was one of the most famous in the country.

28.-Died at Mill Hill Road, Norwich, Mr. Samuel Linay, solicitor, aged 57. He was a well known pract.i.tioner in petty sessional courts throughout East Anglia, and from 1881 to 1887 represented the old Fourth Ward in the Norwich Town Council.

29.-The Mayor of Norwich (Sir Peter Eade) entertained upwards of 1,500 of the aged poor of the city to dinner at St. Andrew's Hall.

JUNE.

2.-The Earl of Winchilsea and Nottingham addressed a large meeting convened at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, by the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, on the subject of the National Agricultural Union. A resolution affirming the desire of the Chamber to co-operate with the Union was adopted.

6.-The Mayor of Norwich formally opened an additional portion of the Gildencroft Recreation Ground, and afterwards declared open for public use the adjoining churchyard of St. Augustine, which had been converted into a public garden and resting-place through the action of the Playing Fields and Open s.p.a.ces Society.

15.-Mr. Ben Greet's company of "Woodland Players" gave pastoral representations at Bracondale Woods, Norwich, of "As You Like It" and of scenes from "The Tempest," in aid of the funds of the Jenny Lind Infirmary.

23.-Intelligence was received in Norwich of the birth of the first child to the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of York. Congratulatory telegrams were sent to their Royal Highnesses, to the Queen, and to the Prince and Princess of Wales, by the Mayor, on behalf of the citizens.

JULY.

4.-The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation was opened at Yarmouth under the presidency of Lord Suffield, and was continued on the 5th.

12.-A three days' military tournament, in which the 1st King's Dragoon Guards, the depot of the Norfolk Regiment, and the Norwich Artillery Volunteers took part, commenced at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, in aid of the clothing fund of the Cadet Corps. Exhibition boxing was given by Frank Slavin and Jim Young.

-Mr. A. Morley, M.P., Postmaster-General, addressed a Liberal meeting at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.