Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 104

AUGUST.

3.-A severe gale swept over the county and did serious damage to orchards, in which thousands of tons of unripe fruit were destroyed.

Many shipping disasters occurred upon the coast.

4.-A new lifeboat named the Licensed Victualler, provided by liberal contributions from the Licensed Victuallers' Fund, was received by Commander Holmes, R.N., at Hunstanton. A ceremonial launch was dispensed with in consequence of the roughness of the sea.

-Died at Heigham House, Norwich, aged 69, Mr. John Boyce, who had for many years been identified with the firm of Messrs. Bullard and Sons, of the Anchor Brewery. Mr. Boyce, who was a son of Mr. Samuel Boyce, of East Dereham, was elected a representative of the old Second Ward in November, 1867, and served continuously until 1892, when, on the redistribution of seats, he was transferred to the Earlham Ward. He retired in 1894, and on June 18th, 1895, was elected an alderman on the death of Col. Bignold. Mr. Boyce, who was a magistrate for the city, was in politics a Conservative.

5.-Died at Eaton, Norwich, Mr. Philip Back, aged 76. He entered the Corporation in 1873 as member for the old Fourth Ward, and on his re-election in 1876, with Mr. Ladyman, the memorable election pet.i.tion was presented by his Liberal opponents, Mr. J. D. Smith and Mr. S.

Newman, against the return of himself and his colleague. The commissioner gave judgment in favour of the respondents, with costs, and Mr. Back retained his seat. In 1879 he was appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

10.-The time ball, erected on the north-west angle of the battlements of Norwich Castle, was used for the first time. It announces Greenwich time every day at 10 a.m.

14.-Lord Walsingham addressed a letter to the Press announcing that an attempt was being made to re-introduce the great bustard in what was formerly one of the favourite haunts of this fine bird on the borders of the Norfolk fens. The experiment, his lordship stated, was due to the public spirit of an English gentleman living abroad, and he appealed to the public for the protection of the birds.

21.-Prince Pura Chatra of Siam and his brother, Prince Yugula, arrived at Norwich from Cromer, and visited several places of interest in the city.

24.-Dr. A. H. Mann, of Cambridge, was elected chorus master of the Norwich Festival, in succession to Dr. Horace Hill, deceased.

SEPTEMBER.

17.-The Prince of Wales' Own Norfolk Artillery Militia commenced a route march through Norfolk, under the command of Col. Viscount c.o.ke. The regiment left Yarmouth in two river steamers, and landing at Buckenham Ferry marched to Langley Park, the seat of Sir Reginald Proctor Beauchamp, where they encamped for the night. The march was resumed on the 18th to Dunston Park; on the 19th to Wymondham; on the 20th to Dereham; on the 21st to Westacre; and on the 22nd to Hempton Green, where Sunday, the 23rd, was spent, and the regiment attended service at Fakenham church. On the 24th the column marched to Holkham, and encamped in the park; on the 25th the march was continued to Melton Constable Park; on the 26th to Aylsham; on the 27th to North Walsham; and on the 28th to Woodbastwick Park, where the last camp was formed. On the 29th the column marched from Woodbastwick to headquarters at Yarmouth. The actual distance marched in the twelve days was 150 miles.

22.-The body of a woman was found on the south beach at Yarmouth. The medical evidence proved that death was due to strangulation caused by a bootlace bound tightly round the neck. The deceased had been lodging at Yarmouth since the 15th, and had stated that her name was Hood. On November 9th the London police arrested at Woolwich a man named Herbert John Bennett, who was brought to Yarmouth and charged with the murder of the woman-his wife. On November 24th he was committed for trial at the Norfolk a.s.sizes, but owing to the prejudice excited against the prisoner by a certain section of the Press, the venue of trial was removed to the Old Bailey, where he was found guilty and sentenced to death. (Bennett was executed at Norwich Prison in March, 1901.)

25.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council it was resolved that the question of applying to Parliament for powers to purchase compulsorily the Norwich Waterworks undertaking, be referred to a committee, and if in their judgment it was considered to be in the interests of the city to obtain such powers, they be empowered to take steps for the promotion of a Bill for that purpose, and further that they negotiate with the Waterworks Company for the purchase, if possible, by agreement.

29.-Sir Samuel h.o.a.re, Bart., and Sir Harry Bullard were nominated at the Guildhall, Norwich, representatives of the city in Parliament. The Liberal party offered no opposition, and the Sheriff (Mr. S. Wainwright) declared the Conservative candidates duly elected.

-Sir John Colomb, K.C.M.G., Conservative, was returned unopposed member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth.

29.-Mr. T. Gibson Bowles (C.) and Mr. F. Handel Booth (L.) were nominated for the representation of King's Lynn. The polling on October 1st resulted as follows: Bowles, 1,499; Booth, 1,332.

OCTOBER.

1.-The nomination of candidates for East Norfolk took place at the Shirehall, Norwich. Mr. William Louis St. Julian Prioleau, of Plumstead Hall, was proposed by the Unionists, and Mr. Robert James Price by the Liberals. The polling on the 5th was as follows: Price, 4,563; Prioleau, 3,733.

-At the Town Hall, Aylsham, Major Henry Speaker Follett, 7th Dragoon Guards, of Coney Weston, Suffolk, was nominated Unionist candidate for North Norfolk; Sir William Brampton Gurdon, K.C., of a.s.sington Hall, Suffolk, was nominated by the Liberals. The polling took place on the 8th: Gurdon, 4,490; Follett, 3,493.

4.-Polling took place for South Norfolk. The candidates were Mr. Edward Mann, of Thelveton Hall (Unionist), and Mr. A. W. Soames (Liberal). The result was declared at the Shirehall, Norwich, on the 5th: Soames, 3,986; Mann, 3,566.

-The nomination took place at the Town Hall, Lynn, of Sir William ffolkes, Bart., of Hillington (Unionist), and Mr. George White, of Eaton Grange, Norwich, manufacturer (Liberal), as candidates for North-West Norfolk. The polling was on the 11th, and the result was declared on the 12th: White, 4,287; ffolkes, 3,811.

-Mr. William Lewis Boyle, of Elsing Hall (Unionist), and Mr. F. W.

Wilson, of the Dale, Scarning (Liberal), were nominated at East Dereham for the representation of Mid Norfolk. The election took place on the 8th, and the poll was declared on the 9th: Wilson, 3,996; Boyle, 3,422.

5.-At Swaffham, Mr. Thomas Leigh Hare, of Stow Hall (Unionist), and Mr.

Richard Winfrey, of Sutton House, Peterborough, and Stanley House, Swaffham (Liberal), were nominated candidates for South-West Norfolk.

The polling on the 12th resulted as follows: Hare, 3,702; Winfrey, 3,636.

6.-Died at Pinetown Bridge, South Africa, Mr. Walter Waring, surgeon Norwich. He had gone out to the seat of war as captain in the Militia Medical Staff Corps, and the cause of his death was dysentery. Formerly medical-officer to the Norwich Dispensary, he was known as Mr. Walter Scott Walters; he afterwards a.s.sumed the name of Waring.

17.-Died at the Close, Norwich, the Ven. Henry Ralph Nevill, Archdeacon of Norfolk and a canon of Norwich Cathedral. He was fourth son of Mr.

Richard J. Nevill, of Llangennech Park, Carmarthenshire, and was born June 17th, 1821. For four years he was travelling tutor to the Earl of Ducie. His first curacy was at Yarmouth, in 1848, and he ultimately became vicar of that parish in 1859. In 1873 he received a residentiary canonry in Norwich Cathedral, and in 1874 Bishop Pelham appointed him Archdeacon of Norfolk, in succession to Archdeacon Blakelock. In 1881 Archdeacon Nevill was elected vicar of St. Peter Mancroft, and held the living until 1884. He was a member of the governing body of the Grammar School, and was well known throughout the diocese as an able organiser and administrator.

19.-The Earl of Albemarle was welcomed with great enthusiasm at Quidenham Park on his return from active service in South Africa in command of the City of London Imperial Volunteers.

NOVEMBER.

6.-Madame Albani appeared at a concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.

The other _artistes_ included Miss Ada Crossley, Mr. William Green, Mr.

Douglas Powell, Mr. Tivadar Nachez (solo violin), and Mr. Frederick Dawson (solo pianoforte).

9.-Mr. J. J. Dawson Paul was elected Mayor, and Mr. Sydney Cozens-Hardy appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

23.-Died at Southrepps rectory, the Hon. and Rev. John Harbord, aged 68.

He was an accurate investigator of the genealogy of county families, and a student of college antiquities.

DECEMBER.

2.-Died at Ketteringham Park, Sir Francis George Manningham Boileau, Bart. He was born March 26th, 1830, and was the son of Sir John Boileau, F.R.S., who was created first baronet in 1838, and died in 1869. Sir Francis was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1855. He took a prominent position in public life, and in the administration of county business; and was president of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society and of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society. On the formation of the Norwich Light Horse he held a commission in the corps, and subsequently transferred his services to the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment, of which he was for several years lieutenant-colonel. In politics Sir Francis Boileau was formerly a Liberal, but he became strongly Unionist, and one of his last acts was to write, on behalf of the Unionists of South Norfolk, an address presented to Mr. Edward Mann for his services to the party at the General Election.

10.-Died at Ludham, Mr. William Heath, in his 90th year. He was formerly a well-known breeder of cattle, and a successful exhibitor at the Smithfield Club and other shows. In the days of his prosperity he dispensed unbounded hospitality at the Hall Farm; in after years he experienced severe reverses and lived in retirement in the locality where he had once held so prominent a position.

13.-The Rev. W. M. Hay Aitken was installed a canon of Norwich Cathedral, in place of the Ven. Archdeacon Nevill, deceased.

24.-A woman named Kelly, aged 27, the widow of a reservist who had died in South Africa, was found in her cottage at Stokesby suffering from severe abdominal wounds, from which she died in the course of the day. A half-witted lad named Cossey, aged 20, was apprehended on the charge of murdering the woman.

END OF VOL. II.