The following account is given of this:—“With the exception of two or
three of the candidates who came forward as Liberals, the aspirants
for Municipal honours did not this year favour the public with any
printed expositions of their views, or any explanations of the
grounds upon which they came forward. The elections of Friday,
however did not cause much excitement, although at the eleventh hour
the Conservatives found themselves opposed in all the wards except
St. Andrew’s, in which Messrs. W. T. Clarke, and R. Steward were
elected unopposed. In the Market Ward, Mr. Gourlay (L) and Mr. E.
Aldred (C) sought re-election, and the new candidate was Mr. Lawn,
Liberal. The result of the voting was—Gourlay, 60; Aldred, 59; Lawn,
20. The two former, of course, were elected. In the Regent Ward,
Mr. Barber, Conservative, sought re-election, and in the place of Mr.
Norman, surgeon (C), who retired, Dr. Stephenson (C) was put forward.
The candidates on the other side were Messrs. Livingston and de Caux.
The ward again showed its partiality for medicine, and polled as
follows:—Barber, 109; Stephenson, 106; Livingston, 81; de Caux,
69.—In St. George’s Ward, the Conservative candidates, who sought
re-election, were Messrs. R. Ferrier and B. Jay, opposed by Messrs.
Scott and Palmer. The poll—Ferrier, 101; Jay 101; Palmer, 39; Scott,
37.—Nelson Ward: C. J. Palmer (C), 93, C. Woolverton (C), 93; G.
Moore (L), 3; Playford (L), 3. North Ward: W. Worship (C), 118; J.
B. Hylton (C), 118; S. W. Bly (L), 83; J. Neave (L), 84.—It was
rumoured that during the day some bribery was effected by such
moderate sums as half-a-crown and five shillings per man.
Nov. 13th.—At the Council meeting Mr. C. C. Aldred proposed, and Mr.
Shingles seconded, Mr. Robert Steward as Mayor, and he was elected
accordingly.
Nov. 20th.—There were between 200 and 300 fishing vessels at sea during
the recent gales, of which only 30 luggers were then unaccounted for.
About 100 lasts of fish had been delivered on the Quay on the previous
Saturday, when prices ranged from £15 upwards.
A new Lifeboat had been stationed near the Britannia Pier.
Nov. 23rd.—Among the smacks which had been injured in the gale was Mr.
Todd’s new vessel the “Christiana;” some of this owner’s other vessels
had suffered damage, and his loss was estimated altogether at £1,000.
Nov. 27th.—Mr. Downing’s fish-offices had been destroyed by fire.
Nov. 30th.—In the Town Council, Messrs. Gooda, Burroughs, Clowes, S. B.
Cory, and another had voted against the question of the Mayor being
“decorated by the wearing of a gown;” 17 members had, however, voted that
the question be referred to the Lands Committee.
The Artillery Volunteers had salved a boat and obtained £7 salvage money
to the annoyance of the Beachmen
The Parish Authorities “remained at loggerheads” with the Vestry Clerk.
In the opinion of the inhabitants the “robes question” seemed only a plan
to run up a bill for another “folly.”
The Police had been furnished with “Southwester” hats.
Dec. 4th.—It was stated that the robe business had cropped up, as the
Mayor was going to Court, and it was felt
“That if, this year, the Mayor’s not knighted,
The Corporate ‘status’ will be blighted.”
Herring was making £35 per last, and 1,000 packages of trawl fish had
been forwarded to the market.
Dec. 11th.—The Lands Committee had decided that the Mayor, Town-clerk,
and Messrs. Collins, Ellis and Thompson (the officers) should wear gowns,
but no head gear had been decided upon for them.
Dec. 14th.—“Deerfoot,” an American runner, had been performing in the
town, when he accomplished 10 miles in 53 minutes.
The Treasurer to the Rifle Corps (Mr. Clarke) and the Quarter-Master (Mr.
C. Diver) were about to be appointed Supernumerary Lieutenants.
Dec. 18th.—Owing to the death of the Prince Consort, the paper appeared
in mourning.
The flags had been hoisted at half-mast on the Town Hall and other public
buildings on receipt of this mournful news.
Dec. 21st.—The Artillery Volunteers had given an entertainment at the
Theatre.
Dec. 25th.—There had been a Special Service at St. Nicholas’ Church on
the occasion of the funeral of the Prince Consort, when the Vicar
preached from the text, “And the King said unto his servants, know ye not
that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel.” Sam.
iii., 38. At the close of the service the “Dead March” in _Saul_ was
played, and the Rifle Volunteers returned with muffled drums, the bells
ringing at the same time.
The Artillery Corps fired minute guns from the South Battery for an hour,
and from twelve to two the shops throughout the town were closed.
The Town Council met and voted an address of condolence to Her Majesty.
Dec. 28th.—A special service had also been held at the Synagogue,
commencing with Psalms 13, 19, 15, and 85, and concluding with a prayer
for the Queen and the Royal Family, after which, on the motion of Mr.
Pyke, an address of condolence to the Queen and Royal Family was adopted.
The Rifle Corps had again on the invitation of Major Orde visited Hopton.
1862.
Jan. 4th.—Parcels containing Christmas fare “had fallen among thieves” on
the Railway.
Jan. 8th.—Up to the 30th ult., 9,257 offers had been received and 8,229
Volunteers enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve; of this number 24 held
Masters’ Certificates, 116 Mates’ Certificates, and the force embraced
1,148 petty officers in the Merchant Service.
Jan. 15th.—Two pugilists named Foxall and Chambers, (who were
occasionally employed as Beachmen), had engaged in a prize fight.
“Ducky” Chambers was the winner.
Jan. 18th.—Major Orde, Captain Youell, and C. H. Chamberlin, Esq., had
been entertaining the Rifle Volunteers at the Drill Hall with “Readings
from Modern Authors.”
It was again proposed to start a Conservative Newspaper in Yarmouth.
Jan. 25th.—At the Gorleston Vestry Meeting the Church Rate was not
pressed for.
Feb. 8th.—The Corporation’s costs in “Morant _v._ Chamberlin” amounted to
£1,402 17s. 6d.
Feb. 19th.—Mr. A. W. Morant had resigned his commission in the Artillery
Volunteers.
A cargo of pickled herrings had arrived from Norway.
Feb. 22nd.—Messrs. Hewett and Co. were about to transfer the greater part
of their trawling business to Gorleston; thus about 100 families would be
transferred from Barking to that village.
The Anniversary Dinner of the “Pioneer” Lodge, No. 262 M.U.I.O.F., had
been held at the Foundry Arms, Bro. Wells in the chair.
March. 5th.—The Town Council had determined to oppose the “Railway
Amalgamation Bill.”
March 12th.—Private H. Fenner (Champion Rifle Volunteer Shot) had been
elected a Sergeant.
March 15th.—The Anniversary Dinner of the “Prince of Wales” Lodge,
M.U.I.O.F., had been held at the Fish-Stall House, P.G. Robins in the
chair and P.G. Crome vice-chair.
In the Divorce Court, the case of “Burroughs _v_ Burroughs and Silcock”
had resulted in the jury finding that the charges made against each party
by the other were groundless; consequently the petitioner failed in his
suit.
March 22nd.—Mr. Henry Danby-Palmer had died suddenly.
April 2nd.—The Mayor had called a meeting to forward the proposal for
holding a Volunteer Review at Yarmouth. The Mayor (Mr. R. Steward), Mr.
R. Ferrier, Mr. D. R. Fowler, Mr. C. J. Palmer, Mr. W. Worship, Mr. J.
Clowes, and Mr. S. Nightingale took part in the proceedings, and about
£250 was subscribed in the room.
April 16th.—The East Suffolk Artillery Militia was stationed at the
Southtown Barracks.
April 26th.—Colonel Adair (commanding that Regiment) had delivered a
lecture at the Corn Hall “On the land defences of the Eastern Counties.”
Upon this Regiment leaving; the Norfolk Artillery Militia, under Colonel
Astley, were to occupy the Barracks for five weeks.
At the Vestry Meeting, Mr. R. Hammond proposed, and Mr. Bracey seconded,
the re-election of Mr. C. S. D. Steward; and Mr. Hylton proposed, and Mr.
Shingles seconded, the re-election of Mr. E. R. Aldred.
April 30th.—Colonel Pippon had inspected the E.N.M. on the South Denes,
when the Regiment mustered 700 rank and file.
“Tom Sayers’” Circus had attended the Fair.
May 3rd.—Owing to want of funds the Parish Beadle at Gorleston had been
discharged.
May 7th.—The first stone of the New Bethel had been laid. This building
was to replace the old Bethel which for so many years had been held in
the ancient house, belonging for several generations to the Palmer
family, near the Sailors’ Home.
May 14th.—It was proposed to erect a Memorial to the late Prince Consort
in the town.
Practical joking still continued in the Borough.
May 17th.—C. J. Palmer, Esq., had presented the Corporation with a
scarlet silk gown and black gown formerly worn by the Mayors as robes of
office.