1.--Municipal elections were held for the first time on this date, under
the Municipal Reform Act. At Norwich the contests in the eight wards
resulted in the return of eight Conservatives and eight Whig-Radicals.
--Died at King's Lynn, Mr. Joseph Waters, for many years a prominent
merchant in that town. "This melancholy event took place owing to a
violent fright which he received in the Theatre on that day."
4.--In the Court of King's Bench commenced a long course of litigation in
which the Corporation of Norwich was concerned. Sir W. Follett applied
for a rule to shew cause why a _quo warranto_ should not be filed calling
upon Mr. Thomas Brightwell to show by what authority he claimed to
exercise the office of Alderman. It was explained that after the passing
of the Municipal Reform Act a certain number of Aldermen were elected for
the city. Instead of each being nominated separately, they were all
proposed and elected in a batch, which, it was contended, was clearly
illegal. The court granted the application. A similar rule was applied
for against the Mayor, Mr. Springfield, for, it was argued, if the
Aldermen had not themselves been properly elected, they could not elect a
Mayor. A rule was also granted in this case. On November 24th the rule
was made absolute in the case of Mr. Brightwell, and enlarged in the case
of Mr. Springfield. In the Bail Court on the same date Mr. Kelly
obtained rules _nisi_ calling upon fourteen persons to show by what
authority they took upon themselves to act as Aldermen. On December 19th
the Attorney-General applied in the Rolls Court for an injunction to
restrain the Mayor and Corporation from defraying out of the municipal
funds the expenses incurred in defending the _quo warrantos_ in the Court
of King's Bench, calling upon Messrs. Springfield and Brightwell to show
cause by what authority they held the offices, the former of Mayor and
the latter of Alderman, as well as the expenses attending the
presentation of a petition to the Lord Chancellor to appoint new trustees
of the funds of the public charities, the management of which was vested
in the Corporation. The bill charged the defendants with applying the
Corporation funds wrongfully, in a manner inconsistent with the duties of
a Mayor and Corporation, and in direct violation of the provisions of the
Municipal Corporation Act, by applying them for the aforesaid purposes,
in consequence of certain resolutions to which the corporate body had
come. The effect of these resolutions was that the City Treasurer should
from time to time pay out of the city funds such sums of money as the
committee of the Corporation should deem necessary towards defraying the
expenses of the _quo warrantos_ and petition above-named. The defendants
put in two demurrers to the bill, and Lord Langdale said he would
consider the case before pronouncing judgment. (_See_ January 13th,
1837.)
5.*--"We wish to direct the attention of landowners and farmers in
Norfolk to the extraordinary success which has attended the attempt of
Mr. R. Crawshay, of Honingham Hall, to cultivate hops in Norfolk. A
sample of them may now be seen at Norgate and Co.'s, which competent
judges have declared to surpass the growth of any other county in the
kingdom. Our agriculturists will be deeply indebted to this gentleman
for proving to them that a valuable plant indigenous to the soil may be
cultivated with profitable success in Norfolk."
9.--Mr. Thomas Brightwell was elected Mayor, and Mr. John Bateman
appointed Sheriff, of Norwich.
23.--A musical festival took place at Fakenham parish church. "The
Messiah" was rendered in the morning, and "Judas Maccabeus" in the
evening. The soloists were supplied by the choir of Norwich Cathedral.
"Admission, middle aisle, 3s.; other parts, 2s."
26.*--"The allotment system has been tried on a tolerably large scale in
the parish of Attleborough, by Sir John Smyth, Bart., of Woodmarston
Hall, Surrey, lord of the manor of Attleborough. The allotments are let
at moderate rents, not exceeding the rent of similar lands in farm, with
the addition of the tithes and other charges which are paid by the
landlord."
28.--Sir James Flower's hounds met at Stow, where the stag was turned off
and was taken at Garboldisham Lings, after a run of five hours. The
distance from point to point was about eleven miles, but the stag ran at
least 40 miles, and the only horsemen up at the finish were the huntsman
and first whip.
29.--A severe gale occurred. A large wooden building erected at the
Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, for circus performances, was blown down by the
tremendous violence of the wind. "The great oak at Necton, for which the
late Mr. William Mason was offered by a shipwright at Lynn, in 1812, 120
guineas, had two arms blown off it, each the size of ordinary timber
trees." Barns and wheat stacks were blown down at Necton, Ashill, West
Bradenham, and Beeston. At Carbrooke a windmill, the property of Mr.
Robert Homes, was wrecked, and his son killed.
--The Freebridge Lynn Hundred Association for the encouragement of
agricultural labourers and servants was formed at a meeting held at the
Duke's Head Inn, Lynn. Sir W. B. ffolkes was elected president; the Rev.
C. D. Brereton, of Little Massingham, secretary; and Mr. B. Aldham,
treasurer.