2.--Norwich Theatre opened for the season at reduced prices of admission,
namely, boxes, single ticket, 4s., half price 2s., family tickets to
admit six 1 pound; upper boxes 2s., half price 1s.; pit 1s. (no half
price); gallery 6d. The entire house had been redecorated by Mr. Thorne.
Mr. Frederick Vining, of the Haymarket Theatre, London, and his daughter,
Miss Vining, appeared on the 16th in the parts of Benedict and Beatrice,
and fulfilled an engagement of seven weeks. The season, one of the most
successful that Mr. Smith had experienced, was chiefly remarkable for the
large number of "bespeaks" given, amongst others, by the officers of the
13th Light Dragoons, the Royal and Norfolk Hotel Wine Clubs, the Governor
and Deputy-Governor of the Court of Guardians, &c.
5.--A heavy fall of snow on this day was accompanied by lightning and
thunder.
6.--The first annual meeting of the Norfolk Flax Society, the object of
which was "to promote the cultivation of a plant for the produce of which
vast sums of money are annually sent abroad," was held at Norwich. It
was stated that the soil and climate of the county were "equal and
perhaps superior to any in the world for the growth and perfection of the
plant, and its cultivation would be more profitable than that of any
other crop." The method of "forming linseed into compound to fatten
cattle" was demonstrated in a booth on the Castle Meadow, and an
exhibition of articles manufactured from flax was held at St. Andrew's
Hall. The Hon. W. R Rous was President of the Society, to which about
eighty prominent agriculturists belonged. M. Demann, a Belgian
agriculturist, was engaged as the Society's agent, and many meetings were
held in the county in furtherance of the movement.
7.--The promoters of the scheme for the erection of the Leicester
monument appointed a "committee of taste," who recommended the building
of a column, of artistic design. At a meeting held at the Norfolk Hotel,
on January 21st, the much vexed question of the site was discussed and a
decision was given in favour of Holkham Park, mainly by the votes of a
number of subscribers of ten shillings each in the neighbourhood of
Wells. Efforts were made to secure the erection of the monument at
Norwich, and the supporters of either place were invited to vote upon the
subject. After the poll a scrutiny was held, and on August 5th it was
announced that 322 votes had been given in favour of Holkham, and 281 in
favour of Norwich.
9.--Died, aged 60, at Birmingham, Mr. Vaughan, "the highly respectable
musician and once excellent tenor singer." He was a native of Norwich,
and when quite young was a member of the choir of St. George's Chapel,
Windsor. He was afterwards engaged at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's
Cathedral, and the Chapel Royal. On the death of Mr. Harrison, in 1812,
Mr. Vaughan was appointed principal tenor at the King's Concerts of
Ancient Music, he sang at most of the provincial musical festivals, and
was a member of several musical clubs in the Metropolis.