7.--The new dock at Lynn, completed at the cost of upwards of 80,000, was
opened by the Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the Princess of
Wales. Their Royal Highnesses arrived by special train from London, and
were received at the railway station by the Chairman of the Dock Company
(Mr. L. W. Jarvis), the Mayor (Mr. J. Thorley), the members of Parliament
for the borough, and others. Escorted by a troop of the 3rd (Prince of
Wales') Dragoons, from Colchester, the Prince and Princess proceeded to
the Town Hall, where an address was read by the Recorder. After a visit
to the Grammar School, where his Royal Highness presented the medal
annually given by him to the head boy, the procession went to the Common
Staithe Quay, where the twin screw steamer Mary, of London, was lying
ready to receive the party on board. The band of the Grenadier Guards,
under Mr. Dan Godfrey, played a selection of music as the vessel steamed
down the Estuary Channel. Returning to the harbour, the Mary passed
through the lock gate into the Dock basin, amid the loud cheers of the
spectators, the playing of the National Anthem, and the ringing of the
church bells. His Royal Highness having declared the Dock duly opened,
said that it would thenceforth be called the Alexandra Dock. The Royal
visitors and a distinguished company next proceeded to the Town Hall for
luncheon. The Prince and Princess afterwards left for Sandringham. In
the evening the town was illuminated, and a display of fireworks was
given in the Tuesday Market Place.
8.--After lying high and dry for upwards of nine weeks, the large screw
steamer, Lady Flora, was launched from Caister beach. She was a
first-class vessel, of 750 tons register, and 1,000 tons gross, 205 feet
in length, 29 feet beam, and was valued at 16,000. On May 1st she ran
hard and fast on the beach, in close contiguity to the dangerous shoal
known as the Patch. Early in June the services of Mr. T. B. Carr,
engineer, of Hull, were engaged by the underwriters, and efforts were
made to get her off. The steamer had become embedded in the sand to the
depth of eight feet, but by the aid of very powerful hydraulic cranes and
other appliances, and assisted by 120 men, Mr. Carr succeeded in lifting
the vessel four feet above the beach. In these operations upwards of
2,000 was expended. Three thousand persons assembled to witness the
launch. When the blocks were knocked away the vessel, by her own weight,
glided broadside off, and rolled in magnificent style into 4.5 feet of
water. Her draught (empty) was eight feet; as the tide rose she floated
with it, and was towed to Hull for repair. On November 20th it was
announced that the Lady Flora, which was then engaged in the Baltic
trade, had been lost at sea.
16.--In recognition of the great services he had rendered to the Norwich
Battalion of Rifle Volunteers during the five years it was under his
command, Col. Black was presented with a service of plate by the
officers, non-commissioned officers, and members of the corps. Col.
Black was succeeded in the command of the Battalion by Col. G. M.
Boileau.
19.--Robertson's comedy, "Caste," which marked a new era in the character
of theatrical representation, was produced for the first time in Norwich,
by a company which appeared at the Theatre Royal, under the management of
Mr. Frederick Younge. The transition from sensational drama and broad
farce to refined comedy was by no means appreciated by local playgoers,
and the attendance during the week was unusually small even for Norwich.
"School" was the other piece performed by the company, which comprised
Mr. Frederick Younge, Mr. Craven, Mr. J. W. Ray, Mr. G. Canninge, Mr.
Fortune, Mrs. E. Dyas, Miss Ada Dyas, and Miss Brunton.
21.--Died at Saham, Mr. Jonas Silvanus Wright, aged 71. He was the
author of "The Prodigal Son," "Rambles in Wales," and other poems.