2.--The Eastern Counties Industrial and Fine Arts Exhibition commenced at
St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. It remained open for two months.
5.--At a special meeting of the Governors of the Norfolk and Norwich
Hospital, the Centenary Committee appointed for the purpose of suggesting
a scheme for affording increased accommodation for in-patients, and for
soliciting donations and subscriptions to carry out the object, reported
that in consequence of conflicting opinions they had been unable to come
to a decision. It was agreed by the Board that no additional building be
commenced not only until the necessary funds for completing the building
were provided, but until increased subscriptions for the maintenance of
additional in-patients were forthcoming. (_See_ November 20th, 1876.)
7.--The first Monday in August falling upon this date, "the banks at
Norwich were closed, under the Bank Holiday Act." At East Dereham "the
first of the holidays mentioned in the new statute was officially
observed by the various bank officials, for whose convenience the measure
was passed into law." A meeting of the merchants, manufacturers,
traders, and others was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, on December 14th,
"to determine whether the holidays mentioned in the Bank Holiday Act
should be permanently adopted in this city." Those present pledged
themselves to adopt the holidays.
15.--The Yarmouth Town Council voted an address to Sir James Paget, a
native of the borough, congratulating him upon the honour of a baronetcy
conferred upon him by the Queen.
22.--The D Battery, B Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, marched from
Norwich for Aldershot, and were accompanied to the city boundary by the
bands of the Artillery and Rifle Volunteers.
26.--Died, Mr. James De Carle Sowerby, aged 84. He belonged to a Norwich
family of naturalists, and was chiefly employed in drawing, engraving,
and colouring. "There were few departments of natural history in which
his attainments were not considerable, and he published many papers on
shells and other subjects in the Transactions of the Geological and other
societies."