5.--The High Sheriff (Mr. Angerstein) was fined 50 by the Judge of Assize
at Norwich. (Mr. Justice Keating), for non-attendance with his carriage
at the Judge's lodgings. His lordship had driven to the court in a cab,
which he considered to be "a way not fitting her Majesty's Judges." The
High Sheriff subsequently explained that a mistake had been made as to
the time fixed for the sitting of the court, and having tendered an
apology, the fine was remitted by his lordship.
5.--At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Byles, James Johnson, of
North Walsham, sought to recover from Mr. W. H. Cooke, Q.C., Judge of the
Norfolk County Court, damages for false imprisonment and assault. It was
alleged that the defendant wrongfully imprisoned the plaintiff for thirty
days; when the plaintiff left Norwich Castle he personally served the
Judge, as he was leaving the court, with a notice of action for false
imprisonment, and his Honour, mistaking the man's intention, seized him
by the collar, and a second time ordered his arrest. For the defendant
it was alleged that he had acted within his jurisdiction. After two
days' trial the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages one
farthing.
8.--An alarming flood occurred at Walsingham. Owing to heavy rains, the
stream in the vicinity overflowed its banks, and the low-lying part of
the town was submerged. Forty women and children were rescued from the
upper rooms of the cottages by means of ladders, and conveyed in boats to
a place of safety. On the 9th a temporary dam was erected, which had the
effect of diverting the flow of water. The village of East Barsham was
also flooded, and the high road at West Barsham was under water.
10.--At a meeting of the Norfolk Central Committee, held at the
Shirehall, Norwich, it was reported that foot-and-mouth disease had
spread to an alarming extent among cattle and sheep. On the motion of
Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., it was ordered that markets for fat stock be held
under the same restrictions that were in force during the time of the
cattle plague, and that similar regulations should govern the movements
of store stock as were then in force. In Norfolk alone during the
previous five weeks the loss to stockowners from foot-and-mouth disease
was estimated at 22,500, in respect of 10,000 cattle and 5,000 sheep.
The committee sent a memorial to the Privy Council to prohibit the
opening of all fairs and markets for the period of six weeks.
12.--Died suddenly, at Hills Road, Cambridge, Mr. George Kett. He was
born at Suton, near Wymondham, on June 26th, 1809, and commenced life in
a small way of business as a wood carver at Wymondham. After copying
poppyheads at Wymondham church, he undertook the carving of the seats for
Ketteringham and Mulbarton churches. He then removed to Norwich, where
he was engaged upon the restoration of the Cathedral stalls and canopies.
Whilst he was working there Mr. James Rattee was placed under him as an
apprentice, and the two afterwards became partners. Mr. Kett was next
offered employment upon the works for the new Houses of Parliament. In
1845 he removed to London, where he was principally employed under the
immediate direction of Sir Charles Barry, in supplying designs for the
wood carving. Among other portions of the work on which he was specially
engaged were the Royal Arms at the back of the Throne in the House of
Lords. Mr. Rattee, in 1848, consulted him upon an estimate for the
restoration of the choir of Ely Cathedral, and Mr. Kett agreed that if
the tender were accepted he would remove to Cambridge and assist him in
carrying it out. The business partnership thus commenced continued after
Mr. Rattee's death, in 1854, with his widow, under the style of Rattee
and Kett. Mrs. Rattee died in 1866, when Mr. Kett assumed sole control
of the establishment, and was largely engaged in the work of church
restoration in all parts of the United Kingdom.
15.--Died at Felbrigg Park, Mr. John Ketton, in his 61st year. Mr.
Ketton was a native of Norwich, where for many years he was engaged in
commercial pursuits. His success enabled him, when Mr. Windham's affairs
became embarrassed, to purchase the Felbrigg estate, where he resided
until the period of his death.
--Died at Reigate, Surrey, from the effects of injuries inflicted upon
himself, Mr. Benjamin Land, better known as "Ben Land," a sporting
character of great celebrity in his day. Mr. Land began life as a
Norfolk farmer, and gave great encouragement to steeple-chasing in the
county, upon the introduction of that sport in the first half of the
century. One of his earliest winning mounts was in 1836, a horse named
Predictor. Then he owned a very useful nag called Neewood, and another,
Lottery, an exceedingly clever animal over a country. Land made himself
further known by his doings on Jim Crow, Faith, the Novice, Yellow Dwarf,
Little Nell, Victoria, and Wonder, who could all run and jump a bit, and
sad teasers they were to other Norfolk sportsmen. While still holding on
his farm, Land hunted a pack of staghounds, but he gradually got out of
business as an agriculturist, and took to riding and training as a
profession.
17.--The provisions of the new Licensing Act came into operation in
Norwich. A notice had been issued by the Chief Constable that on Sunday,
Christmas-day, and Good Friday, licensed houses were not to open before
12.30 at noon and to close at 2.30 in the afternoon; not to open again
before six in the evening, and to close at ten o'clock. On week-days
they were not to open until six in the morning, and to close at eleven
o'clock at night. "This application of the Act came on the city suddenly
and unexpectedly, the general opinion having prevailed that everything
would go on as usual until the next annual licensing-day. In Union Place
and King Street many people determined to have their own way as far as
they could, and accordingly just before closing time they made a great
demand upon the can accommodation of the houses. Large cans and small
cans, when filled with beer, were borne off in triumphant defiance to the
pavement outside, or to the men's private gardens or houses, where friend
and neighbour remained drinking, and, in some cases, singing, together
long after the lights of the various public-houses had been extinguished.
In two or three instances some ill-advised publicans persisted in keeping
their houses open." Several licensed victuallers were fined for
infringing the regulations of the new Act, and in the early days of its
operation the Norwich magistrates were very liberal in granting
extensions of time on the occasion of the Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun
holidays. At East Dereham the justices permitted the public-houses to
remain open until twelve o'clock during four months of the year.
19.--The first really notable journey upon a bicycle was performed by
Percy Everett, of Ryburgh, a lad aged 16. He started at 4.45 a.m. from
Ryburgh station, and rode to Newmarket, where he had breakfast; thence to
Whittlesford, where he lunched; and at 5.30 p.m. he reached Ware, in
Hertfordshire, having accomplished the distance of 110 miles in about
12.5 hours. Everett rode one of the first of the rubber-tyred
bicycles--a machine of Coventry make, known as the "Aeriel."
20.--Died, Mr. Edmund Harbord Lushington Preston, Mayor of Great
Yarmouth. Mr. Preston was born in 1806, at the period when the Hon. E.
Harbord (second son of the then Lord Suffield) and Mr. Stephen Lushington
were returned to Parliament as members for Yarmouth--hence two of his
Christian names. After the passing of the Municipal Reform Act, he was
one of the first burgesses returned to the Town Council on Conservative
principles, and, with the exception of a short period, from November,
1868, to November, 1869, he continued to be a member of the Corporation.
Mr. Preston was for twenty years one of the magistrates of the borough,
and a member of the Port and Haven Commission.
27.--The Blake-Bignold incident occurred at the Norwich Police-court.
Mr. Blake, on September 2nd, was charged with assaulting a publican, and
fined, and, on his leaving the court, was followed by a mob, who
endeavoured to overturn the cab in which he had taken refuge.
28.--Lord Walsingham, while shooting on Blubberhouse Moor, Yorkshire,
killed with his own gun 842 head of grouse, between the hours of 5.30
a.m. and 3 p.m. The birds were driven, and before one o'clock 550 had
been bagged.
29.--A portion of the Reserve Squadron, consisting of nine ironclad war
vessels, under the command of Admiral Randolph, entered Yarmouth Roads,
and sailed on the 30th for the Nore. The officers and men numbered
4,500.
--A 300 yards swimming match took place at Thorpe, between John Morris,
ex-champion of England, and "Victor Natator, the champion under-water
performer," for 10 a side. "Natator" received ten yards' start, and,
after an exciting race, was beaten by three yards.