2.--A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of
the Mayor, for the purpose of considering a Bill proposed to be
introduced in Parliament for the preservation of fish in the rivers
Wensum, Yare, and Waveney. Mr. Frank Buckland and Mr. Spencer Walpole,
inspectors of fisheries, attended the meeting, and resolutions were
adopted in favour of legislation. The Norfolk and Suffolk Fisheries Bill
passed the Select Committee of the House of Commons on May 8th, and was
reported to the House, and before the end of the year became law.
3.--Died at her residence, High Street, Lowestoft, Dame Pleasance Smith,
widow of Sir James Edward Smith, of Norwich, formerly president of the
Linnaean Society. This venerable lady, who was 103 years of age, had
received from Queen Victoria a copy of "Our Life in the Highlands,"
containing the inscription, in her Majesty's own handwriting, "To Lady
Smith, on her one hundredth birthday, from her friend, Victoria R., May
11th, 1873."
--The Earl of Leicester presided at a meeting held at the Norfolk and
Norwich Hospital, "for the purpose of turning to the best account the
large sum of money offered to the Hospital by the public." It was stated
that 24,000 had been subscribed, and that 35,000 was the maximum sum
required. The Sheriff (Mr. Cadge) moved, "That, in the opinion of this
meeting, it is expedient that a new hospital should be erected, in lieu
of any plan for improving the old building." Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P.,
seconded the motion, which was adopted. (_See_ June 17th, 1879.)
5.--Mr. C. J. Palmer, author of "The Perlustration of Great Yarmouth,"
was presented with a silver epergne and gold watch by the inhabitants of
the borough, in recognition of his labours in antiquarian work and
literature.
9.--Died at Norwich, aged 59, Mr. James Frederick Hill, for twenty-five
years chorus master of the Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical
Festival.
15.--A resolution having been passed by the owners and ratepayers,
declaring the expediency of the parish of East Dereham being constituted
a local government district, Mr. Arnold Taylor, the inspector appointed
for the purpose, held an inquiry at the Assembly Rooms, and received
evidence on the subject. The first Local Improvement Board was elected
on August 1st.
19.--At Norwich Theatre, Mr. W. H. Pennington, "the celebrated tragic
actor, one of the Six Hundred, formerly of the 11th Hussars, and one of
the few wounded survivors of the world-famed light cavalry charge at
Balaclava, on October 25th, 1854," made his first appearance, in the
character of Hamlet, and was supported by Miss Viola Dacre as Ophelia.
On subsequent evenings Mr. Pennington appeared as Macbeth, Richard the
Third, &c., and on the 23rd recited, in the uniform of his old regiment,
"The Charge of the Light Brigade."