5.--A new organ, erected at Swaffham church, by Messrs. Bishop and Son,
of London, was opened.
7.--At the adjourned Norwich Quarter Sessions, before the Recorder (Mr.
W. J. Metcalfe, Q.C.), a special jury was empanelled to assess the value
of certain property in London Street, which the Corporation proposed to
take under the compulsory provisions of their Act of Parliament for the
purpose of widening the thoroughfare. At a meeting of the Town Council
on May 8th, it was agreed that the owners be offered sums amounting to
9,818.
9.--Lieut.-Colonel Bignold was elected president of the Norwich Central
Conservative Club, a position which conferred upon him the leadership of
the Conservative party in Norwich.
9.--The Norwich Corporation farms at Whitlingham and Kirby Bedon having
entailed a loss to the city of 4,000 in five years, the Town Council
accepted the tender of Mr. Garrett Taylor, of Easton, to hire them at the
annual rent of 1,710.
12.--At a meeting held at the King's Arms Hotel, North Walsham, nearly
300 was subscribed to start a pack of harriers in North Norfolk, and an
offer by Lord Suffield to keep the pack in his kennels at Gunton was
unanimously accepted.
13.--Mr. Samuel Brandram, M.A., gave a dramatic recital at Noverre's
Rooms, Norwich, in aid of the building fund of the Norfolk and Norwich
Hospital. It was the first appearance in Norwich of this accomplished
elocutionist, who was regarded as the legitimate successor of the great
Bellew.
18.--The 5th Royal Irish Lancers, commanded by Colonel Dunham Massy, of
Redan fame, marched into Norwich from Aldershot, to relieve the 1st
Dragoons (Royal).
30.--At Norwich Theatre, H. J. Byron's comedy, "Our Boys," was presented
for the first time by Mr. Duck's company. The part of Perkyn Middlewick
was played by Mr. F. Marshall.
--Died at Norwich, aged 36, Mr. Robert Edward Gibson, surgeon. He was
the son of a solicitor, a former Mayor of Plymouth, and a nephew of Mr.
C. M. Gibson, his predecessor in the office of medical superintendent of
the Norwich Bethel. For some years he was surgeon to the Jenny Lind
Infirmary, and held the appointments of surgeon to the City Police, the
Post Office staff, and the Workhouse. Mr. Gibson married a daughter of
Mr. I. O. Taylor.