1.--A fine steamer, named the Levadia, of Newcastle, bound from Shields
to Alexandria, with coals, was wrecked on the Middle Cross Sand, five
miles off Yarmouth. Several men were drowned by the upsetting of one of
the ship's boats, others who had lashed themselves to the masts of the
vessel perished from cold and exposure, and of the crew of twenty-five a
solitary survivor, Thomas Sewell, a Yarmouth man, was rescued by the
Gorleston lifeboat.
2.--Mr. Arthur H. Mann, B.Mus., of New College, Oxford, organist at
King's College, Cambridge, whose exercise, "Ecce Homo," had been
performed on the previous day in the Sheldonian Theatre, was admitted to
the degree of Doctor of Music.
7.--The first Good Friday performance of "The Messiah," took place at St.
Andrew's Hall, Norwich. Mr. F. W. B. Noverre was leader of the band, Dr.
Bunnett organist, and Dr. Hill conductor.
21.--The Norwich Town Council adopted a memorial to the Secretary of
State for War, in which the War Office was petitioned to retain Norwich
as a cavalry station. The Mayor, Sheriff, and the members of Parliament
for the city, on May 5th, waited upon the Secretary of State for War, and
urged the retention of cavalry headquarters in the city, in addition to
its being made the brigade depot of the Norfolk Regiment. (_See_ March
24th, 1883.)
25.--The Spring Show of the Norfolk Agricultural Association was held on
the Lakenham Cricket Ground, Norwich.
--The Earl of Leicester performed the ceremony of laying the
foundation-stone of the Norfolk and Norwich Agricultural Hall, at
Norwich. On April 27th, in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division,
before the Vice-Chancellor, Sir C. Hall, application was made on behalf
of Mr. Philip Back for an injunction against the Corporation of Norwich
and the Agricultural Hall Company, Limited, to restrain them from
erecting the hall, on the ground that the Corporation had no power to let
the land, which had been dedicated from time immemorial to fairs and
markets. The hearing was adjourned until May 20th, when the Court
refused the application; and on November 11th it was announced that Mr.
Back had consented to abandon the action. (_See_ November 16th.)
31.--In the House of Commons, the opposition of the Dean and Chapter and
other residents in the Cathedral Close, Norwich, to the invasion of the
precincts of the Cathedral by the Lynn and Fakenham Railway Company was
successful, the company being compelled, by the strong feeling expressed
against the proposed route, to withdraw that portion of their Bill
affecting the Close.