2.--Mr. Edward Compton's company appeared at Norwich Theatre in Mr. W. G.
Wills' play, "Jane Shore," with Miss Isabel Bateman in the title _role_.
17.--Mr. Andrew Johnston, Assistant Commissioner under the Boundary
Commission appointed to make inquiries as to the delimitation of counties
and Poor Law Unions, in view of impending legislation in the form of a
new Local Government Bill, attended a meeting of the County Rate Basis
Committee, held at Lynn under the presidency of Mr. R. T. Gurdon, and
heard various statements made by the county magistrates. A Committee
appointed to confer with the Commissioners reported at the County
Sessions on April 5th that they considered it undesirable to alter the
boundaries of the county. On April 10th a deputation appointed by the
Norwich Town Council waited upon Mr. Ritchie to ask for the inclusion of
Norwich in Schedule 4 of the Local Government Bill, in order that the
city might be constituted a county in itself, and not be included in the
county of Norfolk as was proposed. The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture,
on May 5th, passed resolutions in favour "of an alteration in the
proposed electoral divisions so as to give a fair representation to the
agricultural interest; of an extension of the term of office of the
elective councillors; of one electoral register for all purposes; and of
the postponement of the question of District Councils until next year."
The Chamber further agreed to petition Parliament in favour of the wheel
tax.
--A report was submitted to the Norwich Town Council on the completion of
the new Foundry Bridge. The original estimate for the work was 13,000;
the actual cost, including all charges, was 12,032 11s. 4d. The width of
the bridge is 50 feet--five feet more than was originally intended. The
Great Eastern Railway Company contributed 1,200 towards the cost of the
undertaking.
20.--Died, at Shadwell Court, Sir Robert Jacob Buxton, Bart. The son of
Sir John Jacob Buxton, Bart., by the eldest daughter of Sir Montagu
Cholmeley, he succeeded to the title in 1842 as the third, and, in
default of male issue, the last baronet. Sir Robert was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford, and married, in 1865, Mary Augusta Harriet,
daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Johnstone, by whom he left two daughters,
Maud Isabel and Sybil Mary. He was a Deputy-Lieutenant for Norfolk, and
sat in Parliament for the Southern Division of the county from 1871 to
1885. In 1870 he served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk, and was a
justice of the peace for both Norfolk and Suffolk. Sir Robert was at one
time an officer in the Suffolk Yeomanry Cavalry, and afterwards
identified himself with the Volunteer movement by accepting, in 1860, a
captaincy in the 20th Norfolk Rifle Volunteers.
21.--At the annual meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural
Society the Mayor of Norwich (Mr. F. W. Harmer) presented to Mr. Arthur
Waters Preston a handsome black marble clock of classical design,
subscribed for by members and friends of the society in recognition of
his services as hon. secretary from 1881 to 1888. Accompanying the
testimonial was a cheque for 50 and an illuminated address.
23.--The action, Stanley _v._ the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich,
arising out of the claim of the freemen to the Town Close Estate, came
before Mr. Justice Kekewich in the Royal Court of Judicature. Mr. Walter
Rye, Mr. Stanley's agent, asked that it might be referred to Mr. Blofeld,
Recorder of Ipswich and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, to enquire
and report who were the persons entitled as freemen to participate in the
rents and profits of the estate, and what persons were entitled to be
admitted as freemen under the inquiry directed by the judgment given in
March, 1887. His lordship made the order asked for, and directed that
the inquiry be held at the Guildhall, Norwich, or at such other place as
the referee might from time to time direct. Mr. Blofeld opened the
inquiry on March 19th, and continued the proceedings on the 20th, when a
large number of freemen attended for the purpose of proving their right
to have their names placed upon the roll. On the same day (the 20th) it
was reported to the Town Council that the cost of the Town Close Estate
litigation amounted to 4,500, and a resolution was adopted for leave to
borrow the amount on mortgage of the estate. In the Chancery Division of
the High Court of Justice, on July 7th, a point was raised as to the
jurisdiction of the court to affirm a declaration of the Attorney-General
creating the Town Close Estate a charity. Mr. Justice Kekewich, on July
14th, sustained the objection taken by the respondents to the
Attorney-General's application, and held that before issuing a summons
the Attorney-General must establish by independent proceedings an
information that there was a charity in existence to be regulated. The
summons had been so drawn as to assume the existence of a charity, and
this was just what his lordship thought could not be assumed. On
December 14th, in the Supreme Court, before Lords Justices Cotton,
Lindley, and Bowen, the Attorney-General appealed from Mr. Justice
Kekewich's decision. Their lordships, after hearing arguments, held that
Mr. Justice Kekewich had determined by his judgment that the Town Close
Estate was a charitable trust. On December 20th, however, their
lordships reconsidered their decision, directed the order of Mr. Justice
Kekewich to be discharged, and ordered the summons to be set down for
further argument, and to decide whether there was or was not a charity.
(_See_ January 21st, 1889.)
31.--Died, at Southwell Lodge, Norwich, Mr. John Willis, aged 54. Mr.
Willis was a member of the firm of Willis and Southall, an alderman, and
a justice of the peace for the city. A native of Gloucestershire, he had
resided in Norwich for a quarter of a century. It was through his
advocacy that the Artisans' Dwellings Act was put into force in Norwich,
and the rookeries in St. Paul's were demolished. He also interested
himself in the matter of the gas supply, and vigorously protested against
what he conceived to be the unjust treatment of the citizens by the Gas
Company. He married, in 1870, the only daughter of Mr. Colmam, of Stoke
Holy Cross, and sister of Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P.