3.--The Norfolk magistrates met at the Shirehall, Norwich, for the last
time for the discharge of the general business of the county. Mr. J. R.
Bulwer, Q.C., presided. On the motion of Sir Francis Boileau, Bart.,
seconded by Mr. C. S. Read, a vote of thanks was accorded to the senior
Chairman, Mr. R. T. Gurdon, "for the impartial, courteous, and punctual
manner in which he has discharged the various duties appertaining to the
office of Chairman during the eighteen years in which he has with marked
ability presided over this Court." One of the last acts of the Court was
to grant to the Under-Sheriff (Mr. Hales) the sum of 700 towards the
expenses of the County Council elections, which took place on January
24th. The first meeting of the Norfolk Provisional County Council was
held at the Shirehall, Norwich, on February 7th. Mr. Gurdon was elected
provisional chairman by 37 votes against 18 recorded for Lord Kimberley.
After the election of aldermen the meeting was adjourned until February
16th, when Mr. Gurdon was elected permanent Chairman by 53 votes against
20 polled by Lord Kimberley. Lord Walsingham was elected Vice-Chairman.
It was reported that the cost of the elections was 3,308 4s. 6d. The
first meeting of the fully-constituted Council took place at the
Shirehall on April 13th; and on December 14th it adopted a comprehensive
scheme for the management of the main roads of the county.
--A regimental ball, given by the officers of the 20th Hussars, took
place at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.
9.--A meeting of the citizens was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, for
the consideration of the Norwich Corporation Bill, which, during the
preceding year the Town Council had decided to present to Parliament.
The Mayor (Mr. J. Farrar Ranson) presided, and the proceedings were of a
most disorderly character. At the adjourned meeting on the 23rd similar
scenes were witnessed. The Bill, which was very comprehensive, and
contained provisions relating to infectious diseases, police regulations,
private street works, hackney carriages, the employment of children,
consolidation of parishes, &c., passed through Select Committee of the
House of Commons on June 18th.
14.--The first of another series of "Science Lectures for the People" was
given, under the Gilchrist Educational Trust, at St. Andrew's Hall by Sir
Robert Stawell Ball, Astronomer Royal for Ireland, on "The Sun, the
Fountain of life and Light." Dr. Lant Carpenter, on January 28th,
lectured upon "Electric Lighting"; Dr. Andrew Wilson, February 9th, on
"Some Animal Architects: Chalk Builders and Coral Makers"; Professor
Miall, February 25th, on "The Life-history of the Earth"; Professor
Seeley, March 11th, on "Water and its Action in Land-shaping"; and the
Rev. Dr. Dallinger, F.R.S., F.L.S., president of the Royal Microscopical
Society, March 25th, on "Contrasts of Nature--the Infinitely Great and
the Infinitely Small." The Corporation in December arranged a series of
lectures independently of the Gilchrist Trust. On the 4th of that month
Sir Robert Ball lectured on "Shooting Stars," and on the 18th Dr. Andrew
Wilson discoursed on "The Heart and its Action." (_See_ March 5th,
1890.)
21.--The freemen of Norwich unanimously agreed that it was undesirable to
take any steps in opposition to the Attorney-General's motion for
declaring the Town Close Estate a charity. In the Court of Appeal, on
June 22nd, before Lords Justices Cotton, Bowen, and Fry, Mr. Ingle Joyce
informed their lordships that a scheme was to be devised for the
management of the estate; the Corporation were to retain a sufficient sum
to cover their costs, and the plaintiffs in the action were to have their
costs as between party and party. Their lordships sanctioned the
agreement. "All that now remains to be done in the original action is to
settle the roll by striking off the names of freemen wrongfully
admitted." At a meeting of the Town Council on August 27th it was
reported that the estimated costs in the litigation amounted to 5,000.
(_See_ February 6th, 1892.)
23.--Died, at Yarmouth, Mrs. Rose Ellen Thackeray, widow of the Rev.
Joseph Thackeray, many years rector of Horstead and Coltishall. Mrs.
Thackeray, who was in her 79th year, was the authoress of "Social
Skeletons," and "Pictures of the Past," and a contributor of poetical
sketches to various magazines. She was the youngest daughter of Captain
John Robinson, of the Scots Guards.
24.--Mr. and Mrs. Kendall commenced a three nights' engagement at Norwich
Theatre in "The Queen's Shilling." "A Scrap of Paper" was performed on
the 25th, and "Two Friends" on the 26th.
26.--Died, at St. Andrew's Hall Plain, Norwich, Mr. Alfred Stannard,
artist, in his 83rd year. He was the last survivor of the Norwich School
of Artists, which commenced with Old Crome. He was the younger brother
of the famous Joseph Stannard, and father of Miss Stannard, the
well-known painter of fruit and flowers. During the last few years of
his life Mr. Stannard was in receipt of an annual pension of 50 from the
Turner Fund of the Royal Academy.
26.--Died, at the Cathedral Close, Norwich, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, widow
of Mr. John Oddin Taylor, aged 81. She was the eldest of the twelve
children of Mr. John Brewer, of Mile End House, Eaton. Among her
brothers were Professor Brewer, Preacher at the Rolls-Chapel, and editor
of the State Papers of the time of Henry VIII.; Dr. William Brewer,
Chairman of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and sometime Member of
Parliament for Colchester; and Dr. Cobham Brewer, the well-known author
of the "Guide to Science" and other educational works. Born on November
9th, 1807, she was educated with her brothers at Mile End School, and
there acquired that proficiency in the classics and love of literature
generally which she maintained and cherished throughout her life. Among
the pupils attending her father's school was John Oddin Taylor, who was
destined to become her husband. Early in life she manifested an ardent
enthusiasm for music, and studied under Dr. Crotch, and for her great
proficiency in the art was on two occasions awarded a medal. With her
high intellectual gifts were combined broad and liberal sympathies, and
she won the confidence and affection of all.
29.--Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P., addressed a Gladstonian Liberal meeting
held at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. J. J.
Colman.