7.--The Mayor of Norwich (Mr. W. H. Dakin) presided at a common hall at
which a resolution was passed calling upon the Charity Commissioners to
remove from their scheme certain obnoxious clauses affecting the
administration of the local charities. On March 28th the Mayor received
from the Charity Commissioners a letter explaining that the restrictions
in the scheme against the benefits of the charities being extended to
persons who were, or who had recently been in receipt of Poor-law relief,
were in the view of the Commissioners calculated to encourage habits of
thrift and to give effect to the well-known law against persons in
receipt of Poor-law relief participating in such charities. In the
circumstances the Commissioners did not consider that they would be
justified in entertaining the application to amend the scheme with the
view of allowing those in receipt of Poor-law relief to benefit by the
funds.
15.--The Rev. O. W. Tancock, it was announced, had resigned the
headmastership of King Edward VI. School, Norwich, on accepting the
living of Little Waltham, near Chelmsford. He was succeeded by the Rev.
E. F. Gilbard.
18.--Mr. Melton Prior, special artist on the staff of the "Illustrated
London News," lectured at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, on "What I saw in
Burmah."
21.--Two large granaries at North Walsham, belonging to Messrs. Cubitt
and Walker, were destroyed by fire. The damage amounted to 4,000.
22.--Died, at the residence of her sister, at Weybridge, Surrey, Lady
Sophia Jane Beevor, in her 66th year. She was the daughter of the Rev.
Clement Chevallier, of Bedingham, Suffolk, and was twice married. Her
first husband was Mr. Isaac Jermy Jermy, one of the victims of the
terrible murders committed by James Blomfield Rush at Stanfield Hall on
November 28th, 1848. In that outrage Mrs. Jermy Jermy narrowly escaped
with her life; she was hit in the arm by a bullet, and the limb was
afterwards amputated. In 1850 she married Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., and
became greatly esteemed at Hingham, where she resided for many years.
24.--A military tournament given by the 20th Hussars in aid of the city
charities, commenced at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, and was continued
until March 1st.
25.--The Norwich Town Council addressed a memorial to the
Postmaster-General praying for the cessation of the Sunday delivery of
letters. The Post Office authorities declined to accede to the request.
--The City Committee recommended the Norwich Town Council to sanction the
opening of St. Andrew's Hall on Sunday evenings for two months for the
purpose of giving recitals of sacred music therein by and under the
direction of the committee. A memorial, signed by the clergy and
Nonconformist ministers, was presented, protesting against the proposal,
and requesting the Corporation to receive a deputation upon the subject.
The meeting declined to accede to the latter request, and the
recommendation of the committee was deferred. Meanwhile sermons were
preached in churches and chapels for and against the proposal, and public
meetings were held at which remarkable opinions were expressed. At the
adjourned meeting of the Council, held on March 4th, the committee's
recommendation was negatived by 30 votes against 14.