2.--A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, for the purpose of
furthering the efforts made by Mr. T. W. Richardson and Mr. W. S.
Warlters for the formation in the city of a bearer company of the
Volunteer Medical Staff Corps. A few weeks afterwards Mr. Richardson was
gazetted surgeon, Mr. Warlters acting surgeon, and Mr. Frederic Mills
quartermaster.
10.--The Norwich Diocesan Conference met at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich,
under the presidency of the Lord Bishop. The session was concluded on
the 11th.
20.--Died, at Northrepps Hall, Mr. John Henry Gurney, in his 71st year.
The only son of Joseph John Gurney, of Earlham Hall, so prominently
associated with Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton in his efforts to abolish
slavery in the West Indies, Mr. Gurney married Mary Jary, daughter of
Richard Hanbury Gurney, of Thickthorn. Of the marriage there were two
sons, Mr. J. H. Gurney and Mr. Richard J. H. Gurney. In 1854 he entered
Parliament as member for King's Lynn, and sat for that borough until his
resignation in 1865. As a naturalist Mr. Gurney was a recognised
authority both in Europe and America, more especially on raptorial birds,
and the magnificent collection in the Norfolk and Norwich (now the
Castle) Museum owes its existence almost entirely to his energy and
liberality. He was for many years a member of the East Anglian banking
firm of Gurneys and Birkbecks, a justice of the peace for Norfolk, senior
member of the Norwich Bench, and a magistrate for Lynn.
23.--Bellringers from all parts of the diocese assembled at Aylsham to
ring opening peals on the church bells, which had been re-hung at the
cost of 301.
26.--Died, at Cromer, where he was staying for the benefit of his health,
Mr. Henry Blake Miller, Town Clerk of Norwich, aged 65. He was a son of
Mr. Henry Miller, solicitor, of the Town Close, and had been officially
connected with the Corporation since 1853. For upwards of twenty years
Mr. Miller was clerk to the Board of Health, and on the death of Mr. W.
L. Mendham, in July, 1876, when the two offices were amalgamated, he was
appointed Town Clerk and clerk to the Sanitary Authority. Legal work of
great importance had devolved upon Mr. Miller. He was entrusted with the
drafting of the Norwich Act, 1867, relating to the sewerage and drainage
of the city, and after his appointment as Town Clerk he prepared the way
for the passing of the Norwich Improvement Act. He acted for the
Corporation in the Mousehold Heath litigation, and in the dispute with
the freemen as to the Town Close Estate; he had also much to do with the
London and Castle Street improvements, the Chapel Field improvement, and
the framing of the Norwich Corporation Act, 1889. A Liberal and
Nonconformist, Mr. Miller was senior deacon of Princes Street
Congregational church, and for twenty years treasurer to the Norfolk
Auxiliary of the London Missionary Society. He was also some time
president of the Norwich Solicitors' Amicable Society.
30.--The stables and coach-houses at Merton Hall, a range of buildings
sixty yards in length, were destroyed by fire. The horses, including two
valuable stallions and twelve carriage horses, were rescued uninjured.