3.--A disorderly scene occurred at a fire at the furnishing shop of Mr.
H. Cole, St. Giles's Gates, Norwich. The Chief Constable (Mr. Hitchman)
was hooted by the mob, who also impeded the work of the fire brigade.
The contents of the shop were destroyed.
5.--A remarkable charge was investigated at Grimston Petty Sessions. Mr.
Algernon Charles Fountaine, of Narford Hall, was summoned for obstructing
a railway engine "by placing himself in the four-foot-way of the Lynn and
Dereham branch of the Great Eastern Railway, and making signals thereon,
on March 18th, at East Winch." The defendant wished to travel to
Narborough by a fast train which was not advertised to stop at East
Winch, and notwithstanding the warning of the station master, he placed
himself in the four-foot-way, and as the train approached made the
customary signal for it to stop. The engine-driver obeyed the signal and
brought the train to a standstill, whereupon Mr. Fountaine entered one of
the carriages and travelled to Narborough. Proceedings were taken
against him under Section 36 of 24 and 25 Vic., chapter 95, and the
magistrates committed defendant for trial. On July 9th, at the adjourned
Norfolk Quarter Sessions, at Swaffham, the defendant pleaded guilty, and
was sentenced by Lord Walsingham to pay a fine of 25 and to enter into
his recognisances of 100 to be of good behaviour and to keep the peace
for six months.
10.--A fire occurred at Messrs. Boulton and Paul's timber yard at
Norwich, and resulted in damage to the amount of between 4,000 and 5,000.
13.--Mr. George Buttler Kennett, clerk to the justices, was appointed
Town Clerk of Norwich, in place of Mr. H. B. Miller, at the salary of
1,200 per annum.
15.--Died, at his residence, Pine Banks, Thorpe, Mr. John Oddin Howard
Taylor. The son of Mr. John Oddin Taylor, he was born March 2nd, 1837,
and received his education under the tuition of his uncle, the celebrated
Dr. Brewer, at Mile End School, Norwich, and was afterwards placed with
the Rev. Francis Valpy, rector of Garvestone. Having adopted the legal
profession, he became a partner with his father in the firm of Taylor and
Son. In addition to carrying on a large and responsible private
practice, they acted as local solicitors to the Great Eastern Railway
Company. As secretary to the undertaking for the improvement of the
Cattle Market and the construction of Prince of Wales Road, Mr. Taylor
discharged the duties relating to the legal and Parliamentary business
with great efficiency. In October, 1862, he was appointed secretary to
the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival. In collaboration with Bishop
Fraser he was instrumental in bringing about a change of the law with
reference to the system of employing women, and children of tender years,
in hard agricultural labour. In later years Mr. Taylor devoted himself
to the task of developing the fisheries of East Anglia, and was the
principal author, in conjunction with Mr. Field, of the Act for the
preservation of the inland waters of Norfolk and Suffolk. His literary
ability was of a very high order. He was a great chess player, and as a
writer on that game acquired world-wide fame by his "Chess Brilliants"
and "Chess Skirmishes."
16.--Mr. Gladstone visited Norwich. The right hon. gentleman,
accompanied by Mrs. Gladstone, arrived by special train at Thorpe
station, where he was received by Mr. Colman, M.P., and Mrs. Colman, and
by the representatives of Liberal associations in the city. On his way
to Carrow Abbey, the residence of the senior member for Norwich, Mr.
Gladstone was warmly welcomed by the citizens. In the evening a great
meeting was held at the Agricultural Hall, under the presidency of Mr.
Henry Birkbeck, at which Mr. Gladstone was presented with an illuminated
address by the Liberal and Radical associations and trades unions in
Norwich and Norfolk. After addressing the vast assemblage Mr. Gladstone
proceeded to Stoke Holy Cross as the guest of Mr. Birkbeck. Returning to
the city on the 17th, the ex-Premier visited the Castle and the
Cathedral, and in the afternoon left for Lowestoft, _en route_ to Corton,
where he remained as the guest of Mr. Colman until the 20th.
21.--Mr. Sims Reeves made his farewell appearance at St. Andrew's Hall,
Norwich.
28.--Died, at Norwich, Mr. John Gunn, M.A., F.G.S., many years rector of
Irstead with Barton Turf, aged 89. "It was with painful surprise that
the public received a few years ago the announcement of Mr. Gunn's
retirement from the Church on the ground of conscientious scruples
concerning certain Biblical statements which he conceived to be
irreconcilable with the teachings of Natural Science, and of his desire
no longer to be addressed by his clerical title. He did not dissociate
himself from the observances of religion, for he was a constant attendant
at the Cathedral services." Mr. Gunn, in 1864, was one of the founders
of the Norwich Geological Society, and its first president. "He has left
behind him in his great collection of fossils a monument, _aere
perennius_. His association with the investigation of the Mammalian
remains of the Cromer beds is recorded in the classics of English
geology, and will be handed down to posterity long after the fossils in
our Museum have crumbled into dust."