9.--Lieut.-Col. Bignold was elected Mayor of Norwich, and Mr. Samuel
Garerd Hill appointed Sheriff.
13.--Died at Eckling Grange, East Dereham, Mr. Charles Norton Elvin, M.A.
He was well known as an authority on heraldry, and was the author of
several standard works on the subject.
17.--The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture considered the report of a
special committee appointed to enquire into the condition of agriculture
in Norfolk. The committee reported that the fall in the value of the
Norfolk corn crops, comparing 1894 with 1874, was nearly, if not quite,
3,000,000. In 1874 Norfolk had 762,000 sheep and 128,000 cattle; in 1894
519,000 sheep and 126,000 cattle. Recommendations were made that the
whole question of the appreciation of gold, and of the fluctuation of
current values, and the incidence of rates and taxes to meet the altered
position of agriculture, be reconsidered; that the law of assessments be
amended; that the Tithe Commutation Act be revised, so that lands which
could no longer be cultivated with corn at a profit should not be tithed
on a corn basis; and that a Pure Beer Act be passed charging an extra
duty upon all beer made from substances other than barley, malt and hops.
The report and recommendations were adopted. At about this date Mr. R.
Henry Rew, assistant commissioner, conducted enquiries in various parts
of the county into the condition of agriculture. (_See_ November 2nd,
1895.)
23.--Died at Cathedral Street North, Norwich, Miss Emily Stannard, aged
67. She was the only child of Joseph and Emily Stannard, both painters
of the Norwich School.
28.--The autumnal conference of the Church Association opened at Norwich,
and concluded on the 29th.
29.--Lord and Lady Amherst of Hackney and their daughters, Lady William
Cecil, and the Hon. Sybil, Florence, Margaret, and Alicia Amherst, were
presented with valuable testimonials subscribed for by persons of all
shades of political opinion in South-west Norfolk. The gift to his
lordship, in recognition of the public services he had rendered in
Parliament, was a portrait of himself painted by the Hon. John Collier,
to Lady Amherst was given a silver writing set, and to her daughters
pearl and gold duster bracelets, as tokens of the esteem in which they
were held throughout the constituency. Mr. T. L. Hare, M.P., made the
presentations in the presence of a large company who had been invited to
luncheon in the museum at Didlington Hall.