1.--Severe weather was experienced throughout the county. The snowfall
was heavy, and deep drifts everywhere impeded traffic, especially in West
Norfolk. On the 23rd the Yare overflowed its banks, and during a fearful
storm at Yarmouth the water rose to an alarming height. Elaborate
precautions were taken to prevent a recurrence of the catastrophe of the
previous mouth, and although the Hall Quay was flooded the water was kept
out of the dwellings sad store-houses. The Beach Gardens narrowly
escaped destruction. On the same day Eccles tower, which had been a
landmark for generations, fell through the force of wind and waves. In
the last week of the month the frost was more intense than it had been at
any time during the winter, and in Norwich pedestrian and vehicular
traffic was rendered difficult by the snow. Observations taken at
Blofield on February 6th showed that the thermometer in screen, four feet
above ground, fell to four degrees Fahrenheit, and the exposed
thermometer on the grass to three and a half degrees below zero. This
was said to have been three degrees colder than on any night during the
severe frost of 1890-91, and it was the coldest night since January 26th,
1881. On the 9th the frost was more severe in certain districts than had
hitherto been recorded in the century, and remarkably low readings were
received from various parts of the county. Skating was everywhere
general. At Diss an ice carnival held on the Mere was attended by
between 2,000 and 3,000 people attired in fancy costumes, and similar
displays of a minor character took place in other localities. On the
17th the frost showed unmistakable signs of breaking up. For
twenty-eight successive nights, from January 20th to February 17th, the
mercury had fallen below freezing point, a longer period of continuous
frost in the opening months of the year than had probably been recorded
for half a century.
8.--Avenue Road Board School, Norwich, built at the cost of nearly
12,000, was opened by an inaugural meeting held under the presidency of
the Mayor (Col. Bignold), at which addresses were delivered by the Lord
Bishop and Sir G. W. Kekewich, K.C.B., Secretary to the Education
Department.
19.--A meeting of the owners of marshes lying near the Yare and Bure was
held at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, to consider the advisability of
adopting a plan for the protection of the level from high tides by a
commission who would have the power of maintaining the river walls. The
question was adjourned for further consideration, and on March 30th the
proposed scheme was rejected.
31.--M. Paderewski gave a pianoforte recital at St. Andrew's Hall,
Norwich.