4.--Died at St. Faith's House, Norwich, Mr. John Hotblack, aged 74. He
was a justice of the peace for the city and for the county, and for
several years represented the old First Ward in the Town Council. In
November, 1884, Mr. Hotblack was elected Mayor of Norwich.
7.--Died at Soham Vicarage, the residence of his son, the Rev. Cyprian T.
Rust, LL.B. For twenty-two years he was a clergyman in Norwich, and held
successively the livings of St. Michael-at-Thorn and Heigham; in 1875 he
was presented to the living of Westerfield, near Ipswich. Mr. Rust was
born of Baptist parents, and after serving as a clerk in a London
counting-house became a Baptist minister at Colchester, where he worked
from 1838 to 1841. Thence he went to Queen's College, Cambridge, and
took his LL.B. degree in 1852, in which year he was ordained deacon by
Bishop Hinds, and in 1853 priest by the Bishop of Ely. Mr. Rust did much
literary work in the form of magazine articles, and was in many ways very
successful as an essayist. He was the author of "Higher Criticism: Some
Account of its Labours upon Primitive History," published in 1889;
"Essays and Reviews"; "The Break of Day in the 18th Century: a History
and a Specimen of the first book of English Song" &c.
11.--A meeting of Norwich traders was held at the Guildhall, at which it
was resolved to re-establish a Chamber of Commerce in the city.
15.--Died at Bracondale, Mr. Henry Colman, last surviving son of Mr.
Robert Colman, of Rockland St. Andrew's, in his 82nd year. He was one of
the eleven brothers Colman who constituted the famous cricket team. Mr.
Colman for several years represented the old Sixth Ward as a member of
the Norwich Town Council.
19.--At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council the City Engineer (Mr. A.
E. Collins) presented a report which stated that a further sum of 200,000
ought to be expended upon the Norwich sewerage works. The Council
adopted a scheme involving the expenditure of 72,000 beyond the sum of
80,000 authorised by the Norwich Corporation Act. (_See_ January 22nd,
1896.)
21.--Brigadier-General Bulwer presented the long-service medal to past
and present members of Volunteer battalions in Norfolk. The
presentations were made at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.
24.--A hurricane such as had never been known in living memory occurred
on this day (Sunday). It swept over city and county, and its effects
were experienced in the greater portion of the south-eastern district.
Houses were unroofed and partially demolished, great chimney stacks
destroyed, strong walls levelled, and solid masonry overthrown. There
was not a park in the county which was not despoiled, and many thousands
of trees were torn from the soil. Fortunately the storm happened upon a
day when people were able to keep to their houses, otherwise the loss of
life must have been serious. Only one casualty was admitted to the
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The storm was of short duration. At dawn
a blustering March wind prevailed, as the day advanced the weather became
squally, then the wind blew from W.S.W. and attained cyclonic intensity,
at 4.30 p.m. the hurricane subsided. On the 25th Norfolk presented a
vast scene of devastation.
30.--Died at his residence, the Abbey, Westacre, Mr. Anthony Hamond, in
his 61st year. The eldest son of Mr. Anthony Hamond, he was educated at
Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and entered upon the duties and
pursuits of a country gentleman. He became very popular as master of the
West Norfolk Foxhounds, and on his retirement from the mastership was
presented with his portrait. In the dark days of agricultural depression
the tenantry on the estate experienced the practical sympathy of Mr.
Hamond, who was a most kind and generous landlord. In the breeding of
cattle and horses he took great interest. His shorthorns obtained wide
celebrity, and his shires were equally well known. Mr. Hamond first
conceived the idea of a stud-book for the Norfolk hackney; he was one of
the founders of the Hackney Horse Society, was elected first president in
June, 1883, and held office until June, 1885. He consistently supported
the policy of the moderate Liberals, but when the great disruption came
he unhesitatingly threw in his lot with the Unionists. On the death of
Sir William Bagge in 1880 Mr. Hamond was approached by the Liberal
electors of West Norfolk with the view of obtaining his consent to his
nomination in opposition to Mr. Tyssen Amherst, but he declined, and the
Conservative candidate was returned without a contest. A General
Election took place a month afterwards, when Mr. Hamond was induced to
stand against Mr. Amherst and Mr. Bentinck, and was defeated. He was
much interested in the administrative work of the county, was a member of
the County Council, and chairman of the Small Holdings and Allotments
Committee. Mr. Hamond, who was a magistrate and a Deputy-Lieutenant for
the county, married the only daughter of Sir Thomas Hare, of Stow.