1.--At Terrington Petty Sessions, the Norfolk and Norwich Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals instituted proceedings against two
persons for cruelty to 130 geese by plucking them alive on October 4th
and 5th. Remarkable statements were made in the course of the hearing.
The practice, it was said, was not uncommon a quarter of a century
previously, but it had since ceased except in remote localities.
Evidence was given to the effect that the process was unquestionally
barbarous and cruel. A witness for the defence, who described himself as
a "goose puller," stated that for twenty years he had plucked 1,500 live
geese annually, and 5,000 or 6,000 were so plucked every year in his
village. It was the custom to pluck the same birds four times a
year--first on June 18th, and afterwards at intervals of three weeks; and
every goose so plucked weighed two pounds more at Christmas than those
which had not been plucked, and the flesh was of better quality. The
magistrates dismissed the cases.
4.--Mr. A. J. Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury, addressed a large
meeting of the Conservative party at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, at
which Lord Amherst of Hackney presided. Mr. Balfour stayed at Catton
Park, as the guest of Mr. S. Gurney Buxton.
9.--Mr. Clement Charles Rix Spelman was elected Mayor and Mr. Alfred
Haldinstein appointed Sheriff of Norwich.
16.--The new Royal Hotel, erected on the site of Messrs. Foster and
Burroughes' offices and of a stonemason's yard and other premises on Bank
Plain, Norwich, was opened by a public luncheon at which Mr. Blofeld,
chairman of the Directors, presided. The building was designed by Mr. E.
T. Boardman, of the firm of Messrs. Boardman and Son, and the contractor
was Mr. John Youngs.
28.--A severe gale visited the eastern coast, and continued on the 29th.
At Yarmouth a high sea flooded the Beach Gardens, and the river
overflowed its banks, and entered private houses, offices, and warehouses
on the Quay. At Cromer a portion of the jetty was washed away, and at
Horsey serious breaches were made in the sea wall and thousands of acres
of salt marshes submerged. The fishermen and others on the coast
sustained great damage, and a fund was opened by the Mayor of Norwich for
their relief. On December 30th Capt. Vereker, the professional adviser
to the Harbour Department of the Board of Trade, held an inquiry at the
King's Arms Inn, Martham, for the purpose of receiving suggestions as to
the best methods of preventing future encroachments.