1.--A ball was given at Drayton House in celebration of the silver
wedding of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Walter, who were the recipients of many
presents and congratulations. On the 3rd the workmen employed at the
Taverham and Bawburgh mills and the labourers on the estate were
entertained to dinner.
6.--Barnum and Bailey's great show visited Norwich, and was located upon
a piece of land on Unthank Road. The performances were repeated on the
7th. Upwards of 42,000 persons visited the show. (_See_ July 29th,
1899.)
13.--Died at Earlham Road, Norwich, Mr. John William Sparrow, solicitor,
for many years Registrar of the Guildhall Court of Record.
--The coming of age of Mr. Robert Hamilton Kemp, eldest son of Sir
Kenneth Kemp, Bart., was celebrated at Gissing Old Hall.
18.--Died at the Clyffe, Corton, Mr. Jeremiah James Colman, of Carrow
House, Norwich, aged 68. Mr. Colman came of an old family of Norfolk
yeomen. One of his ancestors, Jeremiah Colman, who was born in 1777,
established a flour mill at Bawburgh, and afterwards carried on business
at Norwich, whence he removed to Stoke Holy Cross, where was formed the
nucleus of the great commercial undertaking now existing at Carrow. The
subject of this notice was the son of James Colman, and was born in 1830.
In 1856 he married Caroline, daughter of Mr. W. H. Cozens-Hardy, of
Letheringsett. Mr. Colman was interested in agricultural pursuits and
the breeding of stock, and his famous herd of red-polls, and equally
well-known flock of Southdowns were for years represented at all the
great shows. Art and literature obtained his attention, and he collected
an unrivalled library of local works at Carrow Abbey. Mr. Colman
embarked largely in commercial enterprises connected with the Press.
With Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett he was instrumental in founding the "Norfolk
News" and other newspapers published by that company, and was largely
interested in the "Star," the "Morning Leader" and the "East Anglian
Daily Times." In 1862 Mr. Colman was appointed Sheriff of Norwich, and
in 1867 was elected Mayor. He was first nominated for Parliamentary
honours upon the unseating on petition of Mr. Tillett in 1871. His
Conservative opponent was Sir Charles Legard, whom he defeated by 1,200
votes. This was the last election contested by open voting, in Norwich.
At the General Election of 1874 Mr. Tillett, freed of his disabilities,
was nominated as colleague of Mr. Colman; the Conservative candidates
were Mr. Huddleston, Q.C., and Sir Henry Stracey, Bart. Mr. Colman and
Mr. Huddleston were returned. The next election took place in 1880, when
the Liberal party once more made a strenuous effort to secure the return
of Mr. Tillett by the aid of Mr. Colman's popularity. The Conservative
nominees were Mr. Henry Harben and the Hon. W. F. B. Mainwaring. The
Liberals were returned by an overwhelming majority. At the election of
1885 occurred the first indication of the disasters which were to befall
Liberalism in Norwich. Mr. Harry Bullard was nominated to oppose Mr.
Colman, with whom as second Liberal candidate was Mr. R. S. Wright. For
the first time in his political career Mr. Colman had to be content with
second place, for Mr. Bullard was returned at the head of the poll with
7,297 votes, against 6,666 polled by Mr. Colman, and 6,251 by Mr. Wright.
Mr. Bullard was unseated on petition, and it was stated at the time that
Mr. Colman was opposed to the course taken by his party. Mr. Samuel
Hoare was then elected unopposed in the place of Mr. Bullard. At the
General Election in 1886 Mr. Colman regained his former position at the
head of the poll with 6,295 votes as against 6,156 polled by Mr. Hoare,
who had Mr. C. S. Read as his colleague. This election was noteworthy as
the last occasion upon which Mr. Tillett was nominated. In 1892 Mr.
Colman made his last appearance as a Parliamentary candidate, and with
him was nominated Mr. James Bedford. Mr. Hoare, Conservative candidate,
was returned by a majority of 311 above Mr. Colman; and the
representation of the city remained thus until the General Election of
1895, when Mr. Colman retired, and for the first time in sixty years the
Conservative party returned two members, Mr. Hoare and Sir Harry Bullard.
Mr. Colman, who was one of the greatest benefactors in Norwich, was held
in deserved esteem alike by political friends and opponents, and many
expressions of public regret were recorded. He was predeceased (on the
15th) by his mother, Mrs. Mary Colman, who died at Town Close Lodge, in
her 93rd year. It was announced at a meeting of the Norwich Town Council
on October 18th that Mr. Colman had bequeathed to the Castle Museum, free
of duty, his collection of oil paintings and water colours by Norfolk and
Norwich artists. The collection was valued at 5,000.