10.--At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council a report was
received from a joint committee of the Corporation and the Board of
Guardians upon the subject of the rating of city property, and a
resolution was adopted recommending important alterations in the
assessments. The Guardians on December 20th accepted a recommendation
for the appointment of valuers to undertake the work of reassessment.
17.--Died at Ivy Lodge, Eaton, Mr. C. C. Rix Spelman, Deputy-Mayor of
Norwich, aged 55. He was a son of Mr. Benjamin Rix, of Ipswich, and was
born at Yarmouth. In 1858 he became associated with the firm of Messrs.
Spelman, and on joining as a partner in 1874 took the name of
Spelman--his mother's surname--in addition to his own. In 1897 he was
elected Mayor of Norwich, and was in politics a Liberal. He was twice
married--first to Miss Franklin, of Norwich, who died in 1877, and
secondly, in 1880, to Mrs. R. E. Gibson, sister of Mr. F. Oddin Taylor.
22.*--"The Earl of Leicester has forwarded to the governors of the
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital a cheque for 5,000 for building new quarters
for nurses at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital."
23.--The Norfolk Volunteer Brigade went into camp at Colchester.
29.--Barnum and Bailey's great show visited Norwich. It came by special
trains from Yarmouth, and on leaving Norwich proceeded to Bury St.
Edmund's.
31.--Died, the Rev. Canon Hinds Howell, aged 91. He was seventh son of
Mr. C. A. Howell, Treasurer of the Island of Barbados, where he was born.
Canon Howell was many years rector of Drayton, and one of the most
energetic clergymen in the diocese.