1857.
Jan. 3rd.—The fourth anniversary of Court “Crown and Anchor” A.O.F. had been celebrated by a dinner at Bro. Franklin’s, Hall Quay. Mr. C. B. Dashwood occupied the chair, and it was stated that the Court then consisted of 90 members.
Jan. 10th.—There had been a loan exhibition at the Priory Hall.
Messrs. Charles J. Palmer, B. Fenn, Rev. H. Squire, Dumbleton, R. R. B. Norman, Burton, and J. Bayly had been elected the members of the Public Library Committee.
Jan. 17th.—The “Britannia Pier Bill” was projected, and the Wellington Pier Company had determined not to oppose that undertaking.
The body of a whale, which had been taken at Winterton, was being exhibited on the Church Plain.
The Rev. W. D. Wade, the new minister of St. Mary’s, Southtown, had, before leaving Southsea, been presented with a purse of £61.
Jan. 21st.—The “Sisters” had been in collision with one of the stone piers of the Bridge, which it had considerably damaged.
Feb. 4th.—An Anti-Income Tax meeting had been held at the Town Hall. The Mayor presided, and the following took part in the proceedings:—Messrs. George Danby-Palmer, Bradbeer, Garson Blake, W. Livingston, S. B. Cory, R. Hammond, J. Clowes, J. H. Harrison, J. Rivett and J. Fiddes. Mr. S. Bradbeer appeared to be the mover in this matter.
The Poor’s Rate was 1s. 6d. for the quarter.
Feb. 18th.—H.M. Line of Battle-ship “Blenheim,” 74, had steamed into the Roads.
Feb. 21st.—A “Poor’s Rate” meeting had been held at the Masonic Hall. Mr. W. Livingston presided, and a resolution protesting against the 1s. 6d. quarterly rate was adopted. Messrs J. Rivett, Joseph Neave, Royal, R. Bailey, Nichols, and F. Starling spoke on the subject, while the conduct of the Guardians was defended by Mr. J. H. Harrison, one of the Board.
Feb. 25th.—A case which excited considerable interest, had been heard at the County Court, Tolhouse-hall, before the Judge (T. J. Birch, Esq.) The plaintiff was Mr. John Cobb, leather merchant, for whom Mr. C. H. Chamberlin appeared; the defendants were Messrs. W. N. Burroughs and G. D. Palmer, who were represented by Mr. J. L. Cufaude. The plaintiff stated that he was a candidate for the office of Councillor for the Market-ward, in November, 1851, and that he became such at the solicitation of Messrs. W. N. Burroughs and G. D. Palmer. At the time he became a candidate he distinctly told them that he would not pay out of his own pocket more than £10 towards the expenses of the election, and it was understood that the Liberal party, to which he belonged, would subscribe the remainder. The evening before the election he received an estimate of what the expenses were likely to be, and in consequence of that he at once saw both Mr. Burroughs and Mr. G. D. Palmer. That estimate, he believed, amounted to about £45, while the subscriptions altogether amounted to but £42. After some conversation they agreed to hold him harmless of the amount of the expenses that might exceed the sum subscribed, and he and Mr. Burroughs then went to the Committee-room of the North-ward, where Mr. Burroughs said they had made arrangements for their friend John Cobb winning the Market-ward. The expenses of the election, which he (the plaintiff) lost, amounted altogether to £58 1s. 7d. The balance, therefore, which he now claimed from the defendants was £16 1s. 7d.—The plaintiff, in cross-examination by Mr. Cufaude, admitted that £39 of the whole amount was for — —.—Mr. Cufaude contended that if, as the plaintiff stated, the defendants had given him a guarantee for the surplus expenses, the guarantee ought to have been in writing. And, assuming the evidence was true, which, however, he disputed, it was impossible for the plaintiff to recover, inasmuch as he himself had allowed that a large part of the whole of the expenses was for — —, which was an illegal act.—Mr. Chamberlin contended that the plaintiff, after receiving the promise from the defendants, acted only upon the faith of that promise, and that therefore, as they had entered upon an engagement to pay the money, they were liable. The money, moreover, had not been spent by the plaintiff, but by the committee appointed to conduct the election, and until the election was over, the plaintiff was not aware that any of the money had been spent in — —.—His Honour said it was clear the guarantee should have been in writing. He was of opinion, also, that the plaintiff was not bound to pay the illegal charges, and consequently he could not bring his action for the money which he claimed.—The plaintiff was, accordingly, non-suited.
March 4th.—The “Branch,” a schooner of 150 tons, had been launched from Messrs. Fellows and Son’s yard.
A distress warrant had been issued against the effects of Mr. James Lawn, draper, Broad Row, for 5s. 3d. due for Church rate. Mr. Cufaude, who appeared for the Churchwardens, stated that the amount of defalcations on the present rate was “about £14 or £15.”
A meeting of the shareholders in the Yarmouth and Haddiscoe Railway had been held at the Star Hotel. R. Hammond, Esq., presided, and there were present—C. C. Aldred, Esq., (the Mayor), C. J. Palmer, T. Brightwen, William H. Palmer, E. H. L. Preston, W. C. Reynolds, E. P. Youell, G. G. Day, H. Danby-Palmer, and William Day, Esqs.
March 11th.—N. Palmer, Esq., (Recorder), had appointed John B. Bales (late Sergeant-at-Mace) an Inspector of Weights and Measures in the room of Mr. Wall.
The address of Messrs. Torrens McCullagh and Edward Watkin to the electors appears in this issue.
March 14th.—The Liberal electors had held a meeting at the Corn Exchange, J. Shelly, Esq., in the chair, when both candidates delivered addresses, and a resolution pledging the meeting to support them was unanimously carried.
Mr. Cufaude had applied for 17 more summonses against Church Rate defaulters, and Mr. Garson Blake had been summoned for a like default by the Gorleston Churchwardens.
There had been a high tide, which had dashed over the new Marine Drive works.
March 16th.—Mr. J. W. Shelly had presided over a meeting at the ‘Star,’ when Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin were adopted as the Liberal candidates.
There was a suggestion of a local gentleman’s name as a candidate, to which the Editor refers to by the quotation—“and palm to palm is holy Palmer’s kiss.”
March 18th.—The Liberal electors and non-electors had been addressed by both the Liberal candidates at the Duke’s Head public-house at Gorleston. S. Dowson, Esq., presided, and there were present—Messrs. J. H. Fellows, N. Sterry, A. Markland, Captains Manthorpe, Stanford, and Tunbridge, and Messrs. J. Page, A. King, J. Ling, G. Reynolds, C. E. Bartram, and J. Cobb.
The four candidates, Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin and Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Colonel Vereker, had been invited to attend a meeting of electors at the Masonic-hall. None of them were present, but, nevertheless, a resolution pledging the meeting to support the Liberal candidates was carried.
The “Venus,” 150 tons register, had been launched from Mr. Rust’s yard.
March 21st.—D. A. Gourlay, Esq., had presided at a great Liberal meeting held in the Corn Exchange, when Messrs. J. W. Shelly, P. Pullyn, S. Dowson, F. S. Costerton, W. Briggs, C. Sayers, S. Palmer, C. E. Bartram, J. D. Chapman, J. Bailey, F. Dendy, J. Cobb and others were present.
The Conservatives had also convened a meeting at Crowe’s Assembly-rooms, Chapel-denes, when E. H. L. Preston, Esq., presided. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Colonel Vereker, and J. Cherry, Esq., addressed the assembly.
Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart., and Major-General C. A. Windham, the Liberal candidates for East Norfolk, had held a meeting in the Corn-hall. Mr. R. Hammond presided, and was supported by Messrs. Benjamin Dowson, J. Clowes, C. H. Chamberlin, P. Pullyn, A. W. Biddulph, S. Palmer, T. Burton Steward, F. Palmer, W. N. Burroughs, C. E. Bartram, E. R. Palmer, J. H. Harrison, J. Owles, J. Cobb, &c.
George Tewsley, Sergeant in the London Constabulary, had been elected Superintendent of the Borough Police Force.
The case against Mr. Garson Blake had been heard as to non-payment of Church Rate and the usual order made.
Mr. S. Waters Spelman had submitted to public competition various freehold estates, belonging to the late Mrs. Ann Marsh, which realised £8,672.
March 25th.—The Election was “assuming all the features of a bitter, as well as a strong contest.”
J. Shelly, Esq., had presided at another Liberal meeting held in the Corn Hall, and Mr. J. Royal at a meeting of non-electors in the same interest held at the Masonic Hall.
The Church Rate question had again been before the Justices, when Mr. Chamberlin appeared for the defaulters, who were Henry Boulter (baker), 4s. 6d.; Joseph Neave (twine-spinner), 1s. 9½d.; George Goodrich (shoemaker), 3s. 6d.; Henry Blyth (shoemaker), 4s.; George Clowes (ironmonger), 5s.; William Curtis (cork-cutter), 5s. 1d.; James Rivett (baker), 4s.; Frederick Starling (shoemaker), 1s. 10½d.; Angelina Cox and W. P. Brown (brokers), 4s. 2½d.; John Clowes (grocer), 4s.; William Livingston (draper), 3s.; Robert Browne (gentleman), 2s.; George Danby-Palmer (Esquire), 8s. 6¾d.; and George Danby-Palmer and Salmon Palmer (Esquires), 3s. 6d.
Mr. W. Sidney had again opened the Theatre.
March 28th.—A monster meeting of Liberals had been held on the Hall Quay in front of the Star, when Mr. W. Briggs occupied the chair; 500 Liberals had attended a meeting at the Globe Inn, Gorleston, where Mr. T. Burton Steward presided. Both meetings were very enthusiastic. It was said the Tory candidates were “Sir Edmund Lay—on and Colonel Very—queer.”
April 1st.—The polling had resulted as follows;—
Majority for the Liberals: 158.
After the declaration of the poll Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin addressed from 12,000 to 15,000 persons from the Star leads.
April 8th.—Messrs. W. Green, J. Borking, J. Clayton, and W. Harbord had been re-appointed overseers of the parish.
April 11th.—At the Election of Haven Commissioners Captain Scott proposed, and Mr. J. H. Harrison seconded the re-election of George Danby-Palmer, Esq., “to whom the town was greatly indebted for his long and valuable services.” Mr. T. Lettis, junr., proposed, and Mr. Henry Danby-Palmer seconded Mr. J. Barker. Mr. F. Palmer proposed and Captain Briggs seconded H. Hammond Esq.; and Mr. G. Blake proposed, and Captain Manthorpe seconded Mr. D. A. Gourlay, whereupon the two former were declared to be elected Commissioners, and the two latter Supernumerary Commissioners.
Mr. J. Owles had presided at a meeting of the Liberal Registration Society.
The following was the result of the Guardians’ Election:—North Ward: Messrs. J. Mainprice, S. Nightingale, and E. H. L. Preston re-elected. Market Ward: Messrs. D. A. Gourlay, C. C. Aldred, and W. Laws, re-elected. Regent Ward: Messrs. W. Worship, S. C. Marsh, and R. D. Barber, re-elected. St. George’s Ward: Messrs. B. Fenn and J. G. Plummer, re-elected, with Mr. T. Foreman in the place of Mr. J. Clark resigned, and in the Nelson Ward (Mr. J. H. Harrison having resigned) the polling was—Brightwen 402, Woolverton 431, Reynolds 309, Clark 339, and Moore 287, Mr. Clark thus taking the place of Mr. Harrison.
April 18th.—At the annual Vestry Meeting there was a large attendance. The Rev. George Hills presided, and Mr. Hammond proposed, and Mr. T. Brightwen seconded, the re-election of C. S. D. Steward as Churchwarden. Mr. Lawn then proposed Mr. George Danby-Palmer, but that gentleman declined the honour and explained that the reason why he would not pay the Church Rate was that the Churchwardens, while pressing the poor, discharged the rich, and especially Mr. Talbot, from payment of that tax. Mr. B. Fenn proposed, and Mr. S. C. Marsh seconded Mr. Edward Aldred; Mr. J. H. Harrison and Mr. Neave addressed the meeting amid “great uproar,” and eventually the appointment of Mr. Steward and Mr. Aldred was carried by a large majority. Messrs. Hammond, Fenn, and Harrison were appointed a Committee to look into the question of the St. Nicholas Estate, and Mr. R. Hammond was re-appointed Auditor of the Vestry’s accounts.
Measures were being taken by Mr. M. Butcher and others with a view to establishing a School of Art.
April 22nd.—The Artillery Band was performing on the Hall-quay.
Trade at the Fair “had been brisk.”
April 25th.—The Rope-walks “which had caused such great annoyance” were to be removed, and the following compensations had been paid to owners of them:—Mr. Bracey, £750; Mr. T. Lettis, jun., £550; Mr. Green, an annuity for himself and Mrs. Green equal to £420; and to Mr. R. Barber (who had refused £200), £615 under the award of C. Evans, Esq., of Norwich.
April 29th.—A meeting had been held at Mr. Paget’s late residence for the purpose of forming a School of Navigation in connection with the School of Art.
May 2nd.—A petition in favour of the removal of Jewish Disabilities was being signed in the town, and the Mayor (C. C. Aldred, Esq.), George Danby-Palmer, R. Hammond, J. W. Shelly, J. Fenn, D. A. Gourlay, W. Johnson, P. Pullyn, and R. Steward, Esqs., had supported the movement.
The East Norfolk Militia Band had performed on the Hall-quay.
The Poor’s rate was 1s. 4d. for the quarter.
The Insignia belonging to the Corporation had been sent to the Manchester Art Exhibition.
May 6th.—The entire Police force (with the exception of the Superintendent) had received one month’s notice to quit the force, with liberty to apply for re-appointment.
May 16th.—A petition, signed by E. H. L. Preston and R. Ferrier, Esqs., (Mr. C. Moore being surety for the required £1,000), was about to be lodged against the return of Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin.
May 20th.—This petition had been presented to the House of Commons.
May 23rd.—A young woman, residing in the Star and Garter Row, had been charged before the Justices “with illegally detaining a silver mace, the property of the Corporation.” Defendant said that she did not know where it was, but that her mother, who had been dead three years, “wished it to be buried with her.” The case was adjourned for a week, when the defendant “bounced out of Court.”
May 27th.—Several friends of the sitting Members had received Speaker’s warrants, as also had Sir E. H. K. Lacon, who was served as he was about to start on a Continental tour; Messrs. B. Powell and George Byford had also been served.
May 30th.—The guarantee fund for opposing the petition had reached the sum of £2,400.
Two Russian guns had been received by the Corporation.
It was proposed to carry on the trawl fishery by means of “iron screw welled smacks of 150 tons burden.”
June 3rd.—The police had been re-modelled. Originally the force consisted of 4 sergeants, 16 privates, beside 4 non-permanent men who formed the “river watch.” Of these a sergeant and six privates had been discharged, and in their stead a sergeant and 13 privates appointed; the force, therefore, then consisted of a Superintendent, four sergeants, and 23 privates.
The “small silver mace” above referred to had been delivered up by the Carter family to the Corporation.
June 6th.—Fourteen hundred persons had visited the town by excursion train from Norwich on Whit-Monday.
June 10th.—Contains an obituary notice of Mr. Rumbold, who had died at Brighton on the 31st. ult., aged 69. It was stated that he had “not left behind him one enemy.”
The Yarmouth Standard, started three months since as an advocate “of Conservative and true Christian principles,” had ceased to exist.
June 13th.—The mackerel fishery had improved, Mr. Mainprice’s Company of 14 boats had sent in 12,000, and Mr. Shuckford’s 10,000 fish.
June 20th.—Mackerel were selling from 31s. to 32s. per 100. The “Fisherman” (Mr. James Woolverton) being the “head boat.”
June 24th.—The “Russian guns” were to be placed either on the Marine Parade, Hall Quay, or Chapel Denes.
One thousand silver penny pieces of the reign of King John, the two first Edwards, and Alexander I. of Scotland had been found at a depth of about 17 feet in Mr. Ambrose Palmer’s dry dock.
The “Eastern Unitarian Christian Society” had celebrated its 44th Anniversary at Great Yarmouth. The Rev. Dr. Sadler preached from 1 Cor. xii., 27. At the subsequent meeting, Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., presided, and Mr. J. W. Dowson, Mr. Mills (Norwich), Mr. W. N. Burroughs, the Rev. H. Squint, Mr. S. Dowson, Rev. D. Davis, Mr. Welham and Mr. C. Freeman took part in the proceedings, afterwards 70 members partook of a cold collation at the Victoria Hotel.
At the quarterly meeting of the Primitive Methodist Society, it was stated that their members had increased by 100 during the last quarter.
One boat had brought in 6 lasts of herring, selling at from £20 to £28 per last.
July 1st.—A cricket match had been played on Gunton-denes between the Yarmouth and Lowestoft Clubs, in which the latter was victorious. The Yarmouth team consisted of Messrs. Graystone, Jennings, G. Clarke, Reeve, J. S. Browne, Young, R. Clarke, Vaughan, E. Clarke, Steward, and C. Diver.
Mr. T. Lettis, jun., had been found dead in his counting-house, and the Jury had returned a verdict “That deceased destroyed himself while in a state of temporary insanity.”
July 8th.—Mr. C. E. Bartram had been elected a Councillor for the Nelson-ward in the room of the late Mr. Lettis, the polling being—
| C. E. Bartram | 112 |
| J. H. Harrison | 84 |
July 11th.—The Lord Bishop had laid the corner-stone of St. John’s Church. Mr. J. A. Hakewell was the architect. Mr. A. W. Morant supervised the erection, and Mr. R. Steward was the contractor for the entire work at £1,246.
The Bishop preached from Col. iii., 1, 2, 3 and 4.
July 18th.—There was to be no Regatta this year.
Mr. Harmer’s coloured photographic portraits were much admired.
Mackerel had been scarce, owing, it was supposed, to the coldness of the weather.
July 25th.—A detachment of Royal Artillery, about 145 strong, was encamped on the North-denes.
James Ablett a pauper nurse at the Workhouse, had been committed for trial at the Assizes for the wilful murder of Angus Steward.
July 29th.—The Committee (which consisted of the Earl of March, chairman, Mr. H. M. Clifford, Mr. C. J. Dupre, Mr. W. J. Garnet, and Colonel Maxwell), was sitting upon the petition against the return of Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin as M.P.’s for the Borough.
Aug. 1st.—This Committee had unseated both those gentlemen.
At the Water Frolic for the first match the following entries were made:—
| Kathleen | Messrs. Diver and Chamberlin |
| Belvidere | Mr. T. Read, jun. |
| Victorine | Mr. J. Fiddes |
| Ontario | Mr. F. Frere |
| Pysche | Mr. J. Fenn, jun. |
| Iris | Mr. A. D. Stone |
At the finish the Kathleen beat the Belvidere by some 300 yards.
The second match was won by Mr. Green’s “Enchantress” (latteen.)
Aug. 5th.—There had been a monstre Liberal Demonstration, when Mr. A. W. Young and Mr. J. Mellor, Q.C., were accepted as the candidates of that party. Some 10,000 to 12,000 persons were present.
Aug. 8th.—Among the Tories “vacillation, uncertainty, and lukewarmness prevailed.” Sir Samuel Hogg, Mr. Mackenzie, and Sir Henry Stracey had been tried without avail.
The Hon. Ernest Duncombe had visited the Borough, and left without taking further action; so Sir Edmund Lacon was still alone in the field as a Conservative candidate.
Aug. 13th.—Sir E. Lacon had retired from the contest.
The nomination had taken place outside the Town Hall, when Mr. J. W. Shelly proposed, and Mr. H. Danby-Palmer seconded Mr. A. W. Young; and Mr. R. Hammond proposed, and Mr. P. Pullyn seconded Mr. J. Mellor, Q.C., and there being no other nomination, those gentlemen were declared duly elected.
Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin subsequently addressed the electors from the Star Hotel.
Aug. 23rd.—About 90 ladies and gentlemen had attended the Race Ball at the Town Hall.
Mr. Allen’s tender of £3,156 11s. 5d. for the erection of the Britannia Pier, and Mr. Thompson’s tender of £200 for making the approaches to it, had been accepted.
Herrings were selling at from £20 to £26 per last.
Sept. 12th.—A new organ had been built for St. Peter’s Church at a cost of £400.
Sept. 23rd.—The Mayor had convened a meeting for the purpose of raising a fund for the relief of the sufferers by the Indian Mutiny. Among those present were—Sir Eaton Travers, the Revs. G. Hills, J. S. Russell, J. B. Brampton, B. Vaux and D. Oliver, Dr. Dunne, and Messrs. J. W. Shelly, S. Tolver, P. Pullyn, J. G. Fisher, R. Ferrier, sen., S. Dowson, A. R. Palmer, G. Blake, E. P. Youell, C. Preston, E. R. Aldred, W. Davie, &c.; the sum of £233 17s. was subscribed in the room.
Sept. 30th.—The following shareholders had attended the ordinary general meeting of the Yarmouth and Haddiscoe Railway Company:—Sir E. H. K. Lacon (Chairman), Sir M. Peto, R. Hammond, J. Clowes, B. Fenn, C. E. Bartram, and W. H. Palmer, Esqs., &c., and power was given to the Directors to raise £25 000 by way of mortgage.
Oct. 3rd.—The Britannia Pier Works were being actively pushed on.
Mr. J. H. Harrison (the Ballast lessee) had called a meeting of 120 masters of vessels at the St. George’s Hall, for the purpose of receiving a statement from that gentleman, during which he said that he proposed to give a donation of £8 to the Fishermen’s Hospital, which sum he had received from a dispute (in which he did not concur) with the Corporation. Mr. Harrison was loudly cheered by the meeting, which he regaled with choice wines and spirits.
The Rev. J. S. Russell had preached his farewell sermon at the King Street Chapel, where he had laboured for the past 14 years.
Oct. 10th.—The Day of National Fast and Humiliation had been observed in the town “in a most becoming manner.”
Herring was selling at from £10 to £18 per last.
Oct. 17th.—Three hundred pounds had been collected for the Indian Relief Fund.
Oct. 21st.—Contains the following report:—“A Vestry meeting was held in the Town-hall, on Friday, for the purpose of considering the propriety of making a Church rate. There was a large attendance; the minister of the parish (the Rev. G. Hills, B.D.), of course presided.—The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, stated that the rate which would be proposed would be, in all respects, a legal one; it would include a charge for St. Peter’s Church, as the Churchwardens had been advised that that edifice was chargeable upon the rate in the same way that the Parish Church was. With regard to the new church of St. John’s, a fund had been raised which would be invested for keeping it in repair, so that it might never become chargeable to the parishioners. The Churchwardens, in order to preserve as much harmony as possible, would only ask for a rate for the repair of the fabrics, and for the payment of such legal charges as they were compelled to include in the rate; the items which would be left out would, therefore, amount to between £60 and £70, and would have to be defrayed by voluntary contribution.—Messrs. C. S. D. Steward and E. R. Aldred, the Churchwardens, moved and seconded that a rate of 1½d. in the pound be levied for the ensuing year; the amounts which it was estimated would be required were—for the Parish Church, £142 5s. 4d.; for St. George’s Chapel, £32 6s. 6d.; for St. Peter’s Church £32; and for general purposes £35.—Mr. W. T. Fisher moved, and Mr. J. Lawn seconded, “That at a time when it is expected that the Government will pass a bill for the abolition of Church rates, it appears to this vestry that it is inexpedient to increase the rates by including St. Peter’s Church, as it may ultimately add to increased taxation.” Mr. Fisher also moved, and Mr. Joseph Neave seconded, “That time be given for the ratepayers to examine the estimates, and that the meeting do therefore adjourn for three weeks for that purpose.”—The Chairman refused to put either of the above amendments—the first because Mr. Fisher would not alter it by leaving out the words “By including St. Peter’s Church,” and the second because he did not consider it to be a bona fide objection.—Mr. Fisher entered written protests, signed by himself, against the decision of the chairman, which protests he requested might be entered in the Vestry Clerk’s minutes of the meeting.—Mr. J. H. Harrison moved, “That until after the committee, which was appointed in April last to confer with the Churchwardens relative to the property belonging to the Parish Church, had made its report to a further vestry, it is inexpedient to make a rate.” Mr. F. Starling seconded the amendment.—The Chairman, in endeavouring to prevail upon Mr. Harrison to withdraw his amendment, stated that in March next, property which now let at from £29 to £30 a year, and that in September, 1859, property which now realised £50 per annum, would fall in; he agreed with them that the greatest care ought to be taken in properly administering this property, and said he believed its value would be increased threefold.—The amendment was carried by an immense majority, and the meeting, therefore, was adjourned sine die.
Oct. 28th.—Many vessels had been lost, and amongst them the “Betsy” (G. D. Palmer, Esq., owner), on Palling Beach. (N.B.—She was at that time the oldest vessel afloat hailing from the port, and had belonged to the Palmer family for more than 100 years.)
Oct. 31st.—The Liberal electors had held a grand soireè at the Town Hall, Messrs. A. W. Young, M.P., and J. Mellor, Q.C., M.P., being present; 220 persons attended, amongst whom were R. Hammond, Esq., (Chairman), and Messrs. G. D. Palmer, J. W. Shelley, W. N. Burroughs, P. Pullyn, C. E. Bartram, D. A. Gourlay, J. Clowes, G. Blake, W. T. Clarke, F. Palmer, H. D. Palmer, D. B. Palmer, W. T. Fisher, J. Cobb, J. Mainprice, W. Briggs, J. H. Harrison, J. Owles, J. Neave, &c. Mr. McCullagh was unable to attend, but the meeting was addressed by Messrs. Young, Mellor, and Watkin, and the utmost unanimity prevailed.
Nov. 4th.—Some 2,000 persons had attended an open-air Liberal Demonstration on the Hall-quay, at which G. Danby-Palmer, Esq., presided, and which was addressed by Mr. Watkin.
At the Municipal Election the Tories had been successful, the Liberals “not going in to win.” At the close of the poll the Conservative procession, consisting of a band of music, some flags, bearing such inscriptions as “Cheap Bread and Economy,” and about four or five cabs formed and paraded through the principal thoroughfares. The returns were—
RegentWard. | |
Sir E. H. K. Lacon, (C) | 118 |
J. Cherry, (C) | 114 |
J. Owles, (L) | 82 |
F. Palmer, (L) | 78 |
MarketWard. | |
J. E. Barnby, (C) | 128 |
J. Fenn, (C) | 126 |
J. Scott, (L) | 110 |
G. W. Clowes, (L) | 107 |
St.George’s Ward. | |
W. J. Foreman, (C) | 121 |
H. Jay, (C) | 117 |
A. D. Stone, (L) | 85 |
J. Fill, (L) | 80 |
NelsonWard. | |
S. V. Moore, (L) | 211 |
J. Clark, (C) | 151 |
J. Clowes, (L) | 127 |
NorthWard. | |
S. Nightingale, (C) | 144 |
W. H. Bessey, (C) | 132 |
J. Mainprice, (L) | 126 |
J. Cobb, (L) | 109 |
J. Hammond, (C) | 185 |
William H. Palmer, (C) | 174 |
Henry Danby-Palmer, (L) | 164 |
J. Barker, (L) | 150 |
Mr. J. Clowes had entered a protest against the return in the Nelson Ward “on the ground of the presiding alderman having left his post during the election.”
Nov. 7th.—The first general meeting of the Shareholders of the Britannia Pier Company had been held, the accounts showing £1,365 received, and £781 12s. 6d expended.
Nov. 11th.—At the Council Meeting, Mr. E. H. L. Preston proposed, and Mr. Palmer (Deputy-Mayor) seconded, Mr. Francis Worship for the office of Mayor. Mr. R. Steward then proposed Mr. W. H. Bessey, who declining the honour, Mr. Steward suggested the name of Mr. Plummer, who also refusing to serve, the Mayor declared Mr. Worship unanimously elected to the office.
The Poor’s rate was 1s. 4d. in the £.
Nov. 14th.—Thirty-six gentlemen had attended the dinner given to the Ex-Mayor at the Town Hall.
Herring was selling at from £12 to £20 a last.
The adjourned Vestry Meeting for the purpose of considering the propriety of making a Church rate had been held in the Town Hall. There was a large attendance of ratepayers, who were, of course, presided over by the minister of the parish. The Committee appointed to consider the value of the Church property recommended that that which had fallen in, and which would fall in on the 25th of March next, should be re-let on repairing leases of 14 years’ duration, at a rental of £76 16s.—Mr. J. H. Harrison, one of the committee, gave a detailed account of all the Church property, both of that which fell in in September last, and that which will fall in during next year and 1859 and 1860. He had no doubt, whatever, that if the property was properly managed, there would be no necessity for asking for a Church rate after 1860.—Mr. C. S. D. Steward and Mr. E. R. Aldred, the Churchwardens, moved and seconded respectively, “That in consequence of the increased rental of the estate belonging to St. Nicholas’ Church not being available for the current year, a rate of 1½d in the pound be now made and assessed.”—Mr. J. H. Harrison thought that St. Peter’s Church ought not to be included in the rate, and moved as an amendment, “That St. Peter’s Church having been erected by voluntary contributions, with an understanding that it should be maintained and supported by its pew rents, and should in no way become a charge upon the parish, this Vestry deems it advisable to refuse making a rate until the Churchwardens do exclude the said Church of St. Peter wholly from their estimate.”—Mr. J. Lawn seconded the amendment, but the Chairman refused to put it, on the ground that he could not consistently with his duty do so.—After considerable discussion, in the course of which the Clerk stated that St. Peter’s Church could be legally included in the rate, Mr. W. T. Fisher moved, and Mr. J. Lawn seconded, on the ground that the Church property, if re-let at its full value, would realize more than sufficient for the necessary repairs of the Parish Church, and that money, which could afterwards be repaid out of the surplus, could be borrowed to defray the expenses for the next two years,—“That this meeting resolves to adjourn for four weeks, to obtain the necessary amount and thereby to avoid the necessity of making a Church rate.”—The Chairman conscientiously refused to put this amendment on the ground that it was not a bona fide one, and also the following amendment, which was likewise moved by Mr. W. T. Fisher, “That in order to give the Churchwardens time to prepare a proper estimate, the Vestry to adjourn for three weeks.”—Mr. J. H. Harrison then moved, “That it is inexpedient and inadvisable to make a Church rate at this meeting.”—The Chairman, however, refused to put this, as also another amendment by Mr. J. H. Harrison to the effect, “That a Church rate of a farthing in the pound be levied.”—After a great deal of uproar, the motion of the Churchwardens was lost by a considerable majority. A poll was then demanded, when the Chairman appointed Mr. J. L. Cufaude to be the assessor, and the meeting adjourned. The following numbers were polled during the afternoon:—For the rate 225, against it 195.
Nov. 18th.—The polling of the Vestry had been concluded as follows:—
| For the Rate | 651 |
| Against | 771 |
and at 10 o’clock on Saturday, Mr. Hills stated that the poll would not be re-opened.
On the following day (Sunday) the clocks at the Parish Church and St. George’s Chapel were stopped, and the bells “tolled” at the hour for performance of divine service.
Nov. 21st.—Mr. D. Tomkins, of the British School, had again satisfied the Government Inspector.
R. Hammond, Esq., had presented 40 cwt. of coal to the inmates of the Fisherman’s Hospital.
Nov. 28th.—It was calculated that there were 400 boats then engaged in the Herring Fishing belonging to Yarmouth.
Dec. 12th.—The Mayor’s “feast” had been held at the Town Hall, 120 gentlemen being present, including Lord Sondes (High Steward), Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart., M.P., Sir H. Stracey, Bart., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., Colonel Elmhirst, Colonel Sankey, Major Taylor, Captain Nugent, Captain Dunt, the Revs. B. Vaux, J. Gunn, M. Waters and J. B. Bampton, Messrs. R. Hammond, W. N. Burroughs, C. J. Palmer, C. Cory, E. H. L. Preston, E. P. Youell, W. Yetts, R. Steward, B. Jay, C. H. Chamberlin, R. S. Watling, I. Preston, jun., W. C. Reynolds, R. Ferrier, W. H. Palmer, C. Preston, F. Palmer, H. D Palmer, J. C. Smith, D. A. Gourlay, &c.
The “recruiting staff” of the 9th Regiment, then at Yarmouth, consisted of Lieut.-Colonel C. Elmhirst, Brevt-Colonel Sankey, Major A. Taylor, Captains W. Dunt, H. F. Manton, W. Nugent, D. A. Barnett, R. P. O’Shea, J. W. MacFarlane, — Carden, and J. Graham, Lieutenants H. G. H. Grubbe, H. Gipps, and A. F. B. Wright, Adjutant Bolton, Ensigns C. S. Perry, J. L. Bradshaw, S. Lynne and C. T. Coote, Quarter-Master Arrowsmith, and 19 Sergeants and 10 Corporals.
Dec. 30th.—There were 30 prisoners in the Gaol, and they had been regaled with a Christmas dinner by the Mayor.
The Clocks at the Parish Church and St. George’s Chapel had been set going again at the instance of the Town Council.