D. If rated at £75 and under £100, four votes.
E. If rated at £100 and under £150, five votes.
F. If rated at £150 or upwards, six votes.
And no rate-payer at any election of guardians for any one and the same district have more than six votes.
All the compounding provisions of the act were abolished by the Reform Act of 1867.
The old court of guardians had the management of lunatic paupers, who were maintained in an asylum in St. Augustine’s. Great care appears to have been taken of them, and many of them were cured, more in proportion than in any other town. Nevertheless, the lunacy commissioners who visited the asylum reported that the place was unhealthy and unfit for lunatics, and recommended, or rather demanded that a new asylum should be built in a more healthy situation. This the old court of guardians considered to be quite unnecessary, and the whole matter was transferred to the council under the Lunatic Asylums Act of 1853, that body having the option of taking the matter in hand. The council, already over-loaded with municipal business, Board of Health business, drainage, paving, lighting, watering the roads, &c., actually undertook the management of the lunatic paupers, in 1863. After many discussions a majority of the members decided that a new asylum was unnecessary, and refused to build one. The Lunacy Commissioners, however, made a strong report to the Secretary of State on the subject, who sent down an order to the council to build an asylum. Since then land has been purchased for its site, which is likely to cost from £30,000 to £40,000!
1864. In 1864 the operatives made a very laudable effort to improve their depressed condition by establishing an “Industrial Weavers’ Co-operative Society,” and held many meetings to promote that object. The Rev. C. Caldwell, and other gentlemen, advocated their cause. The society was supported by donations, and J. H. Gurney, Esq., advanced a sum which had been left by his father for the benefit of the weavers, the principal with interest amounting to £1100.
1865. The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture was instituted, and frequent meetings of the members have been held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich. The objects of the chamber are to watch over all measures affecting agriculture both in and out of parliament, to co-operate with the General Chamber thereon, and to take such action as may be for the benefit of agriculturists. At the meetings of the members interesting questions have been discussed, and C. S. Read, Esq., M.P. for East Norfolk, has generally presided, and given much valuable information.
The most important event in this diocese of late years was the holding of a Church Congress in Norwich. A preliminary meeting to consider the proposal was held in the Clerical Rooms on Saturday, December 10th, 1864. When this was announced there was no little apprehension in Low Church circles, but the proposal was approved by most of the clergy, and they requested the Lord Bishop to preside over the Congress, which was held in October, 1865. After some delay his lordship reluctantly consented, and never before was there such a gathering of clergy in the city. St. Andrew’s Hall was filled every day for a week in October, 1865. High churchmen throughout the country made it a point of duty to attend the congress; and the proceedings at the daily meetings were of a very interesting character to churchmen generally. Addresses were delivered every day on very important subjects; and the bible history was ably vindicated against the objections of geologists and freethinkers. The church as an establishment was well defended by her champions. Three local newspapers were published daily, containing full reports of the proceedings. Dr. Pusey read a discourse of great interest in defence of the Old Testament narratives.