MARCH.
6.—A disastrous fire occurred at New Buckenham, in a range of shops and private houses. Damage was done to the amount of £3,000.
8.—Mr. William Amhurst Tyssen-Amherst was returned unopposed as the representative of the division of West Norfolk, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sir William Bagge, Bart., M.P.
16.—At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, the Town Clerk reported the receipt of a letter from the Home Office, informing him that the old City Gaol had been sold for £7,505, and that, in accordance with the provisions of the Prisons Act, the sum of £1,984 0s. 5d. was due from that amount to the Corporation.
29.—Mr. Charles Dillon, “one of the few living actors of the old school” commenced a twelve nights’ engagement at Norwich Theatre. He was supported by Miss Bella Mortimer. Among the plays produced were “Richelieu,” “Othello,” “The Merchant of Venice,” “The Gamester,” “Much Ado about Nothing,” and “Macbeth.” The last-named tragedy was performed on Saturday, April 10th, on which occasion Mr. Dillon made his final appearance on the Norwich stage. (See June 24th, 1881.)
30.—The nomination of candidates for the representation of Norwich took place. The nominees were Mr. J. J. Column and Mr. J. H. Tillett (liberals), sad Mr. Henry Harben, of Seaford Lodge, Hampstead, and the Hon. F. W. B. Massey-Mainwaring, 30, Grosvenor Place, London (Conservatives). The potting on the 31st resulted as follows: Colman, 6,549; Tillett, 6,512; Harben, 5,242; Massey-Mainwaring 5,032.
31.—Sir Robert Jacob Buxton, Bart., and Mr. Clare Sewell Read (Conservatives), and Mr. Robert Thornhagh Gurdon (Liberal) were nominated candidates for the representation of South Norfolk. The polling took place on April 6th, and the counting of the ballot-papers was proceeded with at the Shirehall, Norwich, on the 7th. “The result of the first count was a dead heat between Mr. Read and Mr. Gurdon, the numbers for both being 2,906. Mr. Read’s agent demanded a second count, and on the clerks going through the papers, one of them discovered a voting-paper for Buxton and Read, on the back of which the voter, in distinct violation of the Ballot Act, had inscribed his name. The rejection of this paper made the numbers as between Mr. Read and Mr. Gurdon 2,905 and 2,906. Thus the seat was lost by one vote, and the official return was made as follows; Buxton, 2,917; Gurdon, 2,906; Read, 2905.” A proposed petition against the return of Mr. Gurdon was abandoned.
APRIL.
3.—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., and Mr. Edward Birkbeck were returned unopposed for the division of North Norfolk.
4.—The funeral took place at Langham of William Nelson, who died at the age of 101 years 4 months.