3.—A meeting of the freeholders in the Norwich district was held at the Shirehall, under the presidency of the High Sheriff (Colonel W. E. G. L. Bulwer), for the nomination of candidates for the office of County Coroner. Mr. John Furness, solicitor, of Forncett, was nominated by Sir Francis Boileau, and seconded by Mr. C. S. Read; and Mr. Joseph Stanley, solicitor, of Norwich, was proposed by Mr. Fred Bullard, and seconded by Mr. John Hotblack. The show of hands was declared to be in favour of Mr. Stanley; whereupon a poll was demanded on behalf of Mr. Furness. The election took place on May 7th, and the result was declared as follows: Stanley, 707; Furness, 628. The last contested election for the County Coronership took place in 1827.
8.—The first steam fire-engine for the use of the city was tested in Norwich Market Place. It was purchased for £600, partly contributed by the Norwich Union Fire Office, and partly subscribed by the public.
26.*—“The Queen has been pleased to approve the 1st City of Norwich and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Norfolk Rifle Volunteer Corps to be known respectively as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Volunteer Battalions of the Norfolk Regiment regular force.”
27.—Died at his residence, St. Andrew’s Broad Street, Norwich, Mr. James Harcourt, aged 64, formerly choirmaster of the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival. He was a pupil of Mr. Pettet, a musician of great local repute, and organist of St. Peter Mancroft and St. Stephen’s churches. Mr. Harcourt succeeded to his master’s position at St. Peter’s, on its being relinquished by Mr. Critchfield, also a pupil and the successor of Mr. Pettet. He held that post for twenty-seven years. On the death of Mr. Hill he was chosen Festival choir-master, and was also conductor of the Norwich Philharmonic Society and of the Norfolk and Suffolk Church Choral Association.
JUNE.
2.—Died at Broad House, Wroxham, Mr. Alfred John N. Chamberlin, in his 60th year. He was a prominent supporter of aquatic sports, and the annual regatta on Wroxham Broad was mainly kept up by his energy. Mr. Chamberlin had been a member of the Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club from its commencement, and was one of the promoters of the National Fisheries Exhibition at Norwich.
5.—In the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, before Mr. Justice Chitty, was heard the action, the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich v. Browne and other inhabitants of Pockthorpe, by which the plaintiffs sought to establish the title of the citizens to Mousehold Heath. Judgment was given on the 7th, in favour of the Corporation, to whom the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had transferred their rights in the Heath. It was understood that if the defendants loyally accepted the judgment, no attempt would be made by the Corporation to enforce costs. On November 5th an official inquiry was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, by Mr. H. S. Milman, Assistant Land Commissioner, into objections or suggestions respecting a draft scheme prepared for the regulation of Mousehold Heath. (See April 28th, 1884.)
18.—Died at Bournemouth, Major Charles Loftus. A son of General William Loftus, of Kilbride, co. Wicklow, Colonel of the 2nd Dragoon Guards, and lieutenant of the Tower of London, by his second wife, Lady Elizabeth Townshend, only surviving daughter of George, first Marquis Townshend, he was born at Stiffkey, on September 21st, 1796, and entered the Royal Navy in 1809. He served until the conclusion of the war, in 1815, when an accidental fall from the main rigging to the quarterdeck of his ship necessitated his retirement. He so far recovered as to be able to take a commission in the Coldstream Guards, which, however, he was compelled to resign by increasing affliction. In 1835 he married a daughter of Colonel John Dixon, of Gledhow, Yorkshire, and settled at Dunham Cottage, Norfolk. On Lord Sondes’ retirement from the command of the Norfolk Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry, in 1838, he was made Major Commandant of the corps, which in 1841 was, by Royal permission, entitled Prince Albert’s Own Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry. When in 1849 blindness compelled him to live in retirement, Major Loftus occupied his time by dictating recollections of his youth and after life, which were published in two series, “My Youth by Land and Sea,” and “My Life from 1815 to 1849.”
20.—The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural Association was opened at Fakenham. Prince Albert Victor came from Sandringham and made a tour of the showyard in company with Lord Hastings, the president for the year. The show was continued on the 21st.
30.—A disastrous thunderstorm occurred at Norwich. Many of the low-lying streets were flooded by the rain water, and in Grove Street, Unthank’s Road, a man sheltering beneath a tree was struck dead by lightning. Another man was killed by lightning on the farm of Mr. Keable, at Earlham, and some of the farm buildings were destroyed by fire. In several parts of the county stacks were fired and live stock killed.