20.—Miss Maude Branscombe and her London company appeared at Norwich Theatre in the comedy, “Masks and Dominoes,” and the burlesque, “Undine, or ye Nymph, ye Knight, and ye Awful Fright.”
—The Norfolk acid Norwich Hospital was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught upon its completion. The actual expenditure to this date had been £51,179, of which about £39,118 had been obtained by subscription, £10,192 was withdrawn from invested capital, and £2,569 was advanced to the treasurer by Messrs. Gurney and Co. To wholly clear the new building from debt about £5,000 was required. The Duke and Duchess were received at Thorpe Station by the Mayor (Mr. C. R. Gilman), the Sheriff (Mr. S. Newman), the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. W. Hunter), the Earl of Leicester, and other representatives of the Hospital. His Royal Highness, after replying to an address read by the Town Clerk, drove with the Duchess through the gaily decorated streets of the city to the Hospital, where Prince Albert Victor had arrived some time previously from Horstead Hall in company with Mr. Edward Birkbeck, M.P. After the formal opening of the building their Royal Highnesses visited the various departments, and attended a grand bazaar held in the grounds; and later in the afternoon proceeded to Cotton Hall as the guests of Mr. S. Gurney Buxton and Miss Buxton. On the morning of the 21st their Royal Highnesses visited the Cathedral, and left for London at 2.55 p.m. The Hospital bazaar, which remained open until the 25th, produced net receipts amounting to £5,779 5s. 3d.
28.—At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. J. Wilson Gilbert was elected Clerk of the Peace by 27 votes, against 25 recorded for Mr. George Alden Stevens.
SEPTEMBER.
3.—Died, at Norwich, Mr. Alfred Master, F.R.C.S., aged 67. He was a son of Colonel Harcourt Master, and was born at Catton. A pupil of Mr. P. N. Scott, and afterwards of Mr. J. Godwin Johnson, with whom he became associated in practice, Mr. Master was for many years surgeon of the County Gaol. He was a magistrate of the city and a prominent member of the committee of the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival.
7.—Knapton church was re-opened by the Bishop of Norwich. It had been restored at the cost of about £2,000.
10.—Mr. J. C. Buckmaster, of the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, delivered a lecture at Cromer on “Science Teaching in Agriculture.” Mr. Buckmaster also lectured at North Walsham, Coltishall, Aylsham, Wymondham, and Norwich.
—Mr. Sheil Barry made his first appearance on the Norwich stage in his famous impersonation of Gaspard in “Les Cloches de Corneville.”
14.—Died, in his 83rd year, the Rev. John Methold, vicar of Wighton. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was appointed to his living in 1839. “It is a singular fact that the last three vicars of Wighton, Mr. Charles, Mr. Tickell, and Mr. Methold, held the vicarage for no less than 143 years.” Mr. Methold played for Harrow in the first cricket match which that school won against Eton.
15.—Died, at his residence, Ber Street House, Norwich, Mr. John May Robberds, of the firm of Fosters, Burroughes, and Robberds, solicitors, aged 74. A son of John Warden Robberds, who in his day was a geologist of some note, and contributed the historical and geological notes to “Stark’s River Scenery,” Mr. Robberds had lived in comparative retirement for upwards of half a century. He was unrivalled as an authority upon conveyancing law.