2.—A gale, which prevailed throughout England, was severely felt on the Norfolk coast. A large number of vessels ran into Yarmouth Roads for shelter, among them H.M.S. Narcissus and her escorts Valorous and Echo. A fine vessel, the Falls of Bruar, 1,742 tons register, the property of the Glasgow Shipping Company, was wrecked, and only five hands out of the crew of twenty-nine were saved.
21.—The Sheriff of Norwich (Mr. F. Oddin Taylor) gave a soirée musicale at Blackfriars’ Hall, at which the principal performers were M. Leopold Godowsky, Miss Alexes Leighton, Senor A. Gimenez Manjon, Signor Bottesini, and Mr. Odell.
26.—The first of many protracted discussions took place at a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, upon a report furnished by the City Engineer (Mr. P. P. Marshall) upon the state of the sewerage system of the city. The old sewers were said to be in a defective state, and it was proposed to abandon the low-level system, and to adopt the separate system with a new rising main, at an estimated cost of £78,000.
29.—The church of St. Michael-at-Plea, Norwich, which for many years had been in a dilapidated state, was opened after restoration at the cost of £3,000.
—At the annual dinner of the North Walsham and Aylsham Agricultural Association, held at North Walsham, cigarettes, made from tobacco grown in Norfolk by Sir Edward Birkbeck, M.P., were handed to the guests. The President (Lord Suffield) described the tobacco as “very good,” and said that Sir Edward, who had taken considerable interest in the experiment, “believed that its growth was really going to do something for the benefit of Norfolk farmers.”
OCTOBER.
4.—Died, at 6, St. Augustine’s Road, Camden Square, N.W., Mr. David Fisher, who for thirty years had held a prominent position upon the London stage as a leading comedian. Mr. Fisher was born at East Dereham, which was one of the towns on the circuit of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians, under the control of the Fisher family. Like his father, uncle, and grandfather, Mr. Fisher was highly respected in Norfolk and the sister county, and his periodical visits to the scenes of the former theatrical successes of his predecessors were always regarded with pleasure by a large circle of friends and admirers. On those occasions Mr. Fisher gave dramatic and musical recitals, in which he was assisted by his talented daughter, Miss Mary Fisher. His career in London commenced with Charles Kean at the Princess’s Theatre, where, on November 2nd, 1853, he appeared as Victor in “The Lancers.” In 1859 Mr. Benjamin Webster, then at the Adelphi, secured his services, and until 1863 Mr. Fisher performed at that Theatre with considerable success in many important parts. For a short time he severed his connection with the stage, and gave his single-handed performance, “Facts and Fancies,” at Hanover Square Rooms and St. James’s Hall. Subsequently he joined Mr. Vining’s company at the Princess’s, and afterwards appeared at Drury Lane and other leading Metropolitan theatres.
9.—Died, the Rev. Kirby Trimmer. Born in London on December 22nd, 1804, he was the son of Joshua Kirby Trimmer, of Chiswick, eldest son of Mrs. Sarah Trimmer, the authoress. After a short residence at Vendôme, he graduated at St. Alban’s Hall, Oxford, and was ordained in February, 1829. He served the curacies of Burnham Overy, Burnham Sutton, Great Bircham, and Stanhoe, and in 1840 became curate of St. George’s Tombland, Norwich, to which living he succeeded in 1842. In the pursuit of botany, Mr. Trimmer attained to great distinction, and published the well-known, standard work, the “Flora of Norfolk.” His other literary efforts embraced a series of “Conversations” on the Thirty-nine Articles, and he interested himself greatly in the “Philological Dictionary” in course of publication at the time of his death.
11.—The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich. The vocalists included Madame Albani, Miss Liza Lehmann, Miss Annie Marriott, Miss Hilda Wilson, Miss Lena Little, Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. Charles Wade, Mr. Barton McGucken, Mr. Santley, Mr. Alex. Marsh, Mr. Brockbank, and Mr. Barrington Foote. Mr. Alberto Randegger was conductor. The opening performance included the “Jubilee Ode,” “The Heavens Declare,” and the “Hymn of Praise.” On the morning of the 12th were produced the “Garden of Olivet” (Bottesini), a devotional oratorio composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer; and the “Stabat Mater.” On the 13th the morning performance comprised the oratorio, “Isaiah” (Mancinelli), composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer; and the “Fourth Mass” (Cherubini). The “Messiah” was given on the 14th. A miscellaneous programme was performed on the evening of the 12th; the evening performance on the 13th included “The Irish” (C. V. Stanford), conducted by the composer, and the cantata, “The Golden Legend,” composed and conducted by Sir Arthur Sullivan. The concluding performance on the evening of the 14th was the dramatic legend, “Faust.” The Festival yielded a surplus of £719 3s. 1d.
20.—The new Town Hall at Downham Market, erected at the cost of £1,230, was opened by Mr. W. A. Tyssen Amherst, M.P.