20.—Died, at Shadwell Court, Sir Robert Jacob Buxton, Bart. The son of Sir John Jacob Buxton, Bart., by the eldest daughter of Sir Montagu Cholmeley, he succeeded to the title in 1842 as the third, and, in default of male issue, the last baronet. Sir Robert was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, and married, in 1865, Mary Augusta Harriet, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Johnstone, by whom he left two daughters, Maud Isabel and Sybil Mary. He was a Deputy-Lieutenant for Norfolk, and sat in Parliament for the Southern Division of the county from 1871 to 1885. In 1870 he served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk, and was a justice of the peace for both Norfolk and Suffolk. Sir Robert was at one time an officer in the Suffolk Yeomanry Cavalry, and afterwards identified himself with the Volunteer movement by accepting, in 1860, a captaincy in the 20th Norfolk Rifle Volunteers.
21.—At the annual meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society the Mayor of Norwich (Mr. F. W. Harmer) presented to Mr. Arthur Waters Preston a handsome black marble clock of classical design, subscribed for by members and friends of the society in recognition of his services as hon. secretary from 1881 to 1888. Accompanying the testimonial was a cheque for £50 and an illuminated address.
23.—The action, Stanley v. the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich, arising out of the claim of the freemen to the Town Close Estate, came before Mr. Justice Kekewich in the Royal Court of Judicature. Mr. Walter Rye, Mr. Stanley’s agent, asked that it might be referred to Mr. Blofeld, Recorder of Ipswich and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, to enquire and report who were the persons entitled as freemen to participate in the rents and profits of the estate, and what persons were entitled to be admitted as freemen under the inquiry directed by the judgment given in March, 1887. His lordship made the order asked for, and directed that the inquiry be held at the Guildhall, Norwich, or at such other place as the referee might from time to time direct. Mr. Blofeld opened the inquiry on March 19th, and continued the proceedings on the 20th, when a large number of freemen attended for the purpose of proving their right to have their names placed upon the roll. On the same day (the 20th) it was reported to the Town Council that the cost of the Town Close Estate litigation amounted to £4,500, and a resolution was adopted for leave to borrow the amount on mortgage of the estate. In the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice, on July 7th, a point was raised as to the jurisdiction of the court to affirm a declaration of the Attorney-General creating the Town Close Estate a charity. Mr. Justice Kekewich, on July 14th, sustained the objection taken by the respondents to the Attorney-General’s application, and held that before issuing a summons the Attorney-General must establish by independent proceedings an information that there was a charity in existence to be regulated. The summons had been so drawn as to assume the existence of a charity, and this was just what his lordship thought could not be assumed. On December 14th, in the Supreme Court, before Lords Justices Cotton, Lindley, and Bowen, the Attorney-General appealed from Mr. Justice Kekewich’s decision. Their lordships, after hearing arguments, held that Mr. Justice Kekewich had determined by his judgment that the Town Close Estate was a charitable trust. On December 20th, however, their lordships reconsidered their decision, directed the order of Mr. Justice Kekewich to be discharged, and ordered the summons to be set down for further argument, and to decide whether there was or was not a charity. (See January 21st, 1889.)
31.—Died, at Southwell Lodge, Norwich, Mr. John Willis, aged 54. Mr. Willis was a member of the firm of Willis and Southall, an alderman, and a justice of the peace for the city. A native of Gloucestershire, he had resided in Norwich for a quarter of a century. It was through his advocacy that the Artisans’ Dwellings Act was put into force in Norwich, and the rookeries in St. Paul’s were demolished. He also interested himself in the matter of the gas supply, and vigorously protested against what he conceived to be the unjust treatment of the citizens by the Gas Company. He married, in 1870, the only daughter of Mr. Colmam, of Stoke Holy Cross, and sister of Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P.
FEBRUARY.
3.—In pursuance of requisition a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council was held for the purpose of considering a notice for rescinding a resolution passed on January 17th in relation to Anguish’s Charity, namely, “That this Council gives its cordial support to a proposal of the Charity Commissioners to utilise the funds of the Norwich Charities for the purposes of technical education.” Colonel Bignold moved, “That no application of the funds of Anguish’s and the allied charities can be satisfactory to this Council which is not strictly in accordance with the will of Thomas Anguish confirmed and settled by Royal Charter in 1629, namely, for the sustentation, relief, and maintenance, as well as the teaching, of all very poor children born and brought up in the city of Norwich.” This resolution was adopted at an adjourned meeting on the 7th, and a committee appointed “to consider the present position of the trust, and, if necessary, to confer with the Charity Trustees, and still further, if necessary, to communicate with the Commissioners.” On the 28th the Special Committee submitted the following suggestions to the Council for approval:—“(1) That in any scheme which may be submitted by the Charity Trustees to the Commissioners a sum not exceeding £200 per annum be set aside for the purposes of technical education out of the Boys’ Hospital. (2) That the residue of the fund be devoted to the sustentation, relief, maintenance, and elementary education of as many boys as the money will provide for. (3.) That if considered within the meaning of the trust this committee would be willing to accept a scheme of maintenance other than that provided for by the Home.” Meanwhile the Trustees submitted amended proposals, but on March 20th the Council adopted those drawn up by the Special Committee. (See January 21st, 1896).
7.—The members of the Norwich and Norfolk Conservative Club having vacated their former premises on the Walk for larger and more convenient quarters in St. Giles’ Street, held a meeting, at which an inaugural address was delivered by Mr. S. Hoare, M.P. The newly-acquired premises formed originally a portion of the Norfolk’ Hotel, and adjoining was a large and handsome banqueting room, which for several years afterwards was used for Conservative gatherings and other purposes.
9.—The first of a series of “Science Lectures for the People,” delivered under the auspices of the Norwich Corporation through the instrumentality of the Gilchrist Educational Trust, was given at St. Andrew’s Hall by Sir Robert Stawell Ball, Astronomer Royal of Ireland, on “The Wonders of the Midnight Sky.” The second lecture, entitled “A Bank Holiday in the Country,” was delivered on February 21st by the Rev. W. Tuckwell, M.A., rector of Stockton, and late Fellow of New College, Oxford. (See January 14th, 1889.)
11.—A notorious poacher, named Robert Large, undergoing three months’ hard labour for an assault on a police-constable, effected his escape from the New Prison at Norwich, in company with another prisoner named Annison. The latter was arrested at Martham on the 16th, and on the following day Large was re-taken.
24.—A heavy fall of snow occurred, and on the 25th the ground was covered to the depth of several inches.