1.—Died suddenly, at his residence, Bank Plain, Norwich, Mr. Arthur Preston, solicitor. He was the youngest son of Mr. John Preston, of Great Yarmouth (who was twice Mayor of that borough), and was born on July 3rd, 1819. After serving his articles with Mr. Roger Kerrison he was admitted a solicitor in 1842, and from 1844 to 1864, when Mr. Kerrison died, he was in partnership with him. Mr. Preston was appointed Clerk to the Burials Board in 1861, and held the office until his death; he had been a director of the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society since 1867, and president since 1885; and he was the Norwich solicitor to the British Gas Light Company, Limited, to which office he was appointed in 1864. Mr. Preston was twice married—in 1854 to Maria, daughter of Mr. Robert Waters, and in 1869 to Louisa Jane, daughter of the Rev. J. Culling Evans, of Stoke Pogis, Buckinghamshire. He left a family of five sons and three daughters.
—An outbreak of fire at West Beckham Workhouse caused damage to the amount of £1,500.
5.—The proceedings of the Norwich Diocesan Conference commenced at Noverre’s Rooms, Norwich, and concluded on the 6th.
16.—The E and D Troops of the 19th (Princess of Wales’ Own) Hussars marched from Norwich Cavalry Barracks for Hampton Court and Kensington. The remaining troops left on the 26th, on which day three troops of the 20th Hussars marched in under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Blake.
21.*—“A party of emigrants, numbering sixty, from parishes in the neighbourhood of Diss, have left this week for Canada.”
28.—Died, at 19, Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Square, London, Lieut.-Colonel George Black, formerly Chief Constable of Norfolk, in his 79th year. It was on October 20th, 1852, that Colonel (then Captain) Black, a half-pay officer of the Royal Staff Corps, who had seen service as adjutant in Canada, was appointed to the command of the Norfolk Constabulary, and he held the post until the autumn of 1880, when he retired on a pension. For sixteen or seventeen years Colonel Black held the command of the Norwich Rifle Battalion in succession to Colonel Brett. At the funeral, which took place at Willesden Cemetery on May 2nd, the coffin was borne to the grave by six superintendents of the Norfolk Constabulary.
MAY.
2.—Nine cottages were destroyed by fire at Hockering. Most of the furniture and belongings of the occupants were consumed, and a public subscription was opened for the relief of the sufferers.
19.—The Norfolk Artillery Volunteer Brigade went into camp at Yarmouth under the command of Lieut.-Colonel H. M. Leathes.
22.—Died, at Norwich, Mr. John Betts, in his 89th year. The head of a large wholesale and retail drapery establishment, he was appointed Sheriff in 1844, elected Mayor in 1845, and placed on the commission of the peace in 1848.