18.—On this day (Whit-Monday) occurred the memorable fall of snow which covered the ground to the depth of five inches, and occasioned the abandonment of all out-door sports and holiday amusements. On the previous Wednesday (the 13th) the shade temperature registered in the neighbourhood of Norwich was 72.7; at 9 a.m. on the 16th it stood at 37.2; and on the same day the thermometer in the screen fell to 29.8, and on the grass to 21.5. On Sunday, the 17th, there were frequent storms of hail and snow, and at 2 p.m. the temperature registered 37.4.
—A military tournament given by the 8th Hussars in aid of the local charities, commenced at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, and concluded on the 23rd.
21.—The Duke of Clarence and Avondale (in the absence of the Prince of Wales, who was unable to attend in consequence of indisposition) opened a bazaar at Yarmouth in aid of a fund for the restoration of the parish church; and in the evening was present at a ball given by the officers of the Norfolk Artillery.
23.—The Norfolk County Council resolved to offer scholarships of the value of £10 each per annum, and not exceeding fifty in number, to boys and girls who, having passed the 6th and 7th Standards in elementary schools, were prepared, after examination, to attend for three years some secondary school possessing to the satisfaction of the committee the necessary qualifications for technical instruction. On the 26th the Norwich Town Council decided to provide a school for technical education and manual instruction.
30.—The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture adopted, by 66 votes against 32, a resolution in favour of making legal in England the practice of the dishorning of cattle.
JUNE.
8.—Mr. Wilson Barrett commenced a week’s engagement at Norwich Theatre, in the character of Belphegor. His other impersonations included Claud Melnotte, Chatterton, The Stranger, and Hamlet.
12.—The Mayor of Norwich (Mr. Edward Wild) unveiled at Norwich Cathedral a window inserted in the south aisle to the memory of officers of the Norfolk Regiment. The window was the gift of the officers and men of the regiment.
—The British Training Squadron, consisting of the Active, the Calypso, the Volage, and the Ruby, entered Yarmouth Roads, and sailed on the 14th for the north. Each ship’s company numbered about 500 men and boys.
15.—A Select Committee of the House of Commons inquired into the merits of the St. Faith’s Allotment Bill, by which it was sought to obtain Parliamentary sanction to the compulsory purchase of 18½ acres of land owned by the Countess de Rechberg, in the parish of Horsham St. Faith’s, for the purpose of providing allotments for forty applicants under the Allotments Acts, 1887 and 1890. On the 17th the chairman (Sir Stafford Northcote) announced that the Committee were of opinion that the preamble of the Bill was proved, and that the order should be confirmed, but they thought the justice of the case would be met if 10a. 2r. 6p. were given up for allotments, and the Countess de Rechberg be ordered to pay her own costs and one-third of the costs of the promoters. The Local Government Board subsequently held an inquiry to decide the amount to be paid to the Countess for the compulsory purchase of the land. The Countess demanded £1,291 6s. (originally £1,451); the County Council offered £1,025 8s. 6d.; and the Local Government Board inspector awarded £1,131 15s. 6d.