7.—Died, at Woodbastwick, William Fryer, for seventy-four years parish clerk, in his 92nd year. He entered into office in June, 1819, and continued to discharge his duties to within a short period of his death. If not the oldest parish clerk in point of age, there was reason to believe that Fryer had held office longer than any other parish clerk in the kingdom. He was for many years postmaster, general shopkeeper, and village carpenter and blacksmith.
11.—The first meeting in Norfolk of the National Agricultural Union promoted by Lord Winchilsea was held at the Corn Hall, Harleston, under the presidency of Mr. J. Sancroft Holmes. Other meetings of the Union were held during the year in various parts of the county.
12.—The series of Science Lectures for the People was resumed at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, by Dr. Andrew Wilson, on the subject of “The Distribution of Animals, and what it Teaches.” On February 8th Dr. Drinkwater lectured on “Light and Colour from the Sun.”
21.—At the instance of the Rate Basis Committee of the County Council a conference of delegates from all the Unions of Norfolk was held at Norwich, to consider the advisability of adopting a uniform system of assessment through the county. A resolution was carried recommending Assessment Committees to make the annual value of property as determined for the purpose of Schedule A the basis of rating. It was also decided that the Rate Basis Committee send out to the different Unions a general or consolidated scale of deductions.
25.—The Norwich Board of Guardians resolved to request the Local Government Board to repeal parts of the Norwich Poor Act of 1863 in order to make the general law as to franchise and election of Guardians applicable to Norwich.
28.—It was authoritatively announced that the Bishop of Norwich had placed his resignation in the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury. An Order in Council, passed in the presence of her Majesty, on May 16th, declared the See of Norwich vacant. (See May 31st.)
31.—Archdeacon Crosse was installed a Canon Residentiary of Norwich Cathedral.
FEBRUARY.
2.—At a full-dress parade of the 1st Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment Brigadier-General Bulwer decorated several officers of the battalion with the new Volunteer Decoration.
20.—Miss Grace Hawthorne appeared at Norwich Theatre in Sardou’s play, “Theodora.” A feature of the performance was the introduction of a cage of live lions in act I., scene 3.