31.—M. Paderewski gave a pianoforte recital at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich.
FEBRUARY.
1.—The Sandringham shire horses, the property of the Prince of Wales, were sold by auction at Wolferton by Mr. A. Beck. The total amount realised was 5,231 gs., and the average per animal £119 3s. 8d.
—Died at Stoke Holy Cross, Mr. Henry Birkbeck. He was the only son of Mr. Henry Birkbeck, of Keswick, and was born on February 10th, 1821. His mother was the eldest daughter of Mr. Joseph Gurney, who left to his grandson his share in the great Norwich bank of Messrs. Gurneys and Co. Mr. Birkbeck began his training in the bank on January 1st, 1839, and became a partner in the concern on his coming of age. He married in October, 1849, the eldest daughter of Mr. Anthony Hamond, of Westacre. She died in 1862, and 1871 he married Miss ffolkes, only sister of Sir W. H. B. ffolkes, of Hillington. In 1853 Mr. Birkbeck served the office of Sheriff of Norwich, and in 1860 was High Sheriff of Norfolk. For several years he represented the old Fourth Ward as a member of the Norwich Town Council. He was a most generous supporter of local charities and benevolent institutions, was honorary treasurer of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and chairman of the executive bodies of the Great Hospital and the Bethel.
18.—By invitation of Mr. Thomas Crammer, Lindahl, the renowned Scandinavian skater, visited East Dereham for the purpose of meeting “Fish” Smart in a skating contest. Upwards of 2,000 persons assembled on the ice. The first race of one and a half miles was won by Smart in 5 minutes 48 4.5ths seconds; Lindahl won the second race over the same course. Owing to the bad condition of the ice the competitors were unable to establish a record.
MARCH.
4.—Died at St. Faith’s House, Norwich, Mr. John Hotblack, aged 74. He was a justice of the peace for the city and for the county, and for several years represented the old First Ward in the Town Council. In November, 1884, Mr. Hotblack was elected Mayor of Norwich.
7.—Died at Soham Vicarage, the residence of his son, the Rev. Cyprian T. Rust, LL.B. For twenty-two years he was a clergyman in Norwich, and held successively the livings of St. Michael-at-Thorn and Heigham; in 1875 he was presented to the living of Westerfield, near Ipswich. Mr. Rust was born of Baptist parents, and after serving as a clerk in a London counting-house became a Baptist minister at Colchester, where he worked from 1838 to 1841. Thence he went to Queen’s College, Cambridge, and took his LL.B. degree in 1852, in which year he was ordained deacon by Bishop Hinds, and in 1853 priest by the Bishop of Ely. Mr. Rust did much literary work in the form of magazine articles, and was in many ways very successful as an essayist. He was the author of “Higher Criticism: Some Account of its Labours upon Primitive History,” published in 1889; “Essays and Reviews”; “The Break of Day in the 18th Century: a History and a Specimen of the first book of English Song” &c.
11.—A meeting of Norwich traders was held at the Guildhall, at which it was resolved to re-establish a Chamber of Commerce in the city.
15.—Died at Bracondale, Mr. Henry Colman, last surviving son of Mr. Robert Colman, of Rockland St. Andrew’s, in his 82nd year. He was one of the eleven brothers Colman who constituted the famous cricket team. Mr. Colman for several years represented the old Sixth Ward as a member of the Norwich Town Council.