18.—A Missionary Loan Exhibition was opened at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, by the Countess of Leicester, in celebration of the jubilee of the Church Missionary Society. It was closed on the 23rd.
23.—Notice was published of an intended application to the Light Railway Commissioners for powers to construct a light railway from Trowse, viâ Arminghall, Brooke, and Loddon, to Beccles. On July 12th Lord Jersey, chairman of the Light Railway Commission, and Col. Boughey, R.E., C.S.I., sat at the Shirehall, Norwich, for the purpose of receiving information on the subject. It was stated that the length of the proposed line would be 17½ miles; the capital to be authorised by the Bill was £100,000, with borrowing powers for £33,000, and Sir Douglas Fox, consulting engineer, stated that the contractor would be able to construct the line for £93,000.
27.—Mr. John Cross tendered his resignation of the office of Clerk to the Norwich Board of Guardians, and on May 25th Mr. E. R. Woodward was elected to fill the vacancy.
MAY.
7.—Died at Kirkley, Lowestoft, Mr. Robert Hitchman, formerly Chief Constable of Norwich, aged 72. He was appointed Chief Constable on March 24th, 1859, and retired on April 30th, 1897.
12.—Polling took place in the Southern Division of the county in consequence of the resignation of Mr. Francis Taylor (Liberal Unionist). The candidates were Mr. J. Sancroft Holmes, of Gawdy Hall, Harleston (Conservative), and Mr. A. W. Soames, architect, of London (Liberal). The poll was declared at the Shirehall, Norwich, on the 13th: Soames, 4,626; Holmes, 3,296.
19.—Intelligence was received in Norwich of the death of Mr. Gladstone. Both political parties paid becoming respect to the memory of the deceased statesman. Resolutions of sympathy were passed by the members of the Norwich and Norfolk Conservative Club and of the Gladstone Club, and on the day of interment, the 28th, a memorial service, attended by the Mayor and Corporation, was held at the Cathedral.
24.—The Norwich Town Council considered a report of the Executive Committee containing recommendations for the alteration of the names of various streets and roads in the city. The report, with certain modifications and amendments, was adopted at a subsequent meeting.
26.—A new Voluntary school for the accommodation of 400 boys, erected on Hall Road, Lakenham, by the supporters of Church education in Norwich at the cost of £2,600, was opened by the Lord Bishop.
27.—Died at Mulbarton, Mr. George Frederick Cooke, formerly District Registrar of the High Court of Justice, and Registrar of the County Court, Norwich, in his 80th year. He was the youngest son of the Rev. William Cooke, vicar of Bromyard, Herefordshire, and brother of Mr. Cooke, a former judge of the Norfolk County Court.