JANUARY.
1.—In the list of New Year’s Honours appeared the name of Mr. Robert Thornhagh Gurdon, of Letton, upon whom her Majesty had conferred the dignity of peerage. Mr. Gurdon assumed the title of Baron Cranworth.
5.—Cringleford church, after restoration at the cost of about £1,400, was re-opened by the Bishop of Norwich.
7.—Died, aged 78, Mr. Samuel Culley, of Grove Avenue, Norwich, who held the office of City Accountant from 1887 to 1898. He was a son of Mr. Richard Culley, and at an early age learned farming in order to fit him for Colonial life. In 1841 he went to New Zealand, but left on the outbreak of the Maori War, and shipping on board an American whaler obtained the post of second mate. On the voyage the crew mutinied, and the captain lost his reason. Mr. Culley put the ringleaders in irons, took command of the vessel, and brought her to Rhode Island. On returning to Norwich he set up business as a corn merchant, and afterwards as a public accountant. He was identified with the formation of the Norwich Steam Laundry and Baths Company and the Norwich Omnibus Company.
13.—The Bishop of Norwich acknowledged the receipt of a memorial signed by 365 clergymen, 123 lay members of Conference, and 100 magistrates, resident in the diocese, who had expressed their resolve to strengthen as far as possible the hands of the bishops in their efforts to check unsound teaching and to restrain illegal practices in the Church. The memorial gave rise to much dissatisfaction and to a considerable amount of acrimonious correspondence in the public Press.
14.—At a meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital it was announced that Mr. Cadge had subscribed the munificent gift of £10,000 to the Leicester Perpetual Endowment Fund. Mr. Cadge had previously presented to the institution an anonymous gift of £10,000.
FEBRUARY.
3.—Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M.D., delivered a lecture at Noverre’s Rooms, Norwich, on “The History and Effect of Vaccination.” The Dean of Norwich presided, and a committee was formed in order to circulate information on the subject.
7.—Died at Diss rectory, the Rev. Charles Robertson Manning, M.A., F.S.A., honorary canon of Norwich Cathedral, rural dean of Redenhall, and for 42 years rector of Diss, aged 73. Canon Manning was a magistrate for the county, and a member of the Diss School Board, but he was best known for his labours in archæology. He published “A List of Monumental Brasses remaining in England,” and shortly before his death compiled “A List of Monumental Brasses omitted by Blomefield.” Canon Manning was a well-known authority on church plate, and among other subjects upon which he wrote were church architecture, lecterns, fonts, heraldry, seals, coins, mediæval patens, and antiquarians objects of almost every kind.
13.—Mr. Leo Trevor’s play, “Brother Officers,” which was produced at the Garrick Theatre in October, 1898, and became one of the successes of the London season, was performed at Norwich Theatre by Miss Muriel Wylford’s company.