16.—Mr. Peter E. Hansell was presented by the magistrates and officials of the North Erpingham division with a massive silver Irish bowl on the occasion of this retirement after twenty years’ honourable and efficient service as clerk to the justices.
—A meeting of the party was held at the Norwich and Norfolk Conservative Club, to express approval of the policy of her Majesty’s Government in relation to the conduct of affairs in South Africa. Mr. W. T. Stead, author of a notorious pamphlet, “Shall I slay my brother Boer?” essayed to address a meeting in the Agricultural Hall Assembly Room on November 6th, on the subject “Is England Doomed?” Mr. Henry Broadhurst, M.P., presided, and a strongly antagonistic audience offered resistance to the proceedings. The National Anthem and patriotic songs were song, and Mr. Stead and his supporters were compelled to leave the platform. A collection was then made for the widows and orphans of soldiers in South Africa, and a resolution adopted affirming that Great Britain must be the paramount power in South Africa, and expressing the hope that the Government would prosecute the war to its final issue with the utmost vigour. On November 9th meetings were held in various parts of Norfolk under the auspices of the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations, at which resolutions were adopted expressive of confidence in the Government. Funds were opened in county and city for the relief of the widows and orphans of soldiers who had fallen in the war, and for the assistance of soldiers’ wives and families. On December 27th the reservists of the Norfolk Regiment, assembled at the Britannia Barracks to the number of 320, and on the 28th, amid a great demonstration, left the city en route to South Africa. Early on the morning of the 31st a second contingent of reservists, numbering 320, left Norwich for Aldershot. Their departure from Thorpe Station was witnessed by the Mayor (Mr. James Clabburn), Sir Harry Bullard, M.P., and other prominent citizens. (See January 2nd, 1900.)
17.—At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, the Sewerage Committee reported that the main drainage of the city, referred to in the report of the City Engineer on February 2nd, 1895, had been completed in accordance with the recommendations laid down therein. It was believed that the City Engineer’s estimate of £152,000 would nearly cover the whole cost of the works, the excess of expenditure not being more than two per cent. of the total.
25.—Died at Hingham, Mr. Charles Crawshay. He was a son of Mr. Richard Crawshay, of Rowfant, Surrey, and was born February 26th, 1815. His father settled at Hingham as a brewer, and afterwards opened a brewery in St. Stephen’s Street, Norwich. Young Crawshay was sent to Messrs. Charington, Head, and Co.’s brewery in London, where he received an excellent training, and returning to Norwich took charge of the St. Stephen’s brewery. Ultimately he became partner with Mr. John Youngs in the King Street brewery, and retained his connection with the firm of Youngs, Crawshay, and Youngs until his death. Mr. Crawshay was one of the foremost sportsmen in the county, a skilled whip, an excellent judge of a horse, a clever shot, and as a yachtsman he held his own in Norfolk waters with his well-known yacht, the Kestrel. In 1856 Mr. Crawshay married the daughter of Sir William Cubitt, the constructor of Lowestoft harbour. In 1857 he was appointed Sheriff of Norwich. Mr. Crawshay was a famous breeder of Southdown and cross-bred sheep, a great benefactor of Hingham, and in dress, manners, and tastes he retained all the best characteristics of a country gentleman of the old school, and paid little heed to modern innovations.
27.—The portrait of Mr. J. J. Colman, painted by Professor Hubert Herkomer, R.A., at the cost of 600 guineas, was unveiled by Sir Harry Bullard, M.P., at St. Andrew’s Hall. The portrait is identical with the one at Carrow Abbey, painted by the same artist three years previously, but with the addition of certain details.
NOVEMBER.
7.—The High Sheriff of Norfolk (Mr. H. M. Upcher) gave, at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, a county ball, which was attended by 500 guests.
9.—Mr. James Clabburn was elected Mayor, and Mr. Samuel Wainwright appointed Sheriff of Norwich.
10.—The Norwich and Norfolk Conservative Club was formally opened by Mr. Walter Long on the occasion of the conference of the Eastern Division of the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations. Sir Harry Bullard, M.P., president, and Lady Bullard gave a conversazione at St. Andrew’s Hall in the evening.
15.—The Norwich Omnibus Company wound up its affairs in consequence of the approaching completion of the tramways scheme. The company was formed in 1878 with a capital of £5,920.