June 28th.—Major Marsh (of the artillery) had resigned his commission.
July 2nd.—It was stated that Major Marsh would be succeeded in his command by Capt. John Lee Barber of the 1st Company, but Mr. Trafford was stated to have also resigned, and it was rumoured that the Artillery was likely to be amalgamated with the Rifle Corps.
July 9th.—The Midsummer herring voyage was a failure. Some attributed this to the 130 smacks then fishing from the port, and others to the early catches of immature fish.
July 12th.—“Blondin” had been performing at the Victoria Gardens.
July 16th.—Commissioner Cane had been holding an inquiry at the Workhouse to “ascertain the nature of the duties of the various public officers and method of their discharge.”
July 19th.—Mr. Henry R. Harmer had been appointed an Admiralty Commissioner.
July 23rd.—There had been a poll at Gorleston upon the Church Rate question, which had resulted in a majority of 142 against that impost.
The Caister Lifeboat had been struck by lightning while on the Beach and several persons who were taking shelter under her bow injured.
July 26th.—At the Regatta the “Audax,” J. H. Johnson, R.T.Y.C. won the yacht prize. In the yawl race the “Star of the East,” the “Queen Victoria,” and the “Glance” competed, and the former won. The “Wanderer” (Mr. J. L. Barber) won the River Yachts’ match, and the “Volunteer” the small Yawl match.
Aug. 6th.—Contains the following notice of “The Water Frolic:—This event, which was formerly important from the fact of the ‘new’ Mayor being then chosen, and the official barge of the Mayor and Corporation being present, came off on Monday afternoon, at that part of the Waveney opposite Burgh Castle. No official patronage was given to the affair, and consequently it was not, municipally, of any weight. But as the weather was fine and sunny, with a ‘spanking’ southerly breeze, the yachts, which had arranged to attend and compete in two races, were sure of good sport, and the large crowds of persons who assembled early in the day on the North Quay, augured well for the steamboats which Mr. Fill—a worthy man of enterprise—always offers for the accommodation of the public (pay or not pay) either for trips to Cromer and Southwold, or even to Rotterdam fair, an event which East Anglians of old were wont to delight in. At Burgh there was a large assemblage of craft—wherries, ships’ boats, punts, yachts, and, in fact, anything that would safely float. Two matches were announced to take place, each for a stake value at £10, and the ordinary river yachts were the competitors, with the exception of the new and mischievous-looking boat of the High Sheriff of Norfolk—a boat which, although it could not out-run Mr. Barber’s ‘Flying Wanderer,’ will yet do credit to her build. The ‘public-house wherries,’ the pie stalls, the acrobats, and the rest of the contributors to the day’s fun were all active and appeared to do a good business. The yachting competition—which the public ought to have considered the best business of the day—began with a match for £10, in which five cutter-rigged yachts sailed, viz., Mr. Barber’s ‘Wanderer,’ Mr. Nightingale’s ‘Red Rover,’ Mr. Read’s ‘Belvidere,’ Mr. R. J. H. Harvey’s ‘Lady in White,’ and Mr. Morgan’s ‘Bittern.’ The Wanderer had the advantage throughout, and won—although she was occasionally closely pressed by the Red Rover. The match extended over four rounds. In the second match for a similar stake by latteens the ‘Vampire’ (Mr. Everett), the ‘Enchantress’ (Mr. Green), and the ‘Merlin’ (Mr. Humfrey) started, and continued in the order named to the close. The ‘frolicers’ then commenced their homeward journey, and in the midst of music and song all arrived safely, we believe, at the Bridge Foot, after spending a convivial, if not a dignified, half day on the stream. The frolic, however, in the absence of official support, is shorn of its ancient splendour.”