Part 69 (1/2)

June 14th.-The programme for the Volunteer Review had been published; it was expected that 3,324 men would take part in it.

June 18th.-The Dinner to the Volunteers on this occasion was to take place on St. George's Denes; there were to be 17 tables, and the dining room to cover 7,550 feet of ground. One quart of beer per man had been offered by Sir E. Lacon to the Volunteers.

June 21st.-The Review had taken place and proved a great success: there were 3,324 men actually on the Denes. At the Dinner held on St. George's Denes, the Mayor presided, and after giving the toasts of ”The Queen” and ”The Royal Family,” he gave ”The Army, Navy, and Militia,” to which Colonel Grey, C.B., Captain Lacon, R.N., and Colonel Adair responded.

The Mayor then gave ”The Volunteers,” to which Colonel Brett replied, and ”The Lord Lieutenants of Norfolk and Suffolk,” which was acknowledged by Lord Suffield (Vice-Lieutenant of Norfolk) and Colonel Adair. The Mayor then gave ”The High Sheriff,” who responded. The Mayor then gave ”The Lord High Steward,” responded to by Lord Sondes, and ”The health of Colonel Grey,” to which that officer replied; also ”The Brigadiers of the Day,” replied to by Colonels Custance, Sir E. Lacon, and Astley. The High Sheriff then proposed ”The Mayor,” to which his Wors.h.i.+p responded, and the healths of the Rev. H. Nevill, of the n.o.blemen and Gentlemen ”who had honoured us with their presence,” of ”Mr. Charles J. Palmer” and ”The Ladies” were also given and responded to. It was considered that ”The Mayor and gentlemen who formed the Committee of Management, and particularly Mr. Charles J. Palmer, well deserved the thanks of the public and the Volunteers.”

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 fis.h.i.+ng 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, munic.i.p.ally, 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 a.s.sembled 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 a.s.semblage of craft-wherries, s.h.i.+ps' 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 compet.i.tors, 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 compet.i.tion-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.”

August 13th.-The ”Order of Precedence of the members of the Council” had been printed. The Mayor had requested the members of that body to accompany him to church on Sundays, Good Friday, and Christmas Day.

Mr. S. Nightingale had backed his ”Red Rover” against Mr. Barber's ”Wanderer” for four matches at 50 aside.

Thieves had ”drank the Sacramental wine and robbed the Poor's box” at the Independent Chapel, Gorleston.

August 16th.-At the Races, none of the Stewards (who were Lord W.

Powlett, Count Batthyany, and Sir H. J. Stracey, Bart., M.P.,) had attended, and the usual Ball at the Town Hall had not been held through lack of patronage.

August 20th.-The Yarmouth Cricket Club had played the ”Visitors.” The score was:-First Innings: Yarmouth, 29; Visitors, 15. Second Innings: Yarmouth, 89; Visitors, 32. Grand Totals: Yarmouth, 118; Visitors, 47.

August 23rd.-It was proposed to raise a Rifle Corps at Ormesby.

August 27th.-Sir H. Stracey, had invited the members of the Corporation to spend a day at Rackheath.

August 30th.-Sir E. Lacon, Bart., had been gazetted Major of the N.A.V., (vice Marsh resigned.)

Sept. 3rd.-It was, at the Corporation's visit to Rackheath, distinctly understood that Sir H. Stracey would offer himself again as a candidate for the Borough, and that Mr. Watkin was pledged to come forward again in the Liberal interest.

The Council had determined to place an illuminated clock on the Town Hall.

The Southtown Barracks had been repaired at considerable expense.