March 31st. The Rev. A. R. Abbott, B.A., instituted to the vicarage and parish church of Gorleston and Southtown, on his own petition.
April 3rd. Fire in Mr. S. Randell’s stock room, Market Row. Damage about £30.
April 29th. Heavy gale, which played sad havoc among the fishing craft, those entirely lost with all hands including the “Jester,” “Phœnix,” and “Olive Leaf.”
April. Mr. A. Linder, of this town, chosen pier-master at Skegness, out of 76 candidates. On May 5th he was presented with a purse of £18 13s., as a mark of respect by the patrons of the Wellington Pier.
May 9th. The Town Council moved addresses of congratulation to the Duke and Duchess of Albany on their marriage on April 27th; and congratulation to the Queen.
May 18th. The Wellington Pier sold by auction to Mr. Chappell for £890, but through some discrepancy in the transfer the bid was withdrawn.
May 18th. Launch at Southtown of a new iron paddle boat, 100 ft. long, breadth 14 ft. 2 in., depth 7 ft., and owned by Mr. R. J. Blyth. It was built by Mr. H. E. Wright, Yare-side Iron Works, and Miss Wright christened it “Jumbo.”
May 30th. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales paid a fourth visit to this town, and left on June 2nd.
May 31st. Opening of the New Town Hall and Municipal Buildings by the Prince of Wales, the ceremony being on a very grand scale. Three hundred and fifty guests were invited to the _déjeuner_, including the Mayor of Yarmouth and the Lord Mayor of London, Lords Aylesford, Suffield, Rendlesham, and Carpington; Sir H. Clifford, Sir E. Lacon, Sir H. Bedingfield, Sir R. J. Buxton, Sir T. Boileau, Sir T. Beevor, Admiral Sir H. Keppel, Colonel Teesdale, E. Birkbeck, Esq., &c. In the evening there a grand display of fireworks on the Britannia Pier. The Hall was designed by J. B. Pearce, Esq., and the contractors Messrs. J. W. Lacey, of Norwich. The total cost was £35,764, as follows:—Building contract, £26,200; extras on building, new works, and fittings, £4,442 11s. 1d.; architect’s commission, £1,705 10s. 9d.; Clerk of Works, £417 5s.; Norman and Son, furniture and fittings, £1,177 7s. 9d.; Mr. Finch, ditto, £592 1s. 5d.; Chamberlins and Co., linoleum, £351 9s.; Aldred and Son, clock, £361 15s.; Mr. Keable, blinds, £26 15s. 3d.; Ellis and Son, mats, £22 15s. 10d.; decorations, opening ceremony, £28; premiums on designs for Town Hall, £70; foundation stone and the laying, £46 5s. 1d.; expenses of opening ceremony, £38 9s. 4d.; travelling expenses to inspect other Town Halls, £29 5s. 4d.; solicitor to H.M.’s Treasury, £17 6s. 10d.; miscellaneous charges and expenses, £239 14s. 6d. (See April 20th, 1880.)