VICTORIA COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 4 May 1929, Page 10

VICTORIA COLLEGE

THE WEIE BEQUEST

HOSTEL BLOCK AND DINING HALL , In .September, 192G, the death of Mr. William Weir, a resident of Wellington for over half a century, disclosed the fact that in the terms of his will, after deducting death duties and about £9000 for other bequests (to be paid out of revenue), half of the residue was to be paid over to tho Victoria Collego Council for the purpose of purchasing a site and building a hostel for men students, tho balance of the estate to bo lodged with the Public Trustee to keep in trust for the council.

The news of this very generous bequest was received with' jubilation at the time by all those interested in Victoria College, where the need for a residential hostel had long been recognised Further interest in the matter should be stimulated now that a scheme is being developed for three hostel blocks and a dining hall to be erected on the Martin Kennedy estate adjoining the Salamanca road stop of the Kclburn tramway, a block of land lying well to the sun and with a fine harbour view This arrangement will provide ultimately for 300 students, but in the meantime it is proposed to proceed with a portion of the Weir hostel block to accommodate 94 students, and the dining hall block. An elevation plan of the Weir block appears elsewhere in this issue, and clearly shows that the architects, Messrs. Charles A. Lawrence and W. Gray Young, have designed a very fine building. " The Weir block is to be placed opposite the main entrance, facing the city, and every bedroom in it will get tho sun at some time of the day, no bedrooms having been placed on tho south side. The main entrance to the block will be on tho north-west front on the end of a quadrangle, and separate entrances are to lie provided for the students. Adjacent to the main entrance are the waiting, visitors', and office' rooms. A large common room will bo situated at the end of each wing. The students' bedrooms and studies have been arranged in suites, and will b G fitted up with built-in furniture. Both studies and common rooms will be heated with hot water.

In the basement there will be a changing room, boot room, and recreation room; also ample lavatory and shower accommodation. In accordance with the latest ideas abroad, showers are being provided in preference to baths. The dining hall block will be reached by a flight of steps from the main entrance roadway between two of (he hostel blocks. The hall will bo 75ft j x 32ft 6in, designed with an open timber roof on similar lines to dining halls at the English universities. The kitchen quarters will be at the end of the dining hall, and particular attention has been paid to their lay-out, so as to minimise labour. The arrniKreniciits will bo similar to those in th? most up-to-date American hotel kitchens. Matron's quarters and staff rooms have not been forgotten, and ample store and laundry accommodation will also bo available. The buildings are to be built of bru-k, with reinforced concrete lloors and tiled roofs, the style of architecture being Georgian.