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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 15, No. 1. March 5, 1952

Weir House

Weir House

With eight hundred students, now, the college was less of an intimate group, and more of a loose collection of part-timers. The need was felt for a move towards the ideal University centre—a residential hostel. At this opportune moment died Mr William Weir, bequeathing the college between seventy and eighty thousand pounds "to found a men's hostel." "It was astonishing, staggering. Under the University Act of 1914 a government subsidy was payable, pound for pound. £150.000! It was more than staggering, it was incredible. Incredible it turned out to be." After the site was acquired, the plans drawn up, the Government reneged and amended the Act to limit its subsidy on any bequest to £25,000. The cut subsidy prevented the original plans being carried out, a block was abandoned, and the accommodation much reduced. "Nevertheless for a minority, at least, there could be experience of a corporate life."