Personal Notes

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 287, 8 December 1904, Page 2

Personal Notes

Cable messages this morning announce the death of Lord Hobhouse, at the age of 85. Mr G. Tisch has been elected cho irnian of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

Mr G. C. Russell, a New ZtJalander, won the Whewell Scholarship for International Law at Cambridge. Mr P. C. Freeth, proprietor and editor of the Manawatu Times, is announced as a candidate for the Pahners'ton seat at the next general election.

News comes from Dunedin of the death of Sergeant John, Muir, a member of the First Contingent. He served in the engagement at New Zicaland Hill, wlum Gourley an d Connell were killed.

Nelson College Burned. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE BUILDINGS. (Per Press Association.) NELSON, Dec. 7. The Boys' College was utterly destroyed by lire to-day, excepting the sanatorium. Owing to the lack of water at the start the fire got a good hold, and when the water became better- the supply was unavailing as the building was built of white pine. A rumour that the lire-origin-ated through the painters scorching oil paint is unfounded, as the second coat of paint was being put on, The lire was first observed in the Form IV. cluss room, where smoke was seen. The outbreak apparently occurred at 11.45 in the north-east coiner between the ceiling and lower floor and the floor of the upper story. The value of the building and conVenls was £15,000. Insurances—Building, Liverpool and London and Globe £2500, New Zealand, South British, and National £ICOO each. Imperial £BOO. Furniture, New Zealand, Liverpool and London and Globe £SOO each, Victoria £350. The New Zealand office had £SOO on carpenters' tools owned by the Education Board. The lack of water supply was due to the town supply not being turned off early enough. Twenty-five years ago to-<day the foundation stone of Nelson College was laid by Governor Browne. Of late the building has been largely added to, but the whole, including the gymnasium and laundry (detached) were completely destroyed, the sanatorium alone being left. The origan of the fire is unexplained. The building was being painted, but it was particularly specified that no fiie should l>e used. The water supply was very bad. Offers were received within three hours' to accommodate as many as three hundred boys by private citizens and other institutions, and all the boarders and resident masters were provided for. Though some of the boys have lost their clothing no one was hurt. A groat deal was saved, including the honours board, pianos, furniture, bedding and books.

The governors have all-ranged to continue the ordinary school work to-morrow at the School of Music and the prizes will be distributed on the l.>th, as arranged, by Mr J. W. Joynt.

Local old boys are doing all In their power to assist, and it iconfidently believed there will be no check m thb Wol . k of ole lnstltutd I'drlwiatoly the College House, in which some of the boulders are accommodated, is available, ami fuifhf J n ;% is[oa wil > I* made during the holidays. Sympathetic tol* Warns have bee n received from the GenornT' » hW Ju « ,B0 ' Att °™Vold boy a M '' LltUeJOhn ' ™*