Calendar: 1870-1871 Page 58

ANNUAL REPORT 57 The Council next regret having to announce to the Pro- prietors the occurrence in December last of serious accident to the College buildings At the time when the works of the Metropolitan Railway were going on under the Terrace the whole of the roof of the Dining Hall which forms part of that terrace suddenly fell in most providentially without loss of life but to the entire destruction of the Dining Hall and the Kitchen below An examination showed that the girders of the roof were defective in construction and in strength therefore although there can be little doubt that the accident was connected with the works of the Metro- politan Board or the Metropolitan Railway the application made by the Secretary to these bodies for indemnification has been refused and the Council feel that severe as the loss is they cannot advise litigation on the subject The Council lastly approach with great reluctance subject which they feel it however their duty to put very strongly before the Proprietors The financial condition of the College is far from satisfac- tory The Council have been obliged to impose tax of no less than per cent upon all salaries during the present year This necessity indicates that the income of the College is not sufficient to meet its expenditure and provide at the same time for the extinction of the debt Yet this debt is unhappily increased by no less than 500 in consequence of the accident to the Dining Hall Under these circumstances the Council have felt that some decided steps must be taken to meet state of things which materially cripples the energies and endangers the prosperity of the College At Special Meeting held on February 23 they resolved to adopt the following Circular for general distribution -See page 62 The movement is as yet only just begun But the claims of King's College on the general support of Churchmen and friends of education are strong the work which it has done and is doing is peculiarly valuable at the present time and the position in which it has been placed is one of much difficulty and no inconsiderable hardship The Council