Victoria Public Hall and its missing plaque

Taking the powers-that-be connected a walkabout astatine Victoria Public Hall connected inaugural night, I could not assistance but bespeak connected however 1 of the astir important markers successful its past is missing: the plaque of its (first) inauguration. The instauration stone, miraculously enough, has survived intact and aft a clean-up is present backmost wherever it belongs – astatine a subterranean level, with a protective transparent covering and a brass plaque marking the spot wherever it is. But of the inaugural plaque, determination is not a sign.

There are plentifulness of others arsenic though to compensate. The Maharajah of Vizianagaram has not 1 but 2 plaques acknowledging his generosity. Incidentally, it indispensable beryllium pointed retired present that the onshore was not his, arsenic is being claimed connected galore websites now. It was and is the spot of the Corporation. He donated munificently to money the construction. Likewise, determination is simply a ample marble plaque that records the large donors of the 19^th century. And determination is simply a tablet commemorating C.N. Annadurai’s restoration of the spot successful 1967, though precious small came of it. And matching it, connected the different broadside of the main entranceway is simply a plaque commemorating the completion of the latest restoration.

But what happened to the plaque that indispensable person been placed present erstwhile VP Hall was inaugurated successful 1888? To get an reply to that, I turned to A Guide to The City of Madras and Its Suburbs, published by Higginbothams successful 1889, a twelvemonth aft VP Hall was completed. Though I was not rewarded with a reply, determination was plentifulness of nutrient for thought otherwise. Firstly, it would look that R.F. Chisholm was portion of the committee that was archetypal formed to measure designs submitted for a municipality hall. The prize wealth was ₹1000 – a not-inconsiderable sum for those days. Eventually, it was Chisholm’s plan that was accepted, and helium precise happily discontinue the committee for taking connected the contract, and nary doubt, pocketed the prize arsenic well.

Asked to laic the instauration chromatic of the hallway successful 1883, the past Governor, M.E. Grant Duff, refused connected the grounds that the wealth to beryllium spent was astir apt amended utilised successful getting underground drains for the city. That portion of altruism whitethorn person been a disappointment, but the Maharajah of Vizianagaram gamely stepped in, and proved a munificent donor arsenic well. Work was expected to beryllium completed successful clip for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee successful 1887 but that was not to be. The gathering was acceptable lone a twelvemonth aboriginal and connected January 25, 1888, the caller Governor, Lord Connemara, declared the gathering open. And specified an important lawsuit has gone unrecorded successful the building.

It is my conjecture that the plaque whitethorn person ne'er been enactment successful place, for adjacent successful 1888, unsavoury rumours connected Lord Connemara’s backstage beingness had surfaced. Of course, this is conscionable plain speculation – for each we know, the plaque whitethorn person vanished with time. This, however, seems improbable, fixed that practically each different plaque successful the gathering has survived intact, including the ones connected the triangular Trevelyan Fountain. That operation was retired successful the open, and therefore, astatine the top hazard and yet managed to survive. It astir apt merits an endurance prize.

Madras was not benignant to Lord Connemara. For years, it was believed that helium was solely liable for the ungraded surrounding the break-up of his matrimony and the consequent messy divorcement successful England. Rumours surely circulated astir his dalliance with Lady Eva Quinn, his niece and woman of 1 of the ADCs. But the truth, arsenic I discovered a fewer years ago, was acold much complicated. Lord and Lady (she being 1 of Dalhousie’s daughters), were intelligibly caught successful a dysfunctional marriage. And portion helium whitethorn person strayed, it is astir definite that she did too, the entity of her affections being the Surgeon Major successful the Governor’s household, W.H. Briggs.

Matters came to a caput successful March 1889 erstwhile Lady Connemara sailed for England. Adultery was the lone clause by which divorcement could beryllium granted, and successful November that year, 1 of Lady Connemara’s maids was induced to confess that she and the Governor had had an understanding. Divorce proceedings were initiated astatine once, and helium resigned arsenic Governor and near for England. He, successful turn, accused his woman of infidelity.

Surgeon Major W.H. Briggs was the prima witness. He testified to the maid having told him of the adultery. Divorce was granted. Lord Connemara’s governmental vocation had ended. He joined a affluent widow, and nary doubt, recovered comfort. Lady Connemara joined Surgeon Major Briggs. The maid recovered employment connected the ground of a certificate of bully quality fixed by Lady Connemara! And successful Madras, nary doubt, idiosyncratic rescinded the bid for a plaque.

(Sriram V. is simply a writer and historian.)