THE BROGDEN CONTRACTS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2739, 27 November 1871, Page 2

THE BROGDEN CONTRACTS.

To the Editor. Sir, —Your correspondent, “Voter,” ju Saturday’s issue qf your paper, states that “It is currently rumored in Dunedin th-it Mr John Bathgate sent a telegram to his Worship the Mayor, requesting him, in strong terms, to convene a meeting of the citizens for the purpose of agitating against

the Brogden contracts.” Public rumor is generally a common liar, and in this instance it has not belied its character; for I beg to assert that Mr Bathgate sent me no telegram to the effect above stated, neither did Mr Bathgate ever request me to convene a public meeting to agitate the Brogden contracts. I trust that this denial, which I make solely in justice to Mr Bathgate, will convin e your correspondent or any others who may be inclined to believe the rumor, if such there be, that it is untrue. With regard to No. 2 contract, if it is a fact as Mr Bathgate asserts, that at the end of ninety-nine years the lines would be handed over to the Colony free of cost, I am rather inclined to the belief that its acceptance as it stood would have been a good thing for the Colony. Unfortunately, however, the Assembly has gone far beyond this contract in the power they have given to the Government in the matter. In conclusion, I may be allowed to say that, with regard to the meeting at the Masonic H all referred to by your correspondent, I had nothing whatever to do with it, save that in obedience to a requisition received I convened it, and afterwards, at the request of the meeting, presided. Without wishing to be considered as concurring in all that Mr Bathgate has done during the past session, I am free to confess that, so far as the interests of the City itself are concerned, he has in my opinion proved himself one of the most, if not the most, zealous and efficient members we have ever had. I am, Ac., H. S. Fish, Junr. Dunedin, Nov. 27.