THE LATE MR BROGDEN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2441, 22 December 1892, Page 4

THE LATE MR BROGDEN.

Referring to the death of the late Mr Alexander Brogden, recently reported by cable, the Wellington Evening Post mentions that he was the head of the firm of Brogden & Sou at the time when the Public Works policy was introduced by Sir Julius Vogel. The firm were railway contractors, and iron and coal masters, with immense works in Staffordshire and Wales. The founder of the firm (Mr Alexander Brogden’s father) was originally, like Lord Brassey, a navvy, but gradually became a contractor and acquired wealth. Mr Alexander Brogden, for many years prior to 1885, represented Wednesbury in the House of Commons in the Liberal interest. The Brogden firm entered into two alternative contracts with the New Zealand Government for the contruction of railways and the introduction of immigrants, and Parliament accepted the lesser of the two. Under this the Public Works policy was ’ practically initiated. When disputes arose between the contractors and the Government, Mr Alexander Brogden, ac--1 companied by his wife and daughter, came ! to New Zealand, and he resided here for some cousiderale time, winding up the business. The firm ultimately fell into into difficulties at Home and became involved in litigation. Mrs A. Brogden possessed considerable propertyin her own right, so that the business disasters of the firm fell more lightly on Mr A. Brogden than would otherwise have been the case.