BROGDEN CONTRACTS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 32, 13 November 1871, Page 3

BROGDEN CONTRACTS.

We extract the following article from the Wanganui Chronicle of the 30th Oct: — Madame Mantalini has succumbed under the well-worn but not worn-out threat of her lord and master to make away with himself. “ I shall drown my’self in the Thames—l shall be a body,” said Mr Mantalini. “You know it almost breaks my heart even to hear you talk of such a thing,” wept Madame—and the bill was passed. “We shall consider an adverse vote on the Brogden Contracts as a vote of of waut of confidence,” said Mr Fox, as our political Mantalini, “ and act accordingly.” “Why will you speak in that way,” reply Mr Reynolds and other friends and followers of the Government, full of gratitude for favors to come, and an amendment which means anything or nothing, as the Government wish it, is passed.” “ Mr Vogel’s mode of doing public business, however, can hardly be acceptable even to his friends. A Russian envoy’, were the popular voice forms but the most infinitesimal element in the management of public affairs, could not have gone more fully into a contract than he did in this case, and now the argument is that Mr Vogel is bound -to Messrs Brogden ; and .ie Government are bound to Mr Vogel; and that the country’ is bound to the Government. This is the ministerial mode of stating the case, and the House of Representatives naturally dislike the remotest idea of repudiation. But, by party of leasoning, Mr Vogel might have made a contract ceding the colony to the United States, arid there would have been no help for it. On this point scarcely any condemnation of the course pursued can be too strong ; it is without a shadow of justification, even if the contract had been as favorable to New Zealand as it is the reverse. We attach no blame to the Messrs Brogden in making a good bargain for themselves ; the colonists have themselves alone to blame for whatever comes.”

“ One illustration of how this Brogden contract will work, unless it is greatly modified, occurs at our own doors. Mr Bryce, on Thursday last, asked Mr Gisborne the Commissioner of Public Works, if the Government would be prepared to accept 1 lie proposal of parties to construct a railway between Wanganui and Taranaki, and give them laud in payineut. The answer was in the negative. The Government of course are committed to Messrs Brogden, and mark the consequence. The parties referred to by T Mr Bryce arc ready to construct the railway indicated and take payment for the whole of it in land at twenty shillings per acre. In so far as Messrs Brogden get laud in payment, the price is three shillings per acre ! Further remark seems unnecessary. li A point may be made of Mr Travers’s opinion in favor of Mr Vogel’s authority to enter into the Brogden contracts. Mr Travers is an excellent lawyer, and one whose opinion is entitled to due consideration, but in this case it should not beforgotten that he is retained as agent for Messrs Brogden, and in consequence is likely to take a favorable view of his clients’ case. At all events, lawyers, like doctors, differ, and certainly in a negotiation of this magnitude any doubt of the envoy’s authority should be given in favor of referring to the depository of power, that is, the people’s representatives. But meanwhile, Mr Vogel’s joekeyship is triumphant, although he has not so much outwitted the Opposition ns he has outwitted his own supporters, perhaps, as ho has outwitted himself. There is such a thing as succeeding, as well as proving, too much, and the carrying of the Brogden contract may prove an illustration of the fact.