Brown's Trustees v.R. Tapper.

Southland Times, Issue 4987, 26 July 1884, Page 3

Brown's Trustees v.R . Tapper.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, — However much I may dislike to be drawn into a newspaper controversy, I cannot allow Mr R, Tapper's letter, published m this morning's Times, to p»ss unchallenged, First of all, m regard to Sir Tapper's statement that I endeavored to " induce " him to become bondsman for Brown, I would explain that some time before the 4th August Brown told me that he thought he ccnld carry on if he could get a laiger cash credit for a few months, and suggested that Mr MacGibbonand Mr B, Tapper would probably join me m giving the necessary security. He requested me to mention the matter to Mr Tapper, which I did, when Mr Tapper declined, and, as I did not press the matter upon him, 1 most emphatically deny that I " trie I to induce " him to become a bondsman. Perhaps I may take some other means of ascertaining from Mr Tapper what authority he has for the statement " that the Bank was dissatisfied with my bond." On the 4th August Brown furnished me with a statement of his position, which I considered so unsatisfactory that I advised him to call a meeting of his creditors without delay. This course was adopted, and Mr Tapper was conversant with the whole of the proceedings from the date mentioned, namely, the 4th August, Although he now states that he was not aware until after the 22nd August that Brown was not able to carry on, the very reverse is the case, for Mr Tapper was continually making enquiries regarding Brown's affairs, and professed great friendship for him. But it was remarked that as scon as Mr Tapper got all he could get out of Brown bis friendship vanished. And this brings me to the order which Mr Tapper says Brown gave him without any reluctance. For ray own part I am inclined to give more credence to Brown's version of the affair than to Mr Tapper's, and know Mr Tapper is wrong m the dates ; 'but even i£ Mr Tapper's statement is^true, doe 3 it|-e'ieve him from the odium of endeavoring to steal a march on the other creditors ? When Mr Tapper sees no breach of " commercial morality" m adopting this course, it cannot be wondered at that he should see nothing wrong m writing to the papers about a case which is cow closed, as far as evidence is concerned, and which only awaits the Magistrate's decision. — lam, &c, D. L. MATHEbON. Invercargill, 25th July, 1884.