Lamcing
18 August 1892
My dear Chris
Your letter of 27 June came on 14th. Always pleased to heat of your keeping well in trying climate you live in, and also to find that you have good hopes of a favourable future for the mining industry. Both Tasman and his colleague Stormont are sanguine of making your business here a success, and I am sure they have both done their utmost to make it so. I see them now ???? and do what I can to forward the interests of the enterprise. I will get my solicitor’s opinion on the subject you ????. As they are not commercial lawyers they may have to get ???? opinion. If possible I will insert it in this letter tomorrow ???? in town.
From what I have said in previous letters, you ???? know that I have counseled Tasman well on this ???? if you acquire a good hold of claims that turn out well ???? the able men you have here acting as your agents. I do not see you should not get the cream of the Croydon business in your own hands by next spring.
Forbes and Barker may soon be set aside. Stormont not only knows all the names of ???? Stock Exchange but knows all the best of the jobbers and has got them interested in this new business. Forbes will continue to do a large business for some time but Barker is a stranger in London and not quite the sort of man to ingratiate himself with the public generally. He will not ???? ??? you simply harm I suppose you can find out what business he is doing. Who has he as an agent in Croydon? I mean to go and see him next week and will find what he is doing, if any besides the Croydon business. Tasman will doubtless tell you what Murdoch or he propose to do, which if carried ???? ????
Shipping business is as low as it can be. A few ships have gone out in ballast.
D & M contemplate sending one if not two out in the same rain ???? way to get them out for the wool season. The general trading for the last year has proved a loss for all concerned. Still ships have to be kept going – we must not let the foreigners get the upper hand. The loss of both German and French steamships subsidized by their respective governments has been far greater than that of any English company and were it not that they are really national ships and may be wanted by the government at any time as transports or men of war, they could not keep going.
I have not seen much of Balchin lately. He appears to have so many irons in the fire and seems greatly troubled sometimes — were it not for his sons who will succeed him, he ought to have eased off his responsibilities as he goes up in years – to sit at home with a contented and easy mind.
I hope you are selling Fosters the well and make a good ???? out of it. Balchins have shipped you some liquor by the ???? sailing this week, and when your mines are in fill swing after the rains, you ought to do a easy liquor business. Spirits in bulk sold to hotels ought to have a large profit. You lose by bottles by plunder and customs duty.
Where you have cash well in hand and can pay as you go. I have no doubt that I could buy for you ???? the next few months at very low rates.
I went out of curiosity to a wine and spirit sale in Mincing Lane lately. Brandy and whisky in bulk was sold freely at 1/8d to 2/- per gallon in bond. I will send you a catalogue of the next one and prices ???? ???? and scattered about the country.
The change of government here has so far added increased to the general depression of business added to the various causes which happened earlier in the season to stop the general flow of money. Mr. Gladstone has had his wish of forming a fourth administration, but he is not in a position to do any mischief. If he was to try – which I dont think is at all possible you will learn from the papers – the position of affairs – to be able to form your opinion, as to how long the Gladstonites will keep in office that is if you take the trouble to think of this matter at all. You will be much more interested, without a doubt, in your own colonies movements.
You mention floating new companies and having so many to manage and this and the large amount of correspondence you have to get through yourself must be a great strain on your brain. You ought to delegate the drudgery to clerks. A short hand writer to take down at your dictation is the best form of relief, have you got one? But your safeguard is being out in the open frequently — live well, drink not much, but good liquor. Keep your mind at ease when business is over so as to sleep soundly when you go to rest.
Burstall ought to be able to send you some of Paul de Castellas wine good and cheap. The man in charge, Canning is a very old friend of mine. I am using their tokay, cost 15/- in cases — a lovely wine. But then your duties are so heavy. Hubert de Castellas vineyard has gone from wine and is now owned by Andrew Rowan. Paul the brother of Hubert has a vineyard near on the same plain. Chasselas you ought to buy for 10/- to 12/- – capital wine. I should think a glass of their Burgundy would be good for you and Alec. It is a good ???? of it soon, take it occasionally after ???? ????
Archie will be here in a day or two. The ship was at ???? on the 16th for coals I suppose. I wrote to the manager a few days ago and asked him to allow Archie to come home for a few days when the ???? was docked, and have received a favourable reply. I have been making interest ???? him in several directions but all business stagnates so, and this month in particular. I want him to have a little leisure to look into matters. ???? a waste of valuable time to go plodding and getting next to nothing for it. I think he is rather sick of it ????
Sir Jas. Anderson managing director of the Eastern Telegraph Co. ????? Halpin Supernt. Manager of the Telegraph Construction Co. ???? both having a fleet of fine cable steamers, will do anything in their power for me. If he continues at sea he must enter one or other of these ????. He would get well paid, a command soon and a few months a year ???? on shore instead of a few days as at present.
If you had been ???? to make him a definite offer during his stay at home he ???? have been induced to entertain it. But he does not care much for ???? prospect of spending a few years at Croydon, He is fond of ???? and all in it and would not care to be away from it long. But I will ???? you to look into this. I will meantime do what I can to get him a better place than he has at present.
As for May coming to ????? keep house for you or any body else, that would be a certain ????. She is very well where she is, the people are very good and kind to her ???? have had her at a spa for a month where she has enjoyed herself???? much, and has benefited in health also.
Edie has been Matron at The Fever Hospital lately in the absence of the Matron proper and seems to like her work and is in much better health than before, ???? by early rising and active movements through the day.
Mary spent a ???? at Poplar lately and she seems to have a hankering after a place where ???? could earn something. She seems to get stronger and stouter and develops in ???? and has in every way improved. I believe in man and woman, whatever their ???? in life may be, being capable of doing for themselves. So soon as ???? I can find a suitable place for her, she shall go out and try.
In letters to your sisters please point out to them the advantage of being ???? to strike out and make a position for themselves.
None of us have written to Alec for some weeks. I hope he does not consider that we are treating him badly – we have no intention of behaving so. But Mater is always busy, so are the girls. The boys, like all boys, are disinclined. However. he may rest assured he will not be longer neglected. The forefinger on Mater’s right hand has had some trouble under the nail for three months – can’t get rid of it. She can’t write, but does a good deal of work generally and makes it worse.
I go to town once or twice a week. It does me good. If I could get some occupation I should be still better. Perhaps this may come. Meantime my chief desire is to see you all in a fair way of doing well, and keeping where and how I can.
The younger boys will have to stay at school a little longer. Noel may go in to some occupation next spring. Tasman might be able to take him in if he carries out the arrangements he thinks of. Reggie promises to be clever but he is such a weak boy and does not improve in condition.
All the household ???? in loving messages to yourself and Alec
Your affectionate Father
Jas. A. Elmslie
Mr. Oliver says you are clearly liable in law for the actions of your agents
notwithstanding agreements or instructions given to them, but there is but a very remote chance of your being sued without it is known that you have assets here.
J.A.E.