Melbourne
5 February 1884, 4 pm
My dear Chris,
Your letter from Brisbane of 29 January has just come. What a time you are on the way. I will scarce have time to hear from you after getting to Townsville.
I am glad you have met Mr Brown and find him such a nice fellow.
Hope you have escaped the cyclone on the coast. Bowen must have been destroyed by it. The weather here has been bad again just as it was when we were at Farnham.
I hope you had time to look up Mr Fairbairn at Rockhampton and Charley Rawson at Mackay. Don’t fail to make yourself known to Rawson.
I will pay some money into Sloane & Co here and send you the order before I sail. You draw it and pay it into the best bank. Make yourself acquainted with the land laws and labour question and be guided by your judgement after having time to know all matters of importance in the Colony as to small investments in land &c &c.
Good news from home by last steamer. Another mail will be delivered tonight by the Rosetta. We are getting on pretty well with our lading and passengers and will leave on the 15th.
Will address you soon again. Am hurried tonight.
Yours affectionately
James A. Elmslie
I will see about your knife and send it on.
JAE.
Chris Tatham is now employed in a drug store at 25/- a week. He will probably get on to a station by and by if he gets on well where he is.