Received 15-8-92
Answered 22-8-92
London
1 July 1892
My dear Chris
This being your 32nd birthday I wish you many happy returns and the fair share of prosperity you and all of us at home desire should fall to your lot.
I have not had a letter from you for a week or two, but Tasman said a few days ago that he had cables from you now and then. So I take it you are in good health.
Tasman is much troubled by the shareholders of the railways he represents. No money is forthcoming and no head to assume management any shape leaves him as the only buffer the shareholders have to vent their wrath upon. I have not seen him since this day week when he said that no business had resulted in share selling, and now the elections are on business will be stagnant until they are over.
I told Tasman some time ago that he and Stormont – the man who acts with him in this connection, ought to make it quite plain to the public that they are only acting as agents to buy from or through you, and not in any way as partners of your Croydon firm. It would be easy to involve you in any trouble or difficulty they should fall into. You ought to insist on this being strictly adhered to in all business transactions. Their business I hope will prosper, the financing appears to stand in the way at present.
I have instructed the Balchins to draw on you for the amount of the shipment ex Tara at 90 days according to your instructions to them, and to enclose authority from the bank to hand the documents to you on acceptance, I making myself responsible in case of your not meeting the draft at maturity. I expected that you would be in a position to place securities in the bank and to get you the documents of the last shipments and take advantage of the 90 days credit. But you do not seem to have managed this.
When I last wrote I said that I would decline to take any further responsibility after the Tara shipment at all events until I had further satisfactory advices from you. I am not aware whether you keep a separate consignment account at one or other of your banks, but if not it should be done and all the goods through Balchin placed in the same category as your other consignments and ???? shipped by my order for sale on account/ I don’t think you have remitted to Forbes up to now.
You ought to be well in funds by this time without you give long credits, which I hope you don’t. I saw your a/c ???? sales to Gillan & Co. the other day. It was a very unsatisfactory result, judging by that your other sales cannot leave much of a margin for profit. It seems to me in the present glutted state of the markets in the southern cities you woud do as well by staying there and get your goods quickly
I brought Mary to town yesterday to stay a fortnight at Poplar. All are well at home. I am getting gradually stronger, but am two stone lighter than I was, which is some advantage.
I have a vote at Bedford, Anerley and Lancing and mean to record them all next week in favour of the Tory candidates. It is very doubtful if we can keep Gladstone out. The country dreads his return to power. His influence with the working classes is still great, and they are a power.
I am at a loss what to do for Archie when he returns. It is a waste of time to keep at sea in my opinion. Both present and the future of shipping is so hopeless from excessive competition, it is a bare living with the prospect of a sudden collapse at any moment. I doubt if you can encourage him to join your community, and I don’t see any opening here at present.
Please give my kind greetings and say I was very pleased with his last letter and will write to him from home by next week.
Nothing of interest to relate – papers full of speeches.
Your affectionate Father
Jas A Elmslie