Lancing, Sussex
23 September 1891
My dear Chris
Your letter of 3 August came here yesterday.
Glad to know you and Alec are keeping in such good health and doing good
business. My previous letters will tell you what has been done about your
shipments.
Balchins writes me – they are about to ship you certain gratuities of wines
abd spirits by this week’s steamer.
According to your wishes I am going to town this afternoon and will arrange to
meet the account and also a shipment of 25 cases from Ross Bros of Leith
which they say you wanted them to send. When you have ascertained the
tastes of your clients had you not better adhere to one or two brands, not
roam about in so many?
As I said in a former letter I think my meeting the bills for your shipments in
this way will be better than depositing money at the bankers for your use. I
am in no particular hurry for your remittance so long as you send them on as
convenient to you and allow a interest for the same when you remit. I wish
you to have a chance of getting a fair balance at command at your bankers at
same time make them secure. I don’t see my way to making any ????
in other ways than what I have from my investments and cash at
???? which is not much at the present ???? ebb of interest.
I want to consult with the elder Balchin about buying for you and will add
something to this letter after seeing him, and for the present they had better go
on in the same way until we hear how your business progresses. Buying in
larger quantities would effect a saving no doubt but then you don’t want large
quantities and possibility after a time the Croydon business may adopt
???? ???? anything occur to ???? of your population to other more
regions. The expenses of the shipment and freight to say nothing of your
heavy duties, must make your goods very costly by the time they reach the
consuming public, but when there is plenty of gold turning up consumers wont
think twice about the price. The point is for you to get the cash down as you
sell.
How is the Croydon Queen No 2 getting on? I have not seen or received but
one newspaper since I came home. Tasman was here for a day. He came to
???? ???? to his doings for you. What I said previously as to his financial position I learnt from Jessie. The company he is secretary for is chiefly interested in
???? ???? and so is he personally. They were very shakey just now and
will probably be worse so before better. His wife is very extravagant and silly
and spends more money than he can afford I am afraid.
If you got Colonial Wines for sale I should think the strong sweet Albury Wines
that could be sold from the cask would be the most suitable and you ought to
get them cheap from the vineyards. The duty would be less in cask and they
are strong enough to keep. As at present sold they are all too dear for much
consumption.
We send the weekly edition of the Times but living here it can be too late for
posting the same day. I hope you get them all.
Mater and | are going to Bedford on the 24*“ The field I hold On the Kimbolton
Road is to be offered for sale on the 23″‘ but I put a reserve on it – hope it
will fetch a good price.
Your uncle Robert and his wife have been here for a week or more. He is a
good fellow but an awful bore. We go up with him today.
Let me hear from you frequently. Will add a sheet after seeing Balchin.
Your affectionate Father,
Jas A Elmsie
I note what you say about your opening a chamber of commerce – a most
useful institution to discuss business affairs and keep up a kindly feeling
amongst the trading community. I hope you will take a prominent part to get
into the way of speaking in public, not with the view of becoming a member of
the Assembly. Q9, Keep yourself respectable.
I doubt if the payment of members will be long continued. The Colonies are all
in the way of spending too much, and must begin to retrench soon, stop
payment of members, and cut down the salaries of ministers to start with – as
Atkinson did in New Zealand, and dismiss half the so-called civil sen/ants and
devote the spare money, if any, on works that will reproduce a bit, not on
extravagant and costly buildings and other things that can wait such as they
have done in Victoria.
Investors are getting very sick of Colonial loans although they care about the
best investments going just now so long as the credit is sustained by loyalty to
the Crown and kingdom. But there is the rat; Some newspapers are
constantly saying the union can’t last long and then repudiation will follow. I
don’t believe this myself.
You stick to your business that the carpet-baggers have another innings while
the three hundred pounds a year is in force if you succeed in the ???? little
money and the payment of numbers is stopped. You might then offer your
sen/ices and find yourself in decent company.
If I get tired doing nothing I may find my way out next season now you have a
railway to travel by.
24″‘
Mr Balchin senior is not in town today but as they are not shipping to you this
week I will see him next, or before the J???? ????
The talk in the city today is that money will be very dear within the next two or
three months – even 10% is spoken of. This may only be surmise, but the
feeling is uneasy.
I have nothing more to say on your business matters at present – so goodbye.
Your affectionate Father
Jas A Elmslie.