Received 16-11-92
Answered 23-11-92
Lancing
28 September 1892
My dear Chris
I have been doing my utmost last two days in London to get the Moonstone
the float. Tasman and Stormont seemed to be nervous interviewing and arranging with Forbes and Woodgett to some interest, and help to make the thing a success.
I went early on Monday and had a discussion with and the others, and then with both on a second interview ending by bringing Tasman and Stormont to finally settle the personally with Forbes and Woodgett and arranging to a great extent alliance on this, and other similar occasions in the future.
The first and only intimation publicly given to date of Moonstone was in the Financial News of 24th inst and from Forbes (on Monday the 26th) that a number of their had written to them for shares to be secured for them. That my visit and negotiations came at an opportune time.
Barker made application for shares on the 24th. Up to last night he had not come forward to make arrangements. He was very wroth with Murdoch on Saturday when he found the thing was put on by Tasman and Stormont.
Murdoch told me yesterday that he had given B???? a lot of information, which he much regretted having done now. He has since behaved uncivilly to Murdoch ???? ???? when several times to see Forbes he was so busy, he could not ????, so for keeps this was fortunate to go of course.
You will know about Murdoch being engaged Frost & Co the cause holders to try to get this claim ???? by some one here, but I don’t imagine you know anything of the when Murdoch was leaving Croydon and possibly nothing
until you hear by cable on the 30th inst that the thing is plucked.
I hope you knowledge of the property and all con…. on your side is satisfactory and that it will prove a success.
We can’t tell until tomorrow (the 29th) how the shares have taken. I have done a good deal in finding investors ???? as a big one. A telegram was despatched to you yesterday enquiring if the Richmond or Harp of Erin could be ???? ????
???? ???? a stock jobber a friend of Stormont’s ???? applicant for four men on the exchange who want a claim – at a price – to handle themselves The names were given by Murdoch asking the most likely to suit what men wished to get if you can get them, or others ???? to sell here. You might make a few thousands with the 6 others of floating on this market, that was I think your idea of doing business when you came home.
I found Woodgett pleasant sort of man to do business with. I expect he found that you were too much interested in the mining enterprises to suit his purposes – ???? that Forbes has an agent on the field to look after his interests so that he has no more to do with any of your contemporaries
than he has with you. If you think it necessary on ???? matter of importance to send a cable message to me send it to ???? give you their cable address.
I am going to form one of a large deputation next Wednesday to wait on your Minister Wilson with the view of getting the tariff for cable messages reduced to the same rate as the other ????
The Gulf of Mexico went to Barrow, Glasgow and now is at Liverpool. A
wire message came from Archie last night saying he had been appointed
Chief of the Gulf of Ancud (just arrived) going to the Colonies. The ship will ???? up at Glasgow and Liverpool I think and will probably leave in a fortnight from now.
He is sure to write to you by this or next mail. It would not do for him I think of leaving in the Colonies. He must make his voyage and meantime think over the offer you made him. If you can make it more definite and address him at
Sydney it will give him something more to think over before he returns.
Noel is becoming a stout strong fellow and is a steady diligent scholar altogether promises well. He is sixteen next Christmas. I must look out for a place for him.
If Tasman’s or your business progresses I will perhaps get him to take him in
for a year or more to get somewhat acquainted with business as done in
London. I can’t afford an expensive education for him profession and employments of all kinds are full to overflowing. A young man has
the best chance of success in life if has anything in him by striking out
for himself after getting a little knowledge of business.
I find his own ???? and fight his way as you and others have done when he once sees that there is something to be gained by energy and performance in good hands
Both Noel and Reggie will succeed and do well if they are started fairly and in good company. It would hardly do for either of them to come to your godless spot of earth until their character were conformed.
Archie as you know is steady so far and has no tendency to the company of men who are inclined to exceed the bounds of decorum. ???? ???? six months make himself well acquainted with the run ???? to give up the ????
As Tasman is placed with the Argentine Railways he cannot devote time to attend to outside business but has to trust all that part to Stormont who I think is an earnest keen fellow and with knowledge of the Stock Exchange
and its members such as he has is about as good a man as one could get hold of.
Tasman could not give up his present employment until your business became a large and important one. If he can carry out his plan of office which I told you of some mails back he could then attend to both easily as things are and for some time to come.
I met Mr Coombes last Monday. He gave me a note from you. I will see more
of him as he will be in town for some time.
Murdoch has taken passage by Arcadia for Sydney booked through to Normanton – leaves on 14 October. He seems anxious to get back – he is full up of London.
30 September F Green & Company of 13 Fenchurch Avenue
Cable address is as enclosed memo – they have various words for different Houses. This one would come to me through them if anything should arise to render and cable message necessary.
So far the Moonstone has not found subscribers enough. We have the deferred the allotment until the 5th when I hope we shall have enough
to go to allotment on.
Tasman will no doubt give you some of his probable reasons. Stormont suspects that Barker has been selling the shares of the Moonstone claims largely – and that he is not in a position to deliver, and that he has been trying to bluff the thing. Stormont has trusted over much to the promises of his stock exchange friends who don’t seem to have helped at all as yet.
The stagnant state of dealing and the suspicious state of the public mind as to adventures of this sort ???? ????
???? ???? I enclose a circular arranged by Messrs Platz & Backhouse printed this morning for wide circulation amongst their friends. Platz is an accountant at Leeds &Scarford and very able man. This will show you the confidence that Murdoch has inspired. He has certainly sustained critical examination
on several occasions at meetings most creditably.
Of course you will know that I am taking the part in this business, (which I have told you of), with the view of going Croydon and consequently you a stimulus, more than from any gain I am likely to get out of it. In fact it seems as if I will have to run a considerable risk of losing money for instance if only half the 16.000 shares are subscribed. We should have to borrow on the unpaid half of the shares and if any or many of the investors failed to pay up when called we as directors would be liable. However I am going to carry it through now I have gone so far. My co-directors are first class men, not of the guinea pig type.
If any comes after this goes, you must give me all the information you can.
I hope sincerely you may have a good season and make hay. It won’t be long before the public here will feel in the mind for a big flutter with the Croydon field.
All are well at home and at Poplar.
Your affectionate Father
Jas. A. Elmslie
London
30 September 1892
C T Elmslie
Croydon
Queensland North