Lancing
30 October 1891
My dear Chris
Enclosed find bill of lading and invoices of goods per ????. This should go by the same steamer ???? mail let me know when it comes.
Balchin tells me your letters of 17 and 30 August came same day 24th ????. My last was that of 17 August. I can’t understand why they are so long on the way now your railway is finished. You ought to have regular communication by steamer with Thursday Island. The present by J????10 November will complete the requirements you specified to Balchin, and until I hear from you further as to your successful sale of the goods sent and your ideas as to continuing similar shipments.
I shall ask Balchin tell me they are getting prices of wooden houses in ???? for you. The high freight seems to be the great drawback. A cargo ???? for house-building purposes and house direct from Sweden would be a good spec. Imagine landed at Normanton. Tell me what sized vessel could reach Normanton, depth of water ???? in Melbourne for many years.
I am going to lunch with him at the Junior Carlton on the 3 November and will get all useful information from him and see if I can put a cargo of timber your way. Don’t delay sending me the information asked for. Also say of cargo as in portions of cargoes have come to your port or if any one has sent houses or timber from Melbourne or Sydney ???? in the field will do ???? ????.
I wish you to acknowledge in due course the shipment sent to which I have paid. Also tell me how you find your agency’s ???? and pay so far – if there is any class of goods that I can get further agencies for.
I intend to spend most of next week in London and would be glad to arrange for more businesses, but I think a timber cargo in a vessel of 400 tons would be about as safe and payable as anything I can then R of ???? for replies so that we can act promptly.
Yesterday was the first dry day all over the country for six weeks. The Weekly Times will give you an account of the terrible floods and damage by storms for weeks back. The weather is now dry and cold – temperature last night 40° – in Scotland 29 °. I keep in excellent health and so also are all the flock.
Edie is coming to stay the winter months with us. She is bothered with her eyes and is not otherwise very well in general health.
???? ???? ???? ????
Summer and do a profitable business. Confine yourself to what is sure and avoid risky spec – they worry you and interfere with peaceful ???? and without which you cannot keep up good health – more especially in such a climate as yours in Australia.
Get a good solid foundation at your bankers from legitimate trade, and don’t gamble in shares or risky ventures. If you win the money does not stick.
I will write by round about mail next week. This will come by Roma. Please note the difference in time taken.
I am going down to meet ???? of the ???? next week and Hutchisons.
Love from all at home to Alec and yourself.
Your affectionate Father
Jas A Elmslie