19 Anerley Park
Norwood London SE
9 August 1888
My Dear Chris
I have some leisure at home today so will pen you a few lines, not having written you for a month. Our summer up to a few days since has been unusually wet and cold
Scientists say owing to the northern ice melting and breaking up as it has not done for many years. The heat in Iceland and the north of Europe has also been unprecedented, so that the evaporation from the melting ice has passed over the Northern Islands and lands and descended on these Islands and Western Europe in unusual quantities. On some of the days of July to the first two of August the rain fall exceeded three inches in as many hours. All the low lying parts of London such as the Isle of Dogs and Essex have been, and now lakes. Ind & Coop Brewery at Romford was cleared out of full and empty casks to the extent of ???? and for a time submerged.
Now the rains have ceased intense heat has set in – this is the third day on which the shade temperature has touched 90° – this might be thought cool at Croydon, Queensland but its pretty hot here. However such heat is wanted to dry up the land and ripen the corn which was all but ruined for want of sun and heat.
I suppose the eccentricities of this climate are hardly equalled by any part of Australia the influences being so dissimilar, but from all I hear you are enduring great heat and drought after a very light rain fall. I hope you won’t fall short of water at Croydon, this could be fatal to the progress of crushing, & also seriously check the advancement of the place.
I have your letter of 8 June, but you don’t say anything of the weather so I suppose things were not very bad with you there. I hope you keep up your health and take all means to counteract the trying nature of the climate.
The stone that Mr Brandon shipped for home has not come yet, at least Rawson had not been advised of it two days ago. The Quetta came in on that day and it may be ???? if it should turn out well a company maybe formed to take up several of the ???? claims but at present there is no chance.
When you get your railway and means of crushing and breaking stone on the spot something may be done on a big scale.
I wish you could train Alec so as to assist and relieve you to get away from the place for a few months. If you had to leave your business in a stranger’s hands for six months, it would not be worth much at the end of that time. I don’t know how Clayton and Rawson get on for business but there is not much show of any going on. I don’t ask them, but imagine they don’t do much. They are both good fellows and very popular too, well known by all Queenslanders. Business will no doubt come to them in time as they are both well in ???? they can afford to take things easy. Its strange to find two men who from boyhood have led a rough bush life and are now ???? well up ???? years as capable of business as those brought up to it and as Chaseley ???? he feels as much at home now in a black coat and tall hat as if he had been used to them all his days. His wife has been a great stay and blessing to him. She is an excellent woman.
I imagine that were told of Archie passing without any hitch as Master. He is paying a round of visits to his friends at present. London is full of Colonials and Americans – very few of any class, seem to incline to travel and view the Exhibition at Melbourne
The clearings for some time back have gone almost empty. The Orizaba left last week with twelve in the cabin and a small number in the other classes. We are booking very few for my ship but as our sailing day is well towards the end of September, we may still do well.
Jean’s marriage takes place on the 28 September. Jessie is at home, but will leave us soon after that event for a place. As she is now of age, she will have to do for herself.
I wish you could find time to write a few lines to Mater and your sisters. You have not done so for a very long time, and ask Alec to do so also.
May has gone to a place in Germany named Gera to stay with a family whose daughter was at school with her at Glucksberg. She will probably stay with the family for a year giving her services in teaching English for her board. She speaks in high terms of the people.
I hope you find time to scan over the Weekly Times. It gives me the best outline of news of any paper published. You will see by this week’s an enquiry by Commission into the preceding of the Hyderabad Deccan Mining Company – a couple of the gigantic frauds which are perpetrated on the public every now and again. Out of the million capital the promoters pocketed
850 000 and the law cannot reach them. A wily Indian was the prime mover seconded by a few keen Scotchmen. No wonder the public are wary at the present moment.
Make a few thousands as quick as you can and clear out of Croydon. This great city is the place to pile up money – the richest gold field in the world.
I think I mentioned in my last that when a chance occurred of selling the Queensland leases at a profit, do so and send me the money to Melbourne. I see calls are still been made.
We are all well at home and send loving regards to yourself and Alec. I enclose a few lines to him. Your last two letters and Alec’s had deficient postage – they were just a shade over the half price.
Your affectionate Father
Jas A.Elmslie
Mr C T Elmslie
Croydon
Queensland