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Arthur's Edwardian Period Letters Home 1903
Arthur arrives in Melbourne from Genoa, talk of his father's death in October 1903...
Nov 11th 1903
Grand Hotel
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
I recd. Yrs. Of Oct 8th yesterday morning after I arrived, for we only got to Melbourne Monday night, almost 5 weeks from Genoa. It was a good trip & smooth all way. A friend met me at the steamer at Adelaide & we had the aft.noon together there. I found both Blacks very well & office pretty busy; last year was not much of a one but things promise very well now & best season for years with lots of stuff to export, the country they say looks wonderful. I went out with Bob Black to dinner last night & found his new wife, she seems very nice and fond of his two children which are dear little persons, boy of 4 and girl of 2 ½ about, they have rented a nice house in S.Yarra.
Mollison turned up Monday night after I had gone to bed & had a long chat in my room. Two or three fellows I know staying here. I’m very glad I arrived after all or most of the gaieties are over, still a lot of people stopping here. Both Blacks were very sorry to hear of Father’s death. I am going out to dinner with Herbert B (?).* this evg. & have a chat over things & after a little ? can form an idea of my future movements.
When you wrote evidently poor father was very bad & I suppose really there was little hope then. I shall be very anxious to get your letters now & hear everything. No news, have seen few of my friends yet (?)
With best love
Yr, affect son
Arthur
* Probably Herbert Black, one of “both Blacks…”
Grand Hotel
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
I recd. Yrs. Of Oct 8th yesterday morning after I arrived, for we only got to Melbourne Monday night, almost 5 weeks from Genoa. It was a good trip & smooth all way. A friend met me at the steamer at Adelaide & we had the aft.noon together there. I found both Blacks very well & office pretty busy; last year was not much of a one but things promise very well now & best season for years with lots of stuff to export, the country they say looks wonderful. I went out with Bob Black to dinner last night & found his new wife, she seems very nice and fond of his two children which are dear little persons, boy of 4 and girl of 2 ½ about, they have rented a nice house in S.Yarra.
Mollison turned up Monday night after I had gone to bed & had a long chat in my room. Two or three fellows I know staying here. I’m very glad I arrived after all or most of the gaieties are over, still a lot of people stopping here. Both Blacks were very sorry to hear of Father’s death. I am going out to dinner with Herbert B (?).* this evg. & have a chat over things & after a little ? can form an idea of my future movements.
When you wrote evidently poor father was very bad & I suppose really there was little hope then. I shall be very anxious to get your letters now & hear everything. No news, have seen few of my friends yet (?)
With best love
Yr, affect son
Arthur
* Probably Herbert Black, one of “both Blacks…”
Talk of the future without his father, plans to stay with the Manifolds in Western Australia...
Nov 25th 1903
529 Collins St.
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
Your letter of Oct 22nd I found on my return here from up country late last night, also paper with account of father’s funeral. What a peaceful happy death he seems to have had, & how grateful one feels that it was so. I notice all the relatives who were able came over & most of the Irish ones too for the funeral. Will speaks of their going to live with you at the Abbey for the winter, how nice it would be if he could keep it on & let the cottage, but I suppose that is impossible tho’ one had always hoped it might be so, possible with your combined incomes it might be managed, but it would be a bit of a strain would it not. I hope he will be able to continue Corbalton agency which would be a great help. I shall try and get home again next summer & then we can see what you think best to do.
I only wish I were well off enough to enable you to continue to live at the Abbey, tho’ it would be lonely for you without Sis & Will to take care of you.
I have been up north staying with first ?? Finlay & then his brother who lives further north, both very nice & very nice wives.
On Monday I go up to Western district to stay with the Manifolds, she was a Miss Anderson. I saw my old place up country & the present occupier; they are all having a splendid season. Prior O’ Byrne of Echuca said Mass for father. I enclose you his letter to me in reply to mine, I met him last week up there.
With best love
Yr, affect son
Arthur
529 Collins St.
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
Your letter of Oct 22nd I found on my return here from up country late last night, also paper with account of father’s funeral. What a peaceful happy death he seems to have had, & how grateful one feels that it was so. I notice all the relatives who were able came over & most of the Irish ones too for the funeral. Will speaks of their going to live with you at the Abbey for the winter, how nice it would be if he could keep it on & let the cottage, but I suppose that is impossible tho’ one had always hoped it might be so, possible with your combined incomes it might be managed, but it would be a bit of a strain would it not. I hope he will be able to continue Corbalton agency which would be a great help. I shall try and get home again next summer & then we can see what you think best to do.
I only wish I were well off enough to enable you to continue to live at the Abbey, tho’ it would be lonely for you without Sis & Will to take care of you.
I have been up north staying with first ?? Finlay & then his brother who lives further north, both very nice & very nice wives.
On Monday I go up to Western district to stay with the Manifolds, she was a Miss Anderson. I saw my old place up country & the present occupier; they are all having a splendid season. Prior O’ Byrne of Echuca said Mass for father. I enclose you his letter to me in reply to mine, I met him last week up there.
With best love
Yr, affect son
Arthur
Good news from Ireland - Mother may be able to stay on at the Abbey, hears from an old friend...
Dec 2nd 1903 My birthday
529 Collins St.
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
I got such nice letters from that Dear Trix and Gerald this mail, both perfect as you can imagine when you know the writers of them. I also got 2 or 3 other nice letters from friends at home.
I’m so glad to hear Will has got the Corbalton agency & I hope very much that, if you would like to live on at the Abbey with them that with your combined incomes & letting the cottage, that you will be able to. Of course you will be able to decide better next spring. Trix tells me she has sent a Tablet & K. Observer which I expect to find at the office this morng.
My friend & old schoolmate Hugh Connolly came down from Queensland yesterday & is here for a week, very nice to have him, he is a barrister in North Queensland & doing well. I hope Alf will turn over a new leaf, he seems to appreciate, which he certainly should do, all father has done for them, indeed there must be many who never realised till now how much he did do for them.
I was very glad to hear Aunt Bess was coming over to stay with you for a bit. I had a nice letter from Mary Dalglish & also from Mary Belassis. Prospects for the coming year here are good.
My very best love
Yr affect son
Arthur
529 Collins St.
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
I got such nice letters from that Dear Trix and Gerald this mail, both perfect as you can imagine when you know the writers of them. I also got 2 or 3 other nice letters from friends at home.
I’m so glad to hear Will has got the Corbalton agency & I hope very much that, if you would like to live on at the Abbey with them that with your combined incomes & letting the cottage, that you will be able to. Of course you will be able to decide better next spring. Trix tells me she has sent a Tablet & K. Observer which I expect to find at the office this morng.
My friend & old schoolmate Hugh Connolly came down from Queensland yesterday & is here for a week, very nice to have him, he is a barrister in North Queensland & doing well. I hope Alf will turn over a new leaf, he seems to appreciate, which he certainly should do, all father has done for them, indeed there must be many who never realised till now how much he did do for them.
I was very glad to hear Aunt Bess was coming over to stay with you for a bit. I had a nice letter from Mary Dalglish & also from Mary Belassis. Prospects for the coming year here are good.
My very best love
Yr affect son
Arthur