Brisbane, Queensland, Friday June 10th, 1898. Last night I went to bed after finishing the above & slept soundly till 2:30. I awoke with the noise of the wrenches going, got up & found they were discharging into the lighter & would be ready to weigh anchor at 4, so I dressed & got all ready, & we left the ship’s side at 4 exactly. Steam lighter took 40 tons of goods from Chingtu. We got up to Brisbane, Webster & Co. Wharf, at 9 o’clock. I went below & laid down till about 7:30, then went on deck & viewed the charming scenery up to Brisbane. Another passenger accompanied me. We got our baggage passed by customs & drove to the Imperial Hotel, had breakfast, after which I took a stroll, & not far away passing a fruitere[r]s shop. 3 young men were standing at the door. I asked them where Raymond St. was. They said, “who do you want?”, I said, “Mr. Ferguson”. “He is our uncle”, says they, & they asked where I was from, & fell to me then & there. Mr. Lockwell had written, as he said he would, so they quite understood.
I went to Raymond St. about noon, but Mr. [4:37] Ferguson was out walking. I saw his wife, & stayed awhile, maybe 20 minutes. He did not come in, however, so I said I would go & would see him by & bye [sic]. She, however, said they would take a drive in the afternoon & if I cared, they would call at the hotel at 3, & show me around. This I agreed to, so now I am filling in the time since lunch. It is a very fine day, bright, clear atmosphere, but hot during the day, tho’ mid winter here, but nights are very cold. Brisbane seems a go ahead city, fine service of electric trams & altogether quite home-like, no difference at all: people, business, streets, buildings &c., much as we are. I feel it quite a change to be amongst English folk & again handling English coin. It is 14 or 15 miles up from the bay & there are several very big full-rigged ship[s] & one 4 master, “Glencairn”, quite like the “Andorinha” laying right up to the bridge & in the heart of the city. Some noble buildings too. Parliament House is a fine piece of architecture. So is the Post & Telegraph Office, & banks, & insurance offices. The Presbyterian Church is a really magnificent structure with a noble spire. I hope to worship in it on Sunday. I intend moving away on Monday & breaking journey at Toowoomba. It is en route to Sydney (Mr Adamson‘s brother is there).
I am happy to say I feel well & hope all of [4:38] you are likewise. The mail leaves here on Monday, so I will post all on Sunday & write next from Sydney. I shall write Mr. Cobb & Mr. Leask’s cousin[1] from Sydney, so that they will know I am about.
Mrs. Ferguson told me there was always a fine, cool breeze spring up about 2 o’clock, & I can feel it now. Last, I will send a p. card to Mr. Lockwell with this mail. Also on[e] to Aunt Dalton. I’ve never sent her a line & it will be welcome, I know. This batch will take some navigating. Buy a large hand magnifying glass. It will help you & be much easier too.
[1] Inserted on facing page: “Mr Leask’s brother, Henry, at Hokianga, North Island of NZ”.