Tuesday, noon, June 7th ‘98, steaming out of Townsville harbour, where we arrived this morning at 6:30. We got away from Cookstown on yesterday, Monday, morning at 8:30. Very little cargo to tranship, & a bag of letters. A lugger was moved alongside us to take the cargo & the customs launch took the letters. Doctor came on board & inspected the crew. A few Chinese also left us there. We soon got through the Barrier Reefs & into open water, & lighthouses were visible on this part of coast. The coast scenery was lovely yesterday, fine mountain scenery, vegetation to the water edge. We passed a steamer, one of this company [4:33] going up to Hong Kong & Japan. We got fresh meat & fruit at Cookstown, & here we’ve got potatoes. 2 of our passengers have left us here. We lay 2 miles from the pier, so none of us got ashore. A vessel came of[f] & took some tons of rice &c., & a launch with the customs & doctor also came of[f]. The old gent I previously spoke about came on here instead of leaving at Cookstown, & he & a young man left us. The scenery of the coast here is fine, very hilly, still in the tropics. It was very hot while we lay at anchor, tho’ it is winter, but the nights are cold. The atmosphere is so clear here & the air so balmy, quite life giving. All the Australians say that after a short residence in any part of the colony, one would not care to go back to English climate. The old man was very enthusiastic about it, & his experience, no doubt, has proved it so far as he is affected. Well, we are on the way to Brisbane where we are due Thursday night or early Friday morning. The steamer anchors in Moreton Bay, so my journey will soon come to an end. I intend calling upon Webster & Co. there. Mr. Nicol knows who I mean. So does Miss Nicol. A brother of Capt. Webster lives in Helensbro’[1], & the Nicols & they are great friends, so Willie can tell Miss Nicol when he sees her. I shall probably stay 2 or 3 days at Brisbane, & if I find the mail leaves Sydney for home before I get down there, I will post this [4:34] at Brisbane. By the way, please give my warmest respects to the Smiths, Mr. Leask, Mr. & Mrs. Adamson, Mr. Chrystal, Mr. Nawton & also, when you see them on Sunday, to Mr. Sinclair & Mr. Scott. Also Willie can tell Mrs. Windrim I was enquiring after them both. You would get letters yesterday or Sunday, written while in Japan. There will be a clear lapse of communication of 4 weeks, I dare say, but this won’t occur again, excepting maybe a week while going to New Zealand. Oh, I forgot, the long sea passage up to Vancouver, & the ship I sail in will carry the mails, however, it is quick transit from Vancouver, where I will, all well, post on arrival. I am looking forward anxiously & pleasurably to the letters I hope to receive on my arrival at Sydney. Have you sent Bessie anything lately? If not, do so, & my respects sometime. Now it is nearing lunch time & I am writing in the saloon while tables are being furnished, so I will close here. Our position on Monday 6th was as follows noon:
Lat. S. Long. E. Run
15.58 145.29 1/2 35
On Tuesday 7th: 19.6 146.48 5
Having gone into ports you see the short runs. Date from the time we steamed away until noon.
[1] Not clear if this is Helensburgh, Scotland or Helensburgh, New South Wales.