Clare June 11th 1920
( 2 years after the death of his wife Lucy to his brother Edgar I think and either Alice his half sister or more probably his sister in law Edgar’s wife)

Dear Brother and Sister,

I got your letter yesterday and was pleased to hear from you again although sorry to hear of the cause which necessitated the writing. Glad to hear that you are all well and still plugging away. Your place has grown into value Ed in common with others but I was surprised that you were not milking more cows. Is it a matter of finance or would it carry more. While prices of produce and stock are so high seems to me to be the time to wade in. But hang on a minute Dad. I’m not consistent. I haven’t added to my bit the last 3 years (rather the reverse). I find it easier to get into a town than to get out of it again. I have a bit coming in as you know and Les and I earn a good bit more but it all goes and more too. I missed two good chances lately. One through overcautiousness which has turned (earned?) the buyer 1,000 (pounds) in five months. I am after another place now and was to inspect today but didn’t.

Prices here are booming. Gardens have sold at up to 140 (pounds) an acre and farms in the middle north to 15 pounds. Sheep have been as high as 4 pounds and bullocks to 57 pounds. 40 pounds to 45pounds are common. The top price for dairy cows last city market was 37 pounds another cow 34 pounds. Butter is 2/9, eggs about 2/10, fixed price of fowl wheat 13/- a bushel , chaff 6pounds 5 shillings (6-5-0), meat to 1/3 a lb and other things in proportion. Horses are about the only cheap line.

Mick Rasheed has been around the north buying. He got 1300 and wants 1500 again soon. All implements are very dear. I bought a cultivator for 6 pounds two years ago and sold it at Will Morton’s sale for 13 pounds 10. Will has retired now and lives in Clare. He runs a car. Bob also lives here but not in retirement. Jim I believe is doing well at Strathalbyn. Wheat, wool and meat growers are having the time of their lives.

Now to finance. I am quite willing to renew my guarantee with the bank for you. What interest are you paying them Ed? Perhaps it would be to our mutual advantage to cut them out if I advance to you. I gather from your debit account with them that this is only your current account with them, and has nothing to do with your second mortgage to them of the farm. If so your financial position is about the same as it was 5 years ago (current account). Taking the improved condition and increased value of your property into consideration and your stock (live and dead) and assuming that you have no other assets or liabilities and that your valuation of 25 pounds per acre is correct I figure that a sale would place you in a very good position. The price would tempt one to sell I know, but can you better it anywhere else. You have lived and brought a big family along so far and I suppose your assets and liability account made up would show 1pound a day for 5 years you have been there. Do you think your property will improve more in carrying capacity than it will depreciate in value if a slump should come? If so hang on. Every place that I have sold has been a win for the next man. The place I sold when Charlie was here was resold at 300 pound profit and now the new owner has been offered 350 pounds on his deal. The SA Farmers Union has the old Jamestown place. They paid 15 pounds an acre for it and you know how my NZ properties have advanced. These I do not regret selling and in similar circumstances would do the same. I would like to get out on a farm again but with the exception of Les the others favour the town.

Ben appears to be doing well in the City but I think Charlie reckons it’s not all roses for her. How are Jack and Al doing? And how of the old lady? And what became of RO Gross Ed? You didn’t say who got AW Rimmers place. I am looking forward to a trip to NZ in about 18 months time if things go on alright.
We (Les and I) went to the local coursing last Wed and Thurs. 36 dog stake 50 pounds first 20 pounds second 19 pounds. 2 at 6 pounds and 4 at 3 pounds. Cup for winner and gold medal for runner up. The Calcutta sweep was worth 50 pounds for the winner. (The owner of Layora who won) and I heard he won 700 pounds in bets stake and sweep. He won a cup in Adelaide with her and has refused 60 pounds for her. They use 3 foxes and a chap caught one with a dog that had been run out. I’d like to get a good fox killer. It’s good fun and there’s money in it too. Hares were plentiful and strong. They only caught 2 the first day out of 18 courses. Kelly and Kerin still course and do well but did not come here. They had the best dogs in the state last year. (Descended from old Lady Clare). Jack Fergusson won a bit with some of our old Queen strain after we left but had the last of the strain poisoned.
Wasn’t that a terrible affair about Jack? I will send you on a paper I kept to send. His mother and father don’t know that he committed suicide. Bert Davis was the only representative of the family at the funeral. He was buried at Gladstone.

I am pleased to tell you we are all keeping well. Aileen is quite a Woman now. She weighs 8 stone 13lb and I go 11. 11. I don’t know what Rose weighs but Ailie says about 10.3. She doesn’t talk NZ so much now. I wish she would get married and settle down. I pay her 1pound a week . Bert is still in the PO. He gets 18/6 a week and hopes to pass his exam soon and get a rise and uniform.
I still have 2 horses and my implements and we are always busy.
I have months work ahead of me now including a 6 acre vineyard to prune and work and 10 acres of apple trees to grub. This will be a team block and tackle game. I hope to knock out 30/- a day on that job.

Jack was here for a few days with us and I called at his place on my way north at one time and put in one night there. I enjoyed a good talk with Jack and he promised to give us another call before harvest. He had a fine farm but I think whisky and a bachelor’s life for so long got him down and then the flu put the cap on. I can hardly realise now that he is gone. Don is married and has a family likewise. They are at Pinnaroo. Will died in the west. The old chap is quite blind and a bit affected mentally at times. I feel very sorry for the old couple on whom I always call when in town.

I am enclosing guarantee and credit slip with this. I presume they are prepared to accept my mortgages as security for bond. As these mortgages fall due next year and will be lifted from NZ other arrangements will be necessary as my word or bond without security will not pass with the bank.

Remember me to friends around there.

From your loving brother.

Walter