Hobart Town,
Oct 7th 1872
My dear Mother,

Again I have to acknowledge the receipt of your always welcome letter and am glad to hear that you are all well. I see by the papers that you had a glorious day on the 12th and am very sorry to hear by Telegraph of some riots in August, but hope that they are not of much moment.

I am also sorry to hear of the reappearance of disease among the potatoes. There has been no blight here yet. We have had a very severe winter and a great deal of rain up to last week which was greatly wanted as for years there had not been sufficient moisture. So now the growth is rapid. I have the largest part of the garden in barley which as soon as in ear will be used to feed cows. I can have two crops in the year and the other part contain all useful vegetables, even to Tongue grass. This promises to be a very plentiful fruit year. Beef and mutton are very dear lately but hope they will soon be cheaper. Sometimes we burn wood and sometimes coal, the former is 6/ per ton and the best Tasmanian coal is 23s . There are plenty of coal seams about one mile from here but of inferior quality. Our Lodge is getting on slowly but surely. We are to have a tea party on the 5th of Novr but not public only the members and their wives. . I will send you cartes of both the children as soon as possible. Willy will be very smart and a stunning boy. Please remember to Mr West and also to Mr Surch , Miss L, Brothers and Sisters, and believe me,

ever your affect son,

Jas C Parkinson

PS Annie sends her love to Grandma and desires me to say that she is going to school next week. Tomorrow will be the 6th anniversary of our wedding and we intend to have a few friends in the evening. Hi ho! I am growing old. With love to all in which Mamma Annie and Willy join

I remain,

Yours affect JCP