Z506/3/16/2

Letter from Octavius Field to his father, J.P. Field, from ). School 482, Ondit

14 Aug [no year]

From: 1864 To: 1880

Telegrams overtook the mail so heard of difference between France and Prussia and then got later telegram saying peace had been restored. In about 12 months will have telegraph all the way. Sorry to hear about Alfred White, who was at school with him and Percy Smith. Victoria is in a flutter – new town hall is opened. Sends illustrated paper showing interior. Mayor of Melbourne bears all expense. Large room of hall is larger than any in London. 'No music was good enough so some had to be composed for the occasion'. Mr Amess the Mayor was a draper's assistant when first came out. He (Octavius) wants to visit Melbourne at Christmas and see the sights and old friends, so please send him Abel Hoadley's address. They are having a very severe winter with a lot of rain. 'so much has not fallen for 7 years previously…' Ondit is low and level so is worse than most places. Children cannot get to school. 'The number is scarce 40, last year this time we had 70'. Just stepping out of their house, there is mud and slush up to their knees. Water lies in road for ¾ mile at stretch and from 3 to 4 feet deep. 'I knelt on the saddle on a horse, by no means a small one, and got my legs wet travelling the other day'. In some parts has been great loss of life and traffic is almost stopped. House, a wooden one, on logs, is shaking in the heavy wind. A friend was washed over a creek the other day, when driving 2 horses in a light trap. 'horse, driver and all disappeared – it was three days before his body was found'. Maggie objects to such recklessness on his part

item

Field, Octavius,
Field, John Perring,
White, Alfred,
Smith, Percy,
Amess,
Hoadley, Abel,
Field, Margueritte

family correspondence, telegraph, Australia Melbourne, weather, floods