Transcribe Elder, William. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1881-04-21)

Yours of 14th just I found waiting my arrival I beg to express my regret that I was not able to see you personally on the matter. I returned on the 16th only two days after date of yours-

I have seen Smyth and told him that I do not think there is the least use his going down this trip as there will be no eggs and the weather will likely be bad - we send back the island in January or July if thought advisable he could go down

Meantime I will have an entire skin with the flippers attached and also if possible the skull taken up to forward to your address, also the skins and entire bodies of Penguins and other birds salted so as to preserve them with the flesh on and thus protect the more delicate bones for skeleton purposes -

If any of the larger seals are about I will try and procure you some also - my man who is charge is a well educated one and I think would be quite able to attend the business himself - The birds I would have taken up alone and those intended for you for stuffing I could get skinned either by Smyth or the party who does this for our Dunedin Museum for consideration - the price is nearly £