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

[pencil] for aduct mole. perfect Sea - Elepahn skin or skeleton £15. If from same animal (with extra skull) £12.10.0 each. For smaller size cup price. Other things I learn price till he tells me what he has.

Could not fit that for the large elephant skins as the animals are so heavy that it takes all our gang to turn one [and?] when they skin it in deed they sometimes have to dig a hole alongside and tip the carcass into it before they can manage it and then when skinned it is too heavy to get carried out the rocks to the station - I know that there are no specimens of this animal in any museums except in Dunedin and think you could afford a good price for one - Should your museum be one open to the public for general instruction free I would feel inclined to let every thing go more cheaply than if partly a business transaction - You might let me know what you could give for a perfect specimen - skeleton of El. is it worth £203 - and say £10 for a nearly good skin - The penguins and other small things you could get a reasonable figure

When brought to Port Chalmers I could get them packed and forwarded to your museum by any route you recommend -

As there will be plenty of time for further communications prior to Jany next (the second trip of our vessel) I will wait your reply to this when I will again answer. Meantime I will get as much as possible up this trip-

Yours very truly

William Elder