The letter was from Charles P. Butler to John Eliot, the Meteorological Reporter to the Government of India and Director General of Indian Observatories, Simla, in 1903 about the broken-down condition of the fencing of rain gauge at Periyakulam station.

The item provides information about the rainfall organisation, such as who registers the rainfall of India in each province and the exact duties of these officers. It explains how to fix, inspect and use the rain gauge properly.