Nelson, 19th February, 1856 My dear McLean, With this you will receive an official letter requiring you to return to Auckland by the "Zingari" I have been with the Agents this morning and find they expect her here on her way to Auckland about the 2nd or 3rd of March, I forward this by a Native I have engaged for the trip who will return with your answer in which I wish you would state the probable time I may look for you here in order that I may have the Massacre Bay natives to meet you as they will be content with no other person's decision but yours I have therefore forwarded a copy of Tinline's Report that you may consider at leisure what you will arrange for them, the enclosures alluded to in the Report you can see when you arrive, the Races take place on the 11th, 12th and 13th of March and the Agent for the "Zingari" tells me that she will not sail till they are over. You can therefore judge your time - by your last letters I am glad to find you are progressing so well and as you then expected (the 1st Feby.) only to be a few weeks longer I trust you will have the business completed by the time you receive this but if anything remains to be done you will be able in the time left you to finish it, at any rate it will be most advisable that all the negotiation part and the signing Deeds etc. should be settled by you if possible now so that it will not require you or any one to go over the work again - like a good fellow for I am sure no one can complete this business but yourself. No more news from the seat of war. I have a great batch of Auckland Papers which you can go over when you arrive I have just looked into them and find they have rather a stormy Session in the Pro Council It seems that three successive speakers were called to order. When will stormy proceedings cease in New Zealand? The execution of the murderer of the Native Women passed off quietly and although there was a numerous attendance of Maoris there was no revengeful spirit exhibited by them, but I must now close to despatch your Messenger with the repetition of my request viz. work hard like a good fellow during the time at your disposal as if you go away before all the negotiations are properly settled I do not know what the consequences will be - Believe me, my dear McLean, Very sincerely yours, M. RICHMOND N. B. I enclose six letters that came per mail -