Where is dear little Douglas - assure him of his Grandmama's love. New Plymouth 15th. March /63 My dear Son, Your old Mother will not allow an opportunity to pass without assuring you of her congratulations on your new appointment, in which you can easily believe that Don Pedro Joins with heart and soul - I only wish poor Taranaki could get one like you to guide her. I wrote to you on the 24th. Jany. and sent it to our good and mutual friend Mr. Strang I requesting him to forward it to you. May be the steamer expected in tomorrow, may bring me an answer. You will be glad to hear that our dear good friend Sir George Grey is now with us - he is kinder than ever - he had not been on shore half an hour before he came to see me - he had been very ill at Auckland - with a low agueish fever which he had caught at Waikato - he only left a sick bed to embark for this place - he told us that during the whole of his illness he used to think day and night, that if he could only get Dr. Wilson he should be all right - and it is most wonderful how he has improved since his arrival - he is quite another man. I thought he was very ill indeed on the first evening - he is living at Mrs. Cutless's nearly opposite to the Home we now live in - he comes over for a chat nearly every day - I feel as much at home with him as I do with you - he leads me on to tell him every thing - which I do with the most perfect confidence - we often have a chat about you - he has a very right and just opinion of very many of our would be big men in this place - we never see him walking with Charles Brown on any of his clique - it must be rather galling to that party to see how intimate Sir George is, with us and Cap. and Mrs. King also with Cutfield. The Harrier came in this morning and took away the General who it is said will return in a few days with part of the 70th. we understand this reinforcement is intended for the Tataraimaka should the Natives make any to do about the road making - "Minerapa" has the impudence to write to Sir George saying that he wished to come in to have a "korero" about the Tatara Block, and offered to use all his influence to get the white men re-settled on their Farms. Sir George's answer was short, but not very sweet - he told them to keep as far away from him as possible for if he came within his reach, he would surely take him - try him - and may be hang him. So I think the young gentleman will think twice before he ventures near as - one of the murderers is known to be living with Wm. King of Umaroa - Sir George wrote him a very nice letter, telling him that, as he had always had a good character he hoped he would now retain it, by sending away the he had living within his Pa - he would not ask him to give him up, because he felt that Wm. King would not wish to betray any one who had eaten his bread - but as a friend he would advise him to send the man as faraway from us as possible - because there was a great reward offered for him and if he came any way within our reach, he would be taken, tried and hanged - and moreover while he allowed such men to reside in his Pa - he could not consider him in the light of a friend. This is all very good advice and I hope Wm. King will follow it. Manahai of Ratapihipihi seems to have convinced Parris that he had had no hand in the murder of Ford and Pasmore - and Sir George seems to believe him - he told us that it was very likely Manahai would come in and stand his trial, if he does that it will indeed be proof positive. You will be sorry to learn that poor Fred Carrington has lost his situation; all through Charles Brown's vindictive spirit, and determined opposition to the General Government, from the time of Carrington appointment, Charlie and his clique have done all in their power to oppose him in every way - they openly declared that they had pledged themselves to get him turned out - it is quite dreadful to hear the shameful false statements they have made about him, and Domett has at once come into their views because he is of the feather with themselves - two or three days after Sir George's arrival he told Carrington that in a day or two he would go out with him and see the roads. Therefore you may judge of his surprise on receiving the morning a letter from Domett dismissing him in the most uncourteous and tyrannicle manner possible, Mr. Wilson declares that in all his experience of public life he never met with such a piece of tyranny. Carrington wished to explain to Domett but he refused to hear one word in his defence - the truth is, we suspect, that Charles Brown has pointed out to Domett all the faults he himself has made, and laid them all to Carrington. Carrington has demanded a court of enquiry into his conduct, and as to the amount of work which has been done under him since his appointment - to this demand, he has not yet got an answer. One thing we have ascertained Sir George knew nothing about the dismissal until the deed was done. If Carrington succeeds in obtaining an enquiry - the truth about Charles Brown's shameful conduct must be brought to light - and a pretty expose it will be! I should not like to stand in his shoes - it will be quite as bad as the one which was made a few weeks ago at a Public Meeting by Willie Bailey who stated that Charles Brown had made away with the money which was sent from the Province of Canturbury for the Taranaki sufferers - we too well know that this is truth the money is gone and none but Charles Brown knows where - somebody had made Sir George believe that this money is deposited in the Bank! - if it is, he has managed to filch it from the £25000 which has come down as a 2d. instalment towards our compensation - the sums from Canterbury was we hear £3000! - 3 is easily taken out of 25 without its being much missed - they have only to cut down some of the unfortunates claims - and the roguery is soon covered. It is not a very difficult task as all relating to our compensation is done behind a curtain nothing above board - Charles Brown - Harry Atkinson - and Wm. Halse are the three commissioners at £1-1- per day! who dole out our 3/9 in the pound - but even this we are truly thankful to receive - only we cannot help thinking that £3-3 per day will soon make rather a large hole in the £25000. I am at the head of a party who are working for a "Fancy Fair" the proceeds of which are to go towards a fund to enable us to get an organ for our Church at New Plymouth! I flatter myself that "Your Honor" will not refuse your old Mother a small donation towards the desired object, and there can be no risk nowadays as a Post Office order is so easily forwarded. We are very humble - for even a small donation will be thankfully received and acknowledged by your sincerely attached old Mother H.A. Wilson. My Gudeman bids me say that he thinks you had better send a New Zealand Bank order as they charge less for that than for a Post Office order - but I am not particular -either will do.