17 April 1861 Maraekakaho My dear Donald Yours of the 25th March came to hand on the 7th of April at the port when down their seeing Alex & Catherine away. You would see by the papers that they left on the 9th inst. My reason for not writing to you imidiately after they sailed was that you wanted me to gave you an account of the stock on the station that I could not do at the port till I went home. We were told at the port that the Maories had leaced the plains which was part[l]y true. Several people were wanting them from them and made them offers of high rent so as to get us put out. When I found this I went and consulted Mr Alex our friend and he strangly recommended me to try and retain the plains in my own name for said he if you do not move in this matter now you will certainly lose the use of them as the Maories will leace. Let the result be what it may and as a well wisher of us all he would be very sorry that you would lose them. Beside you ought to have gone sooner about securing them. He very kindly went round the most of the natives with me and sent a Mr Donaldson with me to interpret to the rest and I am thankful to say that all of them have agreed not to let them to any other one for three months and then if I should want them I can have them in preferance to any other for the same rent. The rent offered them is £10 per month or £120 per annum. So to keep you clear of having any thing to do in the matter I am going to try and make arrangements with them and I can get plenty of sheep to put on on thirds if I was shure that any dependance could be put in the Maori leacing. But to make a long story short every one is leacing Maori runs all round and I think I have as much wright as any other and in fact we cannot well do hear without the plains and from what our friend Alex says I think we will have every thing properly settled in a few days. I write you this now to prevent you blaming me for not answering your letter sooner. I wanted to have all settled before writing you but as the mail is going to leave in a day or two I now write you what I have been doing and will write you again how things will turn out next week. It would be shameful for me to let the place pass out of our hand without doing all I could and thank providence I feel now almost shure all will go well as regards them. Sheep left for Otago 1st trip ewes 1571, wethers 43, rams 56 Sheep left for Otago 2nd trip ewes 939, wethers 63, rams 19. Total 2689 sheep leaving. Sheep on the station as near as I can make out 3488. They are now lambing and likly to have a good many lambs. 2 Bullocks went from the station and Alex bought 3 others making 5 working bullocks went this time also 1 black mear & fold, McInnis filly the filly that came down from Auckland, a bay 2 year old filly and a tramp 2 year old colt and the little entire pony you sent from Auckland. Cattle on station 8 working bulocks. We are milching 4 of the Poverty Bay cattle. There is about 30 head of cattle on the station but I cannot say whither they belong to the station or not all. Mr Newton has some on that Alex and him have some understanding about. Their has been some of the Poverty Bay cattle bartered for bullocks and some went away that I did not get any account of however we will have them in soon as there is a fine new stock yard for cattle will be finished in a few days. I will inclose an account of the horses as near as I know that belongs to the place. We are burning off every place on the hills and will sow what seed we can every day now. We are also going on plowing the padocks for to sow grass and crops. I do wish you would sanction an accomodation house to go up here for it would be a great benefit to the place. The travelers are worse than ever and do not see why we should not try to save money in that way, besides the annoyance, plenty of good people to be had to keep it and gave a good rent. I am certain it would be worth over £200 a year to the station. We could get up a house for about £100 and plenty would be glade to get the chance to put it up themselves however I hope you will come down and then we will see all about it. Mrs McLean send you her kind love and wishes to be kindly remembered to little Douglas. I have no more to say at preasant but remain Your affectionate brother Archibald John McLean P.S. The weight of the 66 bales of wool I inclose being what left the station this year. There is a small bale still left. Alex wants it. He will tell you about of course. He said he was going to send it to his nurse. A J McL I am happy to say that the vessel was much better filled than the time before and I hope and trust they will have better luck than last time.