7 Westminster Chambers Victoria Street Westminster, S.W. April 2, 1872 My dear McLean The enclosed letter explains itself. The Parents evidently fear their Son has got into some scrape or other, and are very much distressed. To avoid unnecessary exposure should such be the case, I promised to ask you to make private enquiries and to report the result. As you will see the Father is Vicar of St.Paul, Bermondsey - Another Clergyman whose Son was killed at Taranaki in the war, is very anxious to have a Photo view of Mount Egmont. I half fancy I wrote to Knowles about it, but in case I have not, will you kindly send me one if such exists. It is very gratifying to receive by last mail such cheering news through both official and private channels. I have very little fear now of sending you as many Emigrants as you want, though the labouring class is much better off now than it ever was, and by strikes exact pretty much what terms they please. I hope to arrange for a vessel direct to Napier with Scandinavians for Ormonds special settlement at Rua Taniwha, though I have decided not to broach the question of these special settlements, orto make any promise either of land or employment on public works to Emigrants - Such promises always lead to extravagant expectations on the part of the Emigrants, and fetter the action of the Government. We have called for tenders for another million on the 9th. We ought to get par at least. What will the Croakers say, who prophecied the money would not be forthcoming when wanted. The enormous rise in the price of Iron at least 50 p.c. will materially disturb your Railway Estimates, but there was no use waiting, as the general impression is prices will rule the same for the next two years - in fact everything has risen in the same proportion. Yours faithfully I.E.Featherston