Wanganui Dec. 29, 1845. My Dear Mr. Maclean, I was agreeably surprised by seeing Maeros curious face in my house last Saturday, although I am sorry to learn the cause of his coming, I trust it will please the Lord to restore Mr. Watts to health it is a long way to send for advice but he must bear in mind the true medicine and Physician for the soul is always near to him I trust he will be lead to find there is still balm in Israel - You will expect a short acct. of what I have done since I left you, we got on pretty well the first day, the weather being fine, but that night and the two following days were very wet and cold. We had some very heavy hail storms the hail laid on the ground like snow and remained for several hours, it was so very cold we were all quite benumbed. I took a Violent cold and had a very troublesome cough which I have not yet quite got well of. I pushed on as well as I could, we slept 2 nights in the forest but the third brought us to Waokena, and the 4th half way between tihoi and Waitotara which place we should have reached on Thursday but for the detensions at Patea and Tihoi there being but a very little waka holding only 2 at once there, and no food cooked at the other place. at Kai Twi also we were detained by the tide and thus we did not reach Wanganui before friday evening, and quite tired. the Governors letter had a narrow escape of being lost in passing round one of the points Papakore my horse got into a hole my hat went into the sea and the letter went sailing off, it was however recovered. I found all well thank God at home Basil has lost his nail but his finger is nearly well. I found my natives beginning to assemble we had a full church on the Sunday, and the next morning all the Ngatiruanuis arrived perhaps three hundred, and the River natives Wangaehu and Rangitikei. I had about a thousand I found therefore plenty to do from Monday until Saturday I was so occupied as not to have a single moment to myself. Mr. Tudor also arrived from Otaki. on Christmas day I had 270 at the sact. I was obliged to reject nearly a hundred of Mr. Skevingtons natives they told me now their teacher was dead I was their father. I therefore declined receiving themlest my westleyan Brethren shd. have occasion to say I had robbed them of their sheep - The day being very fine I had service in the open, as it was a beautiful sight to see near 1000 of these late cannibal natives drawn from different tribes formerly at deadly enmity one with the other now peaceably sitting side by side and attentively listening to the word of God. Nothing indeed could exceed their orderly conduct in the afternoon I baptized a large number amongst which were one of Mawai's wives and his child, he himself was also to have been baptized but as his wives were violently opposed to his being so I did not think it proper to use the least persuasion, he however constantly attends prayers now. I gave the natives a feast of Flour and sugar which perhaps was relished as much by many as the spiritual food there dispensed. I forgot to say on the wednesday I was occupied from before six in the morning until near eleven at night with the teachers of my wide district I had nearly 40 and amongst them most of the Westleyan teachers. I selected two texts, bearing upon their duties as teachers and I heard them all preach twice, it was a very interesting meeting and all seemed to be very much occupied in what was going on. I was rather surprised to find that by far the best sermon was from Hemi Patene of Awetokotoko a person I before thought very little of - I afterwards catechized the 2 and 3 teachers from a chapter in the bible. I gave a present to each of the head teachers of a red shirt which Iwaka tapued for the Lords day. thus this huihuinga has been a very satisfactory one and I trust a beneficial one to the natives, although a very weary one to me for I had a violent cough upon me the whole of the time and having preached twice and for 2 days 3 times each day I scarcely could get through my work which was no sooner done inside the church than it seemed to have no probability of being terminated outside so many sick to prescribe for so many homai's to give so many knotty points to settle and cases to judge - Manihera also and his party I had to take to task for still acting very foolishly about the new tikanga. St Paul says that he so learned to keep his body under, the native word used is kuru and acting literally they have inflicted the most severe castigations on their unfortunate bodies to whip sin out of them. they also completely interrupted the service by constantly repeating amine in a most extraordinary gutteral tone - My natives are now leaving and I trust this week to be able to get on with my work I think I found near 30 letters with native full fifty on my return most will require a reply and some immediately. If I can detain Maiero and find time this morning I will see what I can do with the report but I fear it will not be done before the middle of the week. I send you the kettle had I been able I would have had it mended, also I return a piece of cotton in which Mrs. Trevic wrapped my linen which I carried off by mistake. I received a note from Hoera about some person he says I said shd. be turned out of the pa tell him I recollect nothing about my having said anything of the kind. Mr. Bolland is the person for him to go to, and this must be a korero nui of his informants. I also send the pr. book for you and one for Mr. Wicksteed Mr. Tudor tells me Mrs. Steel gave Master Wicksteed or Master King a parcel for Mrs. Taylor will you have the goodness to inquire about it. I have now a marriage to solemnize a court to attend on the other side about Wiremu and Mr. Ball who is going to England without settling with him and so with our very kind regards an which each member unites (the younger ones send love) I must say good bye and praying that every blessing may be your portion Believe me Most truly Richard Taylor. P. S. I have received a letter from Mr. Hadfield in which he says that the Bishop told him that Mr. Merchant mentioned in a letter to the B. that Mr. Hadfield and I had sent a joint letter to the society now this is not correct the consequence is Mr. Hadfield is much annoyed and so am I likewise such inconsiderate conduct is calculated to weary even his best friends pray see him and speak to him on the subject Maero is waiting so I must say again goodbye the report shall be sent early to you. I send a bottle for Mr. Nairn tell Mrs. King our true carroway seeds never came up I suppose therefore these were baked like her own.