Te Teko July 22nd 1874 My Dear Sir I have just heard that it is likely that Mr. Hamlin will be removed from Maketu to Manganui in the North, if such is the case I should very much like to get the vacancy at Maketu I know of no appointment that I should like so much as it need not necessitate my giving up the command of the N.C. I could do the magisterial duties of the district and keep a general supervision over the N.C. during my monthly visits to that part of the district. If the upset is true I hope you will give my application consideration and not let my refusal of your offer in Wellington go against me in future employment - the reason that I did not accept that was that I did not think that I should be doing justice to the Govt. or to myself in accepting it, as the Native Lands part of it was quite new to me and that the Court was on the point of sitting and I should be quite unable to work the matter up also that the district was quite new to me, and finally that I had not at that time got the Contingent into such good order as I wished, and I did not wish another to take it over until I could satisfactorily hand it over, I think you will see that there was good reason for my nonacceptance of your kind offer, and hope that in the event of Maketu becoming vacant that you will give me a chance, and in case of other applications that the length of my service may be taken into consideration I have now been in Govt. service since 1864 nearly ten years, I feel sure that I could easily do the work of the district satisfactorily and that if it was desired I could retain command of the Contingent as well leaving Mr.Bluett to command while I was absent and leaving him get the forage allowance. I know the whole of the District well and the natives in the district and feel quite sure I could carry out all the wishes of the Govt. - Of course I had no wish to apply for the situation if it is not the intention of the Govt. to remove Mr Hamlin and that not being certain is the reason of my writing privately to you instead of making an official application - I have no wish to leave the force if it could be avoided as I should not like to be left out in the cold in case of fighting that is my reason for wishing to retain supervision over the N.C. as I have always taken a great interest in it and worked hard to get it into the state of efficiency that it is now in. I am drilling the men here daily and getting on very well with them, I purpose begining at road work again next month, I have got the place in very good order, we are now ploughing up the paddocks and sowing them in grass as the grass sown last year failed through being surface sown - The Whakatane road is at a standstill owing to the water in the swamp but I will try and get old Tahehu to start at it again in Oct. I hope to get it completed in a month after they make a start, should you be visiting the Bay of Plenty this summer I hope you will be able to come up to Te Teko the Natives here would very much like to see you. There is a land dispute between Tahehu and the ex hauhaus that ought to be settled by some Govt. Officer I will report officially on the matter - Believe me to remain Yours truly George Preece