The Cliffs, Nelson 5th May, 1857 My dear McLean, I have seen little Daniell about the £100 paid to the Taranaki Natives in Nov. 1854 but he says he had no receipt for it, that there was a supplimentary conveyance of the Land wherein the payment was acknowledged but that you took it along with the other papers relating to the and purchase to Auckland with you - there are some horrible nilggling foolish Queries come about the Accounts connected with that purchase, such as what sort of dinner the Native Chiefs had - the description of vegetables another party had - a receipt for a canoe, and others of - I have told Daniell to give copies of the two authorities one or £1000, the other for £2000 which we were to pay on your requisition and to say that the Commissioner in making these payments did not enter into the details. You may recollect we spoke to you about these atters at the time and you said you would arrange them at the Audit Office - I dont know how Brunner has managed about the Reserves at Massacre Bay but I suppose satisfactorily or I think the natives would acquaint me but I make it a point not to interfere in the slightest with my old Department, indeed it would not be delicate to do so, therefore I know of nothing that is going forward - You will be rather surprised at what the Democrats are doing for the Run holders there is a BILL now before the Provincial Council which if passed, will give the option to the Run holder to purchase the whole of his Run at a price ranging from 1/- to 10/- Eighteen years to pay it in with 5 per cent added to the yearly nstalments. A year given to make your application these are the leading features - the plea is they must have money and it is better to get this way than to borrow - Our gold fields still progress the accounts improve every day, several other Gullies are found the gold is becoming more nuggetty ranging from a pins head to a bean - one large one which I saw yesterday has been found weighing upwards of 2 oz/ The last time I wrote it was my intention to be at Auckland to attend the Convention but I found it would be attended with so much inconvenience that I took advantage of another meeting of the Archdeaconry Board and resigned my office of Delegate to which they had elected me and Stafford has been chosen in my stead - You have heard right Georgy has at last said Yes and she leaves me for a home at Canterbury I do not know if you are acquainted with Tancred if so I need not say anything about him but should you not have made his acquaintance while he was in Auckland you will be glad to hear that he is the very man that I should have chosen for Georgy as I am sure her happiness will always be his aim and that he appreciates and always will my Georgy's goodness and worth. Accept many thanks for your kind wishes for their happiness and Believe me, my dear McLean, Yours very sincerely, M. RICHMOND You will be glad to hear that instead of leading a solitary life I have asked Andrew and his wife to stay with me when Georgy goes which they gladly do.