28 October 1859 Maraekakaho My dear brother I received your letter from the coast and was glad to hear you were well and that you had good news from home. I am glad to tell you that the work on the station got on well in my absence. I was verry anxious being so long away I never was so uneasey before in my life as I was this last time. I was afraid all was going wrong but they all seamed to have done their best. The bullocks onley missed four days at the bush all that bad weather we had on the coast and their four days they were ploughing. I have Neill Walker hear now and the tow drays are regularly going to the bush every day. We are building a house to the end of the woolshed 16+30 and hope to have it finished by the 1 of December and then comence to shear. Wool is up. Try and get a good a good price this year. I shall get the wooll well up. The wheat and the potatoes looks well. We have a great maney potatoes in this year more than tow acres. The grass is not doing well. The weather is much against it. We never had such dry weather at this time of the year. The old grass is doing well. I shall have a good deall of seed this year. The Autumn is the best time for grass and the sowing of all grain. The sheep look well. We had no more dogs or pigs since I have not got the sheep in since I shall have them in on the 25 of next month and then you shall have some idea of the lambing. John in the old way. I am glad you have let Akitio to McLachlan. He is a good honest man altho they taulk a good deal abbout him. I hope he may do well. He is giving a good rent for the place. As I have no time on hand I shall say nothing about the sale of Akitio onley if you get a handsome prise for it sell. I do not think much of Akitio but please yourselfe. Money laid out well in this end of the district would pay far better than their. I should like to send you a long letter but I have no time. Mares foaling and cows calfeing keeps me allways on horseback for want of padocks but that shall not be the case next year. The Maid of Islay has a fine filley foal the best I have seen in New Zealand by St Patrick. William Ferguson came hear this evening to se Tuke and he is going away in the morning to overtake the White Swan or I should say more. The old skipper is all right affter having tow or three trips to the port while I was away. I shall give you all the particulars in my next letter. I am not in the best of humour tonight. I have been blowing up all hands about having the dogs lose about the place. A bitch in heat has gone away with to of the dogs which is rather dangerous on a sheep station. My kind respects to Mr Strang when you se him. Hopeing this will find you well. Your affectionate brother Alex McLean