Clive Grange Dec. 5th 1864. My dear McLean Thanks for your note and papers which I will con over at leisure. I am very busy shearing yet, but finish tomorrow, and then I will go down to the office and attend to sundry matters - There is nothing of importance mere detail - the usual amount of very uninteresting correspondence - complaints etc - - The policeman is here and will take this just to let you know everything is quiet in the District and all right. I trust no soldier will leave this Island until the Natives have been subdued, particularly the Ngatiruanui and Wanganuis; but I at the same time hope that no false philanthrophy will prevent the wholesale confiscation of the rebel lands - It is the only rod that can touch them and the only lever by which to move them. Yours truly Joseph Rhodes