Monday morning. My dear Sir, As the ''Iris'' has slipped off without notice I drop you a line per O.M. on spec as I doubt whether it will overtake you at N. P. I called at Forsaith's and obtained the Transfer of insurance all right I also called at Hills to pay the £1/1 but he was not in. I shall look in again today for the same purpose. Old Tidmarch called at the off. on Saturday and commenced growling about not getting possession of the house the state of the garden etc. I cut him short by leaving him in the passage, they are a queer lot from the old Beldame downwards lacked old shiver the if you left an authority for drawing money from the B - as I should probably require some for Waiuku in your absence and said in an effervesing tone that his cheque had never been dishonored in your absence. All right said I so long as I finger the cash when required I am content that settles the point. He is not in today on account of the rain poor fellow and I'm afraid he will find his residence at Onehunga in Winter very inconvenient. He referred a letter of Parenga Kingi's to me, have you seen it, a large war canoe with a number of straight lines to the Mountain indication of Pupuru tonu, Tamati W. is placed on the Pakeha side of Omata with his taua which had formerly been attached to Egmont, broken, and as Smith facetiously remarked he is consequently intended to be represented as going straight to perdition. Altogether it is one of the finest pieces of Maori humour I ever beheld and nothing that Punch has produced for years can hold a candle to it. I got rid of it by referring the matter to the Chief Commissioner. I should have gone out on Saturday to see you but was afraid of my face ache which annoyed me excessively when I parted from you at New market. I have been speculating all day yesterday whether you would be able to land as it was blowing hard from the North E. raining only as it knows how to rain in Auckland especially on Sunday. There are a great many letters from the Waiuku natives in the office relating to the Payment for Waitera and I propose to take Sinclair over and finish Searanckes work and then I shall attempt the settlement of the whole question but I am sure to fail as the Natives are too loud for me. Faithfully yours, John Rogan Feb. 28/59 P. S. I have no coppers to pay for this but I am sure you will consider this worth the money. Let me know if there are any jottings.