24 October 1858 Maraekakaho My dear brother I received all your letter and I am thankfull for your good adviceses and allso for the trunk you sent by packhouse. I have not opened it yet. Through my neglect in writing I have so much to say that I do not no where to comence. First I have sold Gray run but Campbell has not come to take possession of the run yet and I have not got my money but they are likely to be in next month. Campbell is bringing your colt from Whanganui. When he comes he will be useful for the season hear as the mares will be shortly foaling. The sheep that I had of Gray I was to have for the term of 7 years longer if I had a place to put them on. Since you could come to no terms with Domet they must be sold as there is no room for the them. I was making sure that they could be kept on Domet run. It was very easy for me to make aney terms with Curling or Domet some eighteen months ago when they offered the run to aney one and they were both glad that it took it. I went at the risk of my life through rivers and creeks to get the run an[d] now as we want the place we cannot get it. All that I can do is to buy ewes, wethers, rams and all into one flock and that will not do or go to the extreme of getting another sheepherd and he must tail them but I am afraid Domet will not do much good with the run the way he intends to go to work but be that as it may I am sorry we have lost it when it was so convenient to this place and such good boundarys on the place that it is a great loss for us to lose it when at one time it was so easily got. The sheep are doing well. We cut and marked 1300 lambs three weeks ago and I intend to have the whole flock in the pen next week and have the next cut. I believe the lambing will be mid[d]ling good. When the sheep are all in we can tel[l] the totall number of lambs when I shall send you the return of each seperate. Tow month ago we cut four 400 lambs making the number 1700 and there will be some 100 or 300 to cut yet. A great maney for this station and another lambing to come in March. Archibald is keeping the books of stock and all and he will send you this year's return and next affter the sheep are all in. I take nothing to do with the books. He can manage them better than I can do and he has everything down even every day's work and what we are all doing. He has no rest nor peace but working hard from morning till night rearing lambs, poultry and trees. He has got a fine garden hear full of all kinds of fruit trees. He will be alble to send you some to Auckland next year. I am afraid he will kill himself working. He is not a moment at rest. He is to anxious to get on alltogether. Our wheat and oats, potatoes, grass looks pretty well considered new land we will have a large crop of potatoes. I hope this year our woolshed is builded and we intend to shear in December. Any word of last year wooll or shall we shear in the grease this year again or what is to be done with the wooll or will you take a trip down at shearing as we will let you no the time. If you don't come I shall go as I can safely leave some as Archy is hear. When he gets in the way he can manage as well as I can. Do not send aney horses by ship as I will bring them overland affter shearing as I will come to Auckland if you don't come hear. You will have Ferguson by this time in Auckland. He is a good old fellow and kind but he boast and blarneys to much and the dearest man in the whole place you have little to do with him. He and I are good friends but he has been chargeing me nearly doubble the price other peopple would. He was chargeing me 8/ per pound for sugar when I could get good sugar at the port delivered at Waipiriki for 6 pence per pound and all other things acordingley he charged £5 pounds for the service of the horse to one mare and had the use of her for three or four month rideing her. The hundred pounds you paid him £50 was for 54 sheep, the rest for timber. I got sugar at the port for 6d and let him keep his black sheep to himself. There is a great cry out against him sinc[e] he is getting above his business. You have spoiled him in your town. I shall buy all the land I can and where it most desirable and improve the place as much as I can. You will se a great attention when you come again. I have not put an application in for Graham and I do not where unless at Pataea which I do not wish to give boundaries to aney one or it will be soon taken up by applications. You wish me to send you Domet act and discharge Danvers. That I cannot do till I find some other one in charge of the run. My expences on account of that run from first to last will be about £300 or considering my loss of time looking after it and keeping possession of for Domet and as I have the sheep in charge. I think Domet ought to pay me on the spot before I give them up. I shall send you a bill of all the expences but if I give up the sheep and run we never shall be paid for our troubble. Keeping possession for him for a year and halfe at great expences he may depend he must pay for it before I give up the sheep. As I was told the other day by Alexander if I give up the sheep I would never get paid. I wish to hear from you as soon as possibble and let me no what to do and I shall write you in return without delay. The [?] will not take charge before January which gives us time to consider the affair over. I shall next month send Holt return of sheep and Graham or shall I send you average of the flock and take one third of the average will be abbout a hundred per cent. I hope if you can find convenient to come at shearing I shall like to se you hear if not work will go on as well onley I wish to no what to do with the wooll. I have no time to spare today to say more. Tell Duggy that I have today rode his poney mare for the first time and that she is a pretty animal. Tell him he must come and se me soon. Mind me to John and Jessie. Tell her I shall send her a letter soon. Has she heard from her mother and uncle lateley. Tell her to write me and give and send me the Melbourne news. I hope has forget me altogether. A McLean