Napier Nov. 6, 1871 Dear Sir, I have not troubled you with any of my gossip being assured that you had little time to give such matters at present. More weighty matters engaging your attention besides I knew Mr. Ormond would tell you anything you would care to hear. I beg to return you thanks for your kind Telegram in reference to fulfilling your instructions as regards the facts you required. You know I am always ready, and anxious to do anything you require and always will be. When you-sent the 1st telegram to Maney I heard he was in Town and sent it to him. I must tell you that when anything comes from you or Mr. Ormond and they cant find the person the Telegraph Dept. always send it to me. Thinking the one might have something to do with former ones. Re Select Committee. I sent for him - he came I asked him have you replied to Mr. McLean, he said here is what I am going to send it was to this effect -"a Deed have been made out and signed and action could be taken on it but it had not been Registered". You got a different telegram from that. You then in about 2 or 3 Hours sent another but Maney had gone out of Town. I had no orderly and messengers was engaged - so I got Telegram and sent Spit orderly with it. I received reply at my own house at 7 o'clock next morning. The reason I put postscript was to tell you I could not get reply sooner as you might think I was neglecting your instructions, never thinking that you might require to lay the reply before the Select Committee. Maney sent his reply to you through me in order for me to see if it was correct. Your after telegram I read wrong but I hope my reply was in sufficient time for you - a word or a stop makes a difference in a telegram. The want of a stop misled me in your case. Every one is very much pleased at the upshot of the Enquiry & fullyexpect as far as the Upper House is concerned it will come to nothing but that when the Public read the evidence as printed it will be most damaging to the H.R. Russell clique. What fun it must have been for Mr. Ormond when he was cross questioning them. Mr. Wilson I dont think will ever forgive him the baiting he gave him - as I hear he has got one or two chaffings over it. Mr. Anderson - "Hae mon what did you get for going to Wellington - you had better hae stopped at hame. Well, Sir, I am really glad your troubles are you may say over so far as stuffing a pack of new members but I am afraid you have a more difficult matter before you than you have had for sometime. I mean in this way - a matter which only your personal knowledge and influence can counteract. I refer to the numerous cases of repudiation that the natives will bring up. They are ramping mad over it at Poverty - is it not likely that it might spread amongst the East Coast natives - and be the cause of disturbance between the Europeans and them. Capt. Read has been bled pretty considerably and the very fact of his giving in will induce fresh extortions - not but from what I hear it would not injure the old sinner if he was made to shell out a few hundreds - I congratulated G. Worgan on his appointment - if kept in his place he is valuable - permit him inside that but goodbye to his worth - he would not be useful in any way - excuse my remarks but I know him thoroughly. Hoping you will soon recover from your arduous labour and that I have not encroached too much on your time. I have the honor to be Dear Sir, Your St., Geo. Thos. Fannin