Auckland 26 January, 1855 My dear McLean, By the return of the Nelson, I send you 2 or 3 letters; our news here is not much, but going on quietly; Major Nugent is expected daily from Taranaki; and we of course know not the nature of his Report of the state of affairs there, but the people seem extremely unsettled --- Johnson has been up here and we have paid for a nice Block at Whangarei £1500, he has also arranged the OBrien claim for a small sum, and goes down now to pay the Balance due on his former Mahurangi purchases. I have reported the Takapautotara and Barrier purchases, as ready for gazetting; having succeeded at last in getting the boundaries fixed properly of the former. Mr. Ormsby goes on in the best way he pleases, so that under the contract system, no one can say when a Block may be finished even so far as the outline surveys are concerned. I have applied at the Survey office in reference to the Waiuku, and they tell me they cannot interfere with his own arrangements. Your Taranaki accounts have come back today approved, for £508.8.8, advanced to you by Mr.Halse when you went down at the time of Rawiri's death --- but Cooper sent them up very incomplete as far as the sub vouchers are concerned --- I expect they will have to be got bye and bye, when the accounts are passed. The trial of the European is looked for with some interest, but I am in hopes with care that the natives will quietly yield. Before you leave Wellington would you be kind enough to settle with Joseph Tom for a Plough sent down to Moananui which I ordered at your request I am under the impression that I made out a set of Vouchers for it and left with Carkeek --- if not it may be convenient to you to settle with him yourself. The William Denny came in this morning --- but we have not heard any news of importance --- The Election for Supt. is likely to be well contested. Kind regards to Strang McInnes is well --- but I don't think he likes office work. Yours faithfully, H. T. Kemp