Auckland Jany. 25th 1860 My dear Mr. McLean, I again write to you with great pleasure, and hope this will find you greatly recovered from your late illness. Altho' I am afraid that your health has been greatly chatered - But I sincerely hope to see you perfectly recovered, and as well, as you were before - Dr.Wilson of Taranaki is here - and from him I heard, that very probably you will have to leave New Zealand for the benefit of your health. A Mr.Osmond Lewis has called at the office two or 3 times to hear of your whereabouts - he has letters for you from England - from your Aunt - and he was also asking for your Brothers - He said something about going to the south - I send a he left at the office - You will see that one of the letters addressed to you was opened - It was opened by Mr. Smith in my presence, and I sealed it up immediately - Mr.Smith thought it was to him from you, written in a hurry - Mr.Rogan is at present at Kaipara - with £1200. The affair between te Tirarau and Paikea has come to a crisis - which will soon be decided whether it is peace or war with them - Te Tirarau and Parore have built their pa's already Mr.H.Atkins and Te Tirarau have requested the Governor to send H.M.S.Niger to protect them, and prevent the threatening war - which I think if it once breaks out, will not be easily quelled for there is a ''Ngakaumate'' in the case as well as the alleged 'take' - And another thing also - Te Tirarau has requested the Governor to send the Ngatiwhakane back to Rotorua - for he says - that he does not know their intentions or thoughts - he's partly afraid of their joining the Uriohau - and that '''' is not yet out of the memory of the Ngatiwhakane - Mr. Parris was written to to commence the survey of Te Teira's land at Waitara - and if W.Kingi interfered, he (Mr. Parris) was to call the Military to his assistance, and survey the Block under Military protection. If W. Kingi carries out his intentions (opposing) it will try the 'King' question. If the King party sides with W.King - It will become very popular with the majority of the Waikato people - and some 'parekareka' for the 'Tamariki tane' - This letter is from the Minister for Nat. Affairs - Sometime next month, there will be a great meeting at Nga-rua-wahia of the ''King's'' people - Mr. Halse asked me if I would like to go to it, if he could get me out of the office - I told him, with great pleasure (I am to take notes of the proceedings) - Mr. Bell has been to Poverty Bay to settle the old land claims - one of Mr. Baker's Brothers was Interpreter (an extra clerk in our office) instead of Mr. White (who was at Piako) The Natives disputed all the claims! The ground of dispute was this, that Kahutia had no right to sell the Land, which Kahutia admitted - and yet his authority was never disputed before - for the last 15 years past - It was Kahutia who could sell the Timber off the Land! - They all charge Kahutia with scheming to get the Land back from the Europeans - And Mr.Bell says - that if he had Mr.White as Interpreter, he would have done justice to the Turanga settlers - The Turanga settlers are now saying that they are - Dear Sir, I hope you will not think me in writing thus to you - but knowing you would like to hear what is going on in this part of ''Aotea-roa'' - has emboldened me to write all that I think would interest you - altho' abruptly - Douglas was on the beach a few days ago and cut his foot - it was rather a 'nasty' one, but thanks to Bishop Selwyn and Dr.Stratford, it is now quite well (or nearly so) - he has been spending a fortnight with Mrs.Burrows - very much to his delight - while Mr. and Mrs.Kingdon were at St.John's Colledge - Mrs.Burrows asked me to send her compliments to you when I wrote - Douglas will soon want a 'refit' as he has out-grown all his clothes - He wonders how Aunt Jessie is? - And when she is coming to see him! - I hope Sir, you were not vexed with my last letter, for on second thoughts it was rather - Mr.Bell's youngest daughter died last week - and the Revd.Mr.Lloyd has 3 of 5 children dead! - from Dyphthaeria - I remain Yours ever to command James Fulloon Mr.Cameron has not been able to sell the poney - It is graizing at Otahuhu - All the grass round about Auckland has been parched up by the sun - And a great many of the never failing wells are dry! - Now is the time to sink a well for your House - the charges are for the first 20 feet 2/6d per foot - 3/6d p.ft for the next ten feet - and 4/6 p.ft. for the next 10 feet so on - £3.15 to 4. per 1000 bricks - But you would get water at from 30 to 35 feet - It would be very convenient if you have your well sunk under the kitchen and have the water drawn into the kitchen by a pump - which would cost about £5 for the pump and £1 for piping - Now is the best time before the Rain sets in. J.F.