Cashmere - 5th May 1867. My dear McLean, I have lately received a letter from Major Marshall, which leads me to believe that the whole plan of the purchase of the block, respecting which you took so much trouble for me at Wellington, will fall to the ground. A man of the name of Lethbridge who purchased Wilsons land near the Turakina Bridge, is said to have offered £15000 for the Block. Of course if this is a veritable offer of a man who has that sum to pay down and who has 30000£ to apend in immigration, roads etc. bridges, etc. there is an end of the matter as far as I am concerned. Do you remember suggesting to me to go in for a large block a little to the north of Napier, bounded by two Rivers and containing a large quantity of open land, much more so than is usual in the Northern Island. Is this block still available? I mean have the natives entered into any engagements to part with it to any particular person. Let me have an answer from you as soon as possible, giving me all the information as to its position physically and also with reference to Native difficulties the soil, climate and etc.; and I will then determine whether I will come up and look at the Block. You know my views so well that I need not sit up at this late hour of the night (the mail closes tomorrow in Christchurch very early) to recapitulate what I have so often told you in conversationn in conversation - and so I will conclude by subscribing myself. Yours very sincerely, J. Cracroft Wilson By the way have you heard any thing more of the Muriomutu Plains which are said to belong to the putiki natives, but which as you told me were only to be approached from Napier. I presume that we meet at Phillippi on the 29th June.