Wellington, 3rd. March, 1857. Dear McLean, I received only a few days ago your letter of the 21st. of January. I have been much amused at the gradual development of the circumstances connected with the Chilman case at Taranaki, and at the way in which the cat came out of the bag; I have also been much gratified to find that Mr. C. Brown has received the just reward of his envy, hatred and uncharitableness. I was quite a thorn in his side throughout that affair in the Assembly and succeeded in checkmating him in the House of Rs. I dare say he little thought that I should ever see his allusion to me in the "Taranaki Herald" but I have been on the lookout for it. I am quite sure that he put me on that Committee because he thought I was an easy-going customer who would let him do as he liked, but in this he was slightly mistaken. I was much disgusted at the unmanly and very un-English conduct of several of the Members in their endeavours to gratify personal spite, and there are some of mine not very far off, for whom I trust a day of reckoning is yet in store and at no very distant date. Every conceivable kind of lie has been had resourse to, to damage me in the estimation of the settlers, and I suppose I shall some day receive a numerously-signed requisition to resign from the small farmers in Wairarapa; but I have an answer ready for it. The Prov. Govt. and Messrs. Revans and Pharazyn have had active agents at work for some time past. I hear Ligar is appointed R. Magistrate and Commissioner for Hawke's Bay, a good man I should think. You talk of a second Commissioner for the Province; if Cooper will not take the office, I cannot think of any one in these parts qualified for it. If something does not turn up soon to put a stop to the spirit of aggrandisement of our Provincial Rules and their Yankee attempt to make the Gen. Govt. succumb to the Provinces, the Government of the Colony will be brought into a condition of great confusion. I often see your little boy, he seems quite strong and hearty and not a little sunburnt. Believe me to remain, Yours very Truly, J. Valentine Smith.