21 August 1866 Glenorchy My dear Donald I take up my pen to write you a few lines as I expect you will expect me to gave what news is current. Certainly I do not hear much of that but at times I come to hear of things that I consider you should know. In the first place I am happy to say that we are all quite well and that Catherine is got quite strong again. Hoping this may find you the same. There is great speculation about the anxation question and hopes that you may succeed. A.G. Carlyon was here on Sunday and he was very loud in praise of all your doing in general and gave me a great deal of news if true that is right for you to know. He stated that certain parties are in treaty to have an accomodation house put up on native land about the end of Brown's boundary and from what he said I think Brown and some of his friends are the movers in it and of course if so that will take a large share from your's but I am certain if you could get a respectable party to gave you rent for your house and have it oppened as soon as possible it would stope that, and Carlyon says the same. It is the lack of accomodation at preasant that causes the cry out and the very slovenly way John keeps the place. At all events he will not answer you. To trust from matters that have transpired lately I have lost all faith in him and wife which I will not trouble you with till we meet as you have plenty to think about in other matters but it will be well to be on the look out for a tennant for the house. Indeed the man that is building it might answer if he would gave you good rent. He is I think more to be relyed on than John. Of course I have never been near the place or mentioned a word to anyone on the subject or to Walker. I only suggest the thing to you. Alexr tells me he has got all the place through the Court but Roys Hill but he says that will be all right and I hope it may but from the way Carlyon spoak I think there is someone working some underhand way to get a piece of it for an accomodation house and he put me on my g[u]ard as he said the parties were speaking to him about it but would not name them just at preasant. Indeed it is very hard to know who to depend upon. The grass is beginning to spring but we had a great deal of frost. I have sowen 150lb of good clover seed and it came up very well but the last three days frost I fear will kill a deal of it. I hope this mail will bring good accounts of dear Douglas. Everything is quite and tame here just now. It is very melancoly about poor Blair. I fear it is more than likely he has foundered in the heavy gales that were about the time he left Waitangie. Poor fellow he was a fast suporter of yours in his own way and a word of condolence from you to his wife will be considered a meritorious act when in distress. I am sorry to hear that good old Mr Strang is getting feble but I hope he will recrute with the season. I gave your man 1 dozen of nice oaks and a dozen of sypresses for his planting and bought some of the same for myself that are doing well. The sheep are looking very well considering the hard season. No more at preasant and hope you will soon be back. Catherine joins me in kind regards to you and Kate. Always your affectionate brother Archibald John McLean