Auckland Jan. 8th./72 My dear Gisborne, The Nebraska is in at last just as everybody was giving her.up. Vogel will go on by her I think altho he was hesitating when I saw him an hour ago whether he wd. not wait for the Hero. However Webb will press him to go and it is better he should. I have just lately telegraphed you things are going on tolerably satisfactorily. Today I have written Brogden requesting him to proceed with the portion of the Auckland to Waikato Railway nearest Auckland i.e. from Fort Brittomart to Newmarket. What is known as the Tunnel line (the old line) has been adopted. This enables Brogden to commence work which was necessary as he was getting very fidjetty. On Thursday I go to Bay of Islands with Brogden, Gillies, Whittaker, Henderson, and Carruthers to settle about Kawakawa Railway and Coal Mine. Gillies of course goes as Super, Whittaker acting for Coal Mine Co. All parties seem disposed to be reasonable so that I hope to arrange satisfactorily. Brogden is not unlikely to treat with the Company. Whilst at the North I shall try and see about Roads north of Auckland Mr. Marsden Clark is there I believe. Captain Turner the Taranga Engineer is here. It is high time the Bay of Plenty Roads were looked after. Turner I think a good man but as long as he can get authority to make Roads he cares little where they lead to. No end of Dray roads entirely useless were being commenced. I have gone carefully over the whole and will give definite instructions before he returns. What I have learnt with respect to Tauranga Roads makes me anxious to visit other localities as soon as possible. It is a great pity the Luna was not sent up here so that Tauranga and other places north of Auckland to which steamers do not go could have been visited. Brogden wd. have gone to Tauranga if there had been means of transit and some arrangement might have been made with him for settling some of the Tauranga lands. By the by I find on enquiry that Halcombe's. estimate of Land available for settlement between Tauranga and Kati-kati is largely in excess. From Turner and other sources I gather that 20,000 acres is the outside acreage at all fit for settling people upon and even that depends upon whether or not a block of 20,000 acres reserved for University is given up for that purpose. It is fortunate we did not send Fielding there. I recd. your Telegram about purchasing Native Land etc. and will do all I can - Gillies is not at all anxious to have land purchased or to have settlement go on but he does not say so directly. Vogel and I have agreed that if any valuable Blocks are offered that I shall buy even altho' the Super. does not request. The Kaipara Railway I take over shortly - before doing so Gillies has to satisfy me that the £25,000 for Harbour is secured for that object. The Gold Fields water supply and other matters I will attend to as soon as I can get time - there is a great deal to do here. The work Carruthers has before him will occupy not far short of two months. Can he be spared for so long? I have telegraphed to Halcombe to come up to help me at Office Work, he can whilst here get up information as to Immigrant matters and do the same at Tarranaki on return and so far as I can judge there is nothing very pressing requiring him at Wellington. I hope to be done here within a month from the time I arrived and shall go next to New Plymouth. The greatest pest one has to deal with are the people wanting offices and other considerations - that sweep Farnall has to be sent home or otherwise got rid of. I don't like it but after full consideration Vogel and I have determined it is the best thing to do. He wants to be sent home as Birch from Otago was to act as sub Immigration officer. Featherstone will not like so many of these people being thrown upon him in the case of Farnall if we get rid of him he must take his chance of Featherstone employing him when he gets home. Sheehan Prov. Treas. will probably get in in Farnalls place and is said to be favourable to us. John Williamson and others are pressing for something to be done for them but I have not time to tell you more. Kelly of Taranaki was written that Titokowaru and people are returning to the Coast. McLean ought to hear of this as soon as possible and take such steps as he thinks necessary. What about the survey of the Waitara Railway. W. Blackett wrote some time ago that you were trying to arrange to send an Engineer there - let me hear by first opportunity what you have done - if you have not taken any step let me know and I will endeavour to get Carruthers to arrange. Gillies asked me to write you that he wishes Gold Mining Act to be brought into operation and at same time he wants delegation of powers so as to except same blocks. He says you know what he means. The mail is closing and I have not time for more. Please let Fox and McLean know how things are going on here and believe me Yours always, J.D. Ormond. Nebraska goes in this evening Vogel goes by her.