4 May 1873 Maraekakaho My dear brother I received yours of the 14 April and glad to hear you were all well. Everything hear is doing well but fearfull wet. It puts a stop to a great deal of work such as fencing and carrying timber. The grasseed is all sown and looks well except 8 bags that was let of comeing which will be sown tomorow. This season is much in its favour. I wish their was as much more. The stock looks well. A touch of foot rot among the wethers. The Akitio cattle stops well at the back and doing well and a great deall of good to the country. Old Campbell is making a nursery for his seeds. He is not abble to do much poor old man but what he does is well done from what I can se. He is much pleased with the soil. Poor Pa[o]ra Noi Noi died last Wednesday. No more of him. I am afraid his daughter will be giving some trouble. She has her husband with her from Poverty Bay. Poor old Pa[o]ra kept them a little in order altho laid up. Ihaka is not well. I must se them in a few days. I sent a few sheep and some sugar down when Pa[o]ra died. I should like to have a run up to Auckland as in another six weeks their will be a lot of planting going on such as willows and other kinds. It is dull hear at present and I want a change for a week or to. I have some honey to send to Wellington and a good number of turkeys which will be in good in good condition in a month or six weeks time. I wonder I don't hear from Douglas. Tell him to write. Hopeing you are all well and to hear from soon. Allways Alexander McLean PS. The Hereford cattle is a fatening animal but more active then the Short Horn. I never knew them to be subject to go wild in bushes but they will faten where the Short Horn will not. Allways Al McLean