11 October 1876 Glenorchy My dear Donald It is some time now since I wrote you altho I had two letters written to send you sometime ago on the pleasure it gave me that you were about to retire from your very worrying and arduous task. This Session has crowned all former one with usless and meaningless worey and anoyance and I do not wonder at you now being sick and weary of it. I hope that your illness is not much and that you will soon recover but in my view of the matter if the country could do without you it is high time you took some recrieation to yourself and came up here for a time free of the tramels of thought for the state and recruit strength and vigour for what may be expected if you retire. On this point I wrote Douglas before telling him to acquent you of my views as I did not want to tell yourself till I could see what course you would take. He did not receive my letter till he arrived at Napier so he had no chance. He is now with me and a great pleasure to me as now through care and cold watter & kerrosine his knee is nearley well and for the last few days we are able to go about. As to station matters Douglas will gave you all the news I can onley add that the season was good for lambing and good and juditicous management will leave one of the best percentages for years. What was docked down the plains left som[e]what like 97 1/2 but all this you will get from Archy who so far has done his utmost for your interest in everyway and it gaves me great pleasure to see things going on so well in every branch about the place. So far we have had a very dry Spring and very high scorching N.Westerly winds that dryed up the pas[t]ure very much but I hope we will soon have rain to counteract the effects of the wind. A great many are of oppinion if you retire it cannot be for long as things with the natives will go to the bad. Dolbell was telling me that you were very courteous and nice to him when he was at Wellington he could tell you a true statement of the feelings of the most of the people in his districk. I can onley say that the natives according to my observation are in a rather peculiar state at preasant. If the House would only strive to put down the members of the repudiation movement they would be doing the country some good in place of talking lies and bosh. I cannot understand how people can put trust in Sir George Grey. In my oppinion he wants war of races again and black distruction to the country. This everlasting rights of the people what is to or what does he mean by it. Certainly not the good of the country. His telegram home cannot be looked on from a sane mind. I hope this will find you quite restored to health and that I may soon see the Session over & you up here. Yours affectionately Archibald John McLean PS. You say you are not to be interfeared with in your plans as regards making a provision for your sisters. I can only say I would be very sorry to interfear with any of your plans as regards them or have I ever offered to do so. How could I till I could have in my power to offer something for there advantage which at the preasant day I am sorry to say I have not in my power. If I had I would not be backward in doing my part any way I could. It is to bad to blame me for things I am not quilty of and I certainly feel it very much indeed. When you wrote me that letter you must have had very gross information about me respecting my dear sister. Depend upon it my earnest wish that she should be happy and it is a blessing for herself in one way she came out here as her health has much improved since she came. Mr Strang was very anxious for her to go with him to Wellington. Kind old man, he asked me my oppinion but I told him I had none to offer till I h[e]ard from you. I left her intirely to her own judgment on that point. No doubt it would be a good thing for him to have her to look after his house and she is very willing to go herself. He has taken a very great interest in her however both the Catherines live very agreeable together so far whatever they may do afterwards. A J McL