Auckland 14 December 1875 My dear Sir Donald, A Mail leaves today, and drop a few lines; I am (as I always believed) thankful to hear that your Return again for the same Constituency is sure and having gone through another Parliamentary term, you can with comfort, and a permanent and established peace retire on your well earned Honors. I, too, shall in all probability during that time have passed into quiet Retirement and away from the public gaze. My trip to the North was on the whole successful, and today I am informed by Tautari per wire that the Dissentients in the Railway Extension at the Kawa Kawa have yielded upon my assurance that the severance of the allottment in question should be met by fair compensation under the Act. I have already by Wire given you an Idea of how the Elections will go in the North - Native and European - John Betts who is on leave went up to the Bay yesterday - and as he has an approximate idea of the several Relations in which the Hapus and their voters bear towards the Candidates - he has promised to keep me posted - while up there - The White elections will as far as we are at present able to judge will be about evenly balanced - Sheehan is reported as having no chance for Rodney will go in against Kelly East Coast - this is the last idea. Sir George is suffering from reaction and is anything but well. Richardson's Speech has been well received as pointing to the Government policy. Revd. G.M. Reed - E. Star leaves for Otago to conduct a paper - I have managed to be on good terms with this paper - they have been on the whole in their attacks - I think this office is held in good estimation by the Public. Balneavis - Sheriff was here yesterday, and on my suggestion declined to serve a Distress Warrant on Marsh Brown - Damages in the recent Action - I think perhaps he will pay something towards it bye and bye. His general conduct is good and both He and Tautari were thankful for the £100 towards the Public Hall. I hear that young Frazer at Hokianga is to be relieved which is desirable for more reasons than one. Hope this will find you recruiting your health. Rogan is grown very stout and looks well. Believe me Faithfully H. T. Kemp