1 November 1861 Maraekakaho My dear Donald Your letter to me date August 3 was handed me by Alex this day refering to the 180 oaks and 200 pines and walnuts. I wrote you already of having received them. They were over a month on the way which dryed them very much up. I need not state that I did everything in my power to save them. I exchanged 6 pines and 3 oaks with Mr Alexander for other trees. Also 6 to Lowrey for which I got a number of nice trees and some oak nuts and pine cones which I hope will replace all that will die of the Auckland plants. A number of the oaks that I thought was dead are now springing from the roots. I also got from Mr Ormond 250 blue gum plants for 5 of the pines which all died with him and all the blue gums are living. I wished I had exchanged more of the pines for more than the half will die. After all my trouble I find the only way is to rise the plants myself from seed. I was very much disapointed that Alex did not bring me some blue gum seed from Auckland for I wrote you 6 weeks ago and 24 days ago to be shure and send me some but he says you did not get my letter. I have got a number of Lowtana young plants about 50 of them are doing well also a number of matie & white pine plants out of the bush with several other valuable New Zealand young plants and put them in the gardin in a bed to be ready to transplant next year. About 3 of them are looking well so that if the English pines, ealms, ash and oak & seeds I got will grow I will have plenty of plants next year but I would like if their was any more blue gums seed to be had good in Auckland that you would send me some. If I get it in December it will do altho two late. I have a little but very little that I got from Mr Lowrey and the plants are coming up now and will be ready to plant out in March next. I am thankful to think that there is a likeyhood of a piece among the natives it would be in dreadful thing for us all of a general war was to commence. I do trust that will not be the case. The natives here are pritty quite but some of them are very bounable [?] however I hope they will soon become to see better and these things will go on well between both races. The judge seems to have very clear views of the way that land ought to be leaced or hired from the Maories. I would like to see his plans adoppted very much. I dare say he will write them all down for the Governor's inspection as well as yourself so I need not mention them here. He seems a very nice man. Mr Strang and him enjoyed there visit up here very much but I am sorry to say the weather was very bad raining all the time. Poor old gentleman was beaming with delight that he was able to come so far and appeared pleased with all he saw. The Maid of Islay was in the padock with her fold & he was so pleased to see her in such good condition. I would have been so pleased had he time to remain for a few days but busness would not allow him but he said he would come when you would come down if you brought Douglas with you you [crossed out] and stay for a month. Really he is a fine old man and completely adores you. He was in a great way to here how you and Sir George Grey got in. Everything is looking beautiful in the country at preasant and very well here the sheep are in excelent condition. You speak about expences. I have done all I can to keep them down and you will find that out at the year's end. Certainly there was a few things got for the house that could not well be dispenced with in the way of furnature which will not be wanted again. Catherine is very proud of her mare. She will be sent to the horse in a day or two. I have sent you the diary for August which I hope you have got. I now send you September. Sunday 1 Fine weather & calm. Monday 2 Fine weather. Employed sowing grass seed. Self went to Napier to see brother Alex on busness before going to Auckland. Tuesday 3 Showery weather. Killed a Poverty Bay steer 490lb. Came home from port. Found the men employed as above. Wednesday 4 Fine weather. Putting in grass seed & harrowing. Thursday 5 Fine weather. Employed as yesterday. Self gardining. Friday 6 Good weather. Employed plowing. Self & boy Jim [?] picking potatoes for seed. Saturday 7 Fine day. Employed planting potatoes. Sunday 8 Pleasant weather all through Monday 9 Grass sowing oats. Self and one man digging ground for trees. Tuesday 10 Employed sowing grass and harrowing it. Self gardining grafting fruit trees. Wednesday 11 Fine weather. Employed the dray after fire wood. Self hauling gravel with horse & cart for Walker. Thursday 12 Employed picking potataoes. Self & boy went to Mr Ormond's for 400 blue gum plants etc. Friday 13 Employed planting blue gums. Old Archy in the bush. Stock boy after a stray cow. Saturday 14 Fine weather. Employed planting blue gums. Put in 124. Old Archy in bush. Sunday 15 Fine weather and sultry. Maorie dogs in sheep. Killed 2 sheep and one of the dogs. Monday 16 Fine weather. Went to the bush to count timber and found the natives burned a number of our posts. Tuesday 17 Fine weather. Went to the bush with the dray and commeced hauling out posts to safe them from being burned. Wrote brother Donald. Wednesday 18 Rainy weather. The dray at the bush. Self and man planting blue gums. Put in 100. Thursday 19 Fine weather. The dray at the bush hauling out timber. Self sowing clover seed over the hills. Paid of[f] James Baldwin for 11 days work @ 3/- per day 33/-. Friday 20 Fine weather. Employed rolling the grass on padock. Mr Lowry sent for me to call on him. Went over. Saturday 21 Employed rolling padock. Mr Lowrey came over with to see the place and gave me some tree seeds & a few plants in payment for 3 oaks and 3 pines. Sunday 22 Fine weather. Mr Lowrey with us. Monday 23 Fine weather. Employed rolling padock. Mr Lowrey went home. Self mending fence etc Tueday 24th Employed as yesterday. One man in gardin. Self went to the bush. Wednesday 25 Employed rolling the padock. Self sowing some pine seeds, oaks, ealms, ash etc. Wrote brother Donald. Thursday 26th Fine weather. The boy after the mears. Old Archy making yocks. Self and man at work planting trees and digging. Friday 27 Rainy weather. Employed one man in gardin. Boy after the horses. Killed a Poverty Bay steer. 645lb. Saturday 28 Dray after fire wood. Self employed sowing grass seed on the hills. Sunday 29th Fine weather throughout. Monday 30th Employed hauling timber out the bush. Posts from bush in readyness for a dividing. So end this month. I will send you October's diary in another letter. Hoping this will find you & Douglas quite well. I remain your affectionate brother Archibald John McLean