25 March 1863 Maraekakaho My dear Donald Douglas and I got home at dark last night and the dear little fellow was quite delighted. I hope it will do him some good. I am going to gave him some [h]erbe tea to drink for the worms. I gave Alex the order for the sheep and told him about the valueing the 200 that came from Whitmore but he got in a scot about it and swore he would have no humbug with them. Mr Oliver was here gaving up the key and I said he could value them, or any other of the neighbours but he said he would put a stop to it as he was not going to be humbucked. I can not make out his ways at times. He is so unreasonable and to no purpose. Catherine has not come home yet. Mr Lowrey was over here before I came home wanting to see me and he invited Miss McDougall to go over their and said he would come for her. Shall we let her go. I dread the idair. She will do us no good in this plase. I do believe it is far better to send her home or let her go to Otago and do as she pleases. I want to get her out of Alex way. Ormond has bought 124 acres from Mr Lowrey and he came here to see if I would let him stay at the whary till he built his house on it. I will let him do so for six months and no longer as by that time we may want the wharie. He says that every thing will go on well with you and that all your arrangements will gave publick satisfaction which I have every reason to believe it will. You had better write me when you want to remove Mrs Campbell and family, and him and her can have the gig and the children can come up with the dray. I hope to have you up for a week after the Council is over. Take care that you will have me registered on the list of voter before the time expires. You know this month perhaps I will have to go and bring Catherine home. I am going to flit to Ormonds tommorrow if all goes well and have old Kate here till the young one comes home. Always your affectionate brother Archibald John McLean