Shag Valley 13 Novr 1875 My dear McLean I sent you a telegram this morning saying I was going to stand for this District, and asking you to write a line to Taiaroa and Matiaha Tiramouhu so that they might tell the Kaik people to help & vote. The district has always been very provincialist, and it is chiefly on account of George McLean having broken his promises that many of his friends & supporters of last year now want me to stand. He pledged himself not to vote for Abolition unless certain things were first done, and some of his chief Committee men are thoroughly disgusted with him in consequence of his going the whole hog at the Session: so that they say if they are to have an Abolition Member thay had much rather it was me. I hear that one of the Provincial Executive named Green is going to stand, but though the feeling in favour of provincialism is still very strong & he might beat McLean on that platform, he would have no chance against me. Still every vote is a vote, and as there are a good many natives on the roll they must not be neglected: about a couple of dozen of them voted for George McLean last year. and that alone turned the scale and gave the majority. I wish you would let Young the Interpreter come down for a few days bye & bye. You may depend upon it that most of the Otago Seats will be very strongly tried for by the Provincial party, and Ministers must do as the Government in England does, and lend their weight and influence in the fight. I think you knew I meant to have gone home this year; but affairs are so serious and we are all so interested in the final settlement of the ''Big Question,'' that I have decided not to go yet. Believe me ever yours F.D. BELL Hon. Sir D. McLean K.C.M.G.