29 August [pre late 1873] Maraekakaho My dear Donald I send you up my book and that will show you all the money that went through my hands and the money charged against the men. You will see by the prices that were charged on stores served out to bush people by me the profit arrising from it altho small it always helps to pay of. If I was only to know how all parties about this station were payed or going through my hands your accounts would not be so heavey by a considerable deal, in fact some people are payed of here without my knowledge or question asked what time they have been at the station and the consequence is you will see by the books all the accounts that are not settled are in that way. This very night Alex told me when I was asking him about a debt that Baker the cook owed me or the station that he gave him £12 cash and £2 clothes and which makes with what he owes the station £9 more than he should have still there is a mare of Baker's here which I will keep. I do wish that if you want matters to be just that you will request of him to render me all the a/cs if I am to keep books otherwise I fear you will be smothed with a fare speach into matters that will come unsufferable in time. I cannot understand what he can mean by hiding all those matters. A fair dealing man could not have any secret to keep from a book keeper. You never will know all till you come here and if you value your own interest as well as all your relations you will not be long in coming here and seeing for yourself. All the natives were here today trying to get a settelment about the plains but we could not come to terms but had matters been properly managed among them hitherto their would not be so much rent to pay and trouble with them. The plains ought to have been rented 8 months ago. It is a crying shame if we lose the plains and let strangers come in. Alex will tell you all the rest about them. There is money to be payed them now and Alex said that he would have to get the balance in Rich's hands. He says he will get Rich to gave 20/- per head for the sheep that he got. If so that is better than I expected and I hope it may be got. You will of course have to wind round him to get at all the money expended. I always in my letters told you I had a plan in my head that would pay you better and gave you less anxiety about the station. If I only had you here for a month I am certain when you would see for yourself you would adopt it but I will not say anything more about it till we meet and for any sake come down if you can