Government House, New Zealand, Decr, 10, 1871 My dear McLean, I find that the "Luna" will not be here till tomorrow, so we could not start for Picton etc. till Tuesday as she is wanted to take the Attorney Genl. to Napier on Thursday. Lady Bowen wd. have to cross Cook's Straits in days; which she naturally objects to do, as she suffers so much at sea. Besides I find that we cannot possibly visit Blenheim, Havelock etc. - in less than a week. Moreover, the English Mail and Col. Feilding will probably arrive this week. On the whole, I have determined to defer my promised visit to Marlborough, the only Province I have not yet visited, till the beginning of next month, say about the 10th January. By that time, the "Luna" will have taken the Attorney General to Napier, the telegraph poles to Tauranga, and the Vogels to Auckland; so I request you to arrange that she may then be at my disposal for a week for my official visit to Marlborough. Ever yours very truly, G.F. Bowen The Honble Donald McLean, C.M.G.