Whanganui 13th Octr. 1855 My Dear McLean I was not aware till I received your kind letter by yesterdays post that you were still at New Plymouth, and altho the worst correspondent possible I now take up the pen to send you the news of this place. In the first place we are most anxious to have you down here for a short time to settle a dispute about a boundary line which the natives have left to your Arbitration, that is the public, but your own old friends wish to see you for your own sake, but I much fear from your not having said any about coming this way that we have little chance of seeing you at this time, I missed you by only a few days in Novr. last at Wellington, I lived during my stay with Mr. Strang, who's kindness I can never forget, he promised to pay us a visit during the summer but something always came in the way to prevent him, I promised to send one of my son's to Manwatu to meet him, and help him to cross the river's, and from what I hear he will make an attempt this summer. Dr. Robertson who is quartered here at present tells me your little boy was well when he heard last from Wellington. Your stock of horse's is fast on the increase, you have six head here and the maid is expected to foal in a short time, the old mare had a narrow escape soon after the earthquake John found her on her back in a small crack and unable to rise, she had been in this state for nearly ten days, she is recovered, but I do not think she is in foal this season. We had two marriage's on tuesday last of rather a singular kind, the Father and daughter married to the brother and sister, Mr. and Miss Powel to Mr. and Miss Porter, it will be rather an odd relationship when the young Powel's and Porters make their appearance, This place is going fast a head as the Yankee's say, the population, including the Rangatike is upwards of eleven hundred and the little town is much increased in size, Taylor and Watt have build an immense store nothing like it on this side of Auckland and they have three vessels running between this and Sydney and the country is beginning to have a more cultivated appearance tho nothing like Taranaki. remember me to all old friends and believe me ever Most sincerely yours W. Campbell