Dalmuir Hill 30 July My dear McLean I received yours dated 24th July with much pleasure as I was afraid my short epistle might not have reached you as you have been of late such a wanderer in the wilds of New Zealand. I am quite glad to know that although you must have been very much exposed to the inclemency of the weather at times your health has not suffered. I daresay you have been a little annoyed as well as ourselves at being so detained, at least much longer than we anticipated but it is comfortable to know that you are in the way to lift in more ways than one. You must not expect me to write a long letter. The truth is I have got nothing to tell you in the way of news and more important matters must be deferred till you come. We are all well. I have got much stronger myself and as we had some fine frosty weather I was able to get out which did me much good but since such horrid weather has set in that I am a prisoner once more. Today the snow is laying thick on the ground and the wind blows so hard and cold with snow, hail and rain alternately and it is