Wellington June 21 1864 My dear McLean You will see I have concluded the purchase of the Upper Manawatu Block for £12000. I go up to pay the money as soon as the Council breaks up, which will probably be in three weeks. John Mason and Herawanui are urgent for the completion of the purchase of their lands in the 40 Mile Bush - Will you meet them in Sept. or Octr. - fix yr own time and place but pray enable me to tell them at once when and where. Its all the same to me. I never felt so confident of the peace of this Province - When the troops approach the Patea River they may meet with resistance but scarcely before. I have sent a letter to Miss Rye which please forward, in case she has left Napier. I dont approve of the Commissioners Ships and high charges, but am prepared to a very limited extent and under certain stringent conditions to try the experiment - Most of the Females will be under age. How can they give promissory Notes? Shaw Savill and Co contract for £13.10. Miss Rye talks of £18. As for their morality the Commissioners Ship will be at any time with (word indecipherable) Vessels. I regard Cabin Passengers and young Married Couples as a sort of Police over the single Females and Crew of the ship. I have seen the notes and survey of yr run - there will besome 3000 or 4000 acres not applied for, and very tempting to anyone disposed to extort. So you had better instruct Hunter to put in an application for it. I am doing the same for 4000 acres. I wonder whether one will ever get out of debt with these compulsory purchases. Yours faithfully I. E. Featherston