Ahuriri, Novr. 19th. 1859 My dear McLean, A great number of your friends here, myself among the number, wd. gladly see you their future Superintendent, but as no one knows whether you wd. be inclined to accept, no steps have as yet been taken in the matter. I feel quite sure that if you wd. stand, there wd. be no opposition. The other candidates talked of for the office, are Newman and Tiffin, and by a very, very, few Cooper. Of these the latter wd. have no chance at all, nor wd. either of the others if a man like yourself wd. come forward. As you know them both you must know also as well as myself that neither of them is the kind of man we want and that the New Province will start under great disadvantages if we have to elect one of them as a dernier resort which if you decline will be the case. Will you send me a line on the subject. I intend seeing Gollan and others on my way home. Of course anything you might write need go no further, nor, if you are inclined to do so shd. the fact that you wd. stand be mentioned until such a requisiti as wd. ensure your return was signed. We are anxiously looking for the Gazette containing the Electoral divisions - on it, in a great measure will depend (particularly inland) what men are returned, and now for the present - good bye - Always, Yours very sincerely, J. D. Ormond