Nelson 29th May 1858 My dear McLean, I had this pleasure at considerable length on the 15th Feby. which I trust reached you in due course. I was in expectation that our Representatives would have gone up to the Assembly in March, but some resigned, and others agreed to remain at home, reckoning that a sufficient number of Members would not attend to make a House, and that a General Election would be the consequence. If the seat of Government is not removed to a more central spot, it will be almost impossible to get a Member residing in the Southern provinces to leave his private affairs, and go so far from home as Auckland to attend his Legislative duties --- Whatever changes take place in this respect, the principal Native Department must however remain in the North, and be with a large Military force, domiciled there also --- I expect that Stafford will be greatly annoyed at some of his Members from this, not going up to support him? He has now however got Dr. Monro in the room of Mr. Elliott, and Mr. Weld for the Wairau to replace Mr. Wells, these with Mr. Purvis and Domett and for the Major Richmond are all the Members who now go from this pr. "Gil Blas". Mr. Travers I presume sending up his resignation --- I am told there is a disposition, when a vacancy occurs to place me again for the but as I am now getting the best thing I can do is to remain quietly at home with my and the more especially as I now find it a great bore having to attend our own little peddlington Council. Soon after writing you in February, James's appointment as assistant Native Secretary at the Diggins, came to hand; and much reason to be grateful to you, for this mark of your confidence in recommending him to such an office, believing that he will do his best to fill it satisfactorily --- The public (difficult wretches generally to please) seem satisfied with the appointment, and say that the right man for this particular duty, has for once been put in the right place --- I am sure James will do his best to give your Department every information and that regularly, and if his Journey should not be quite in or if there is any other thing you will very much oblige me by writing him wherein he --- James had business to bring him over here beginning of the Month, when I saw his Journal for April before it was forwarded, and until then I had no idea that his time was so fully occupied, and he is put to considerable expense in consequence, without even an allowance for stationery and postages and in order to show you what the public at Collingwood think of his remuneration and duties, I enclose herewith an extract from one of our local papers on the subject, and I am sure you will excuse my bringing this so prominently before your notice, doing so because it affects me, as well as him, he being obliged to get another man (a third) upon the Run (the nearest point of which is nine miles from Collingwood, with two tidal miles in the way which must be taken at low water to cross on horseback) this extra hand with so proximate to the diggings, and rations takes a good out of our wool money --- Major Richmond has volunteered to speak to His Excellency, and yourself, on the subjects of James' salary. He almost requires two Horses to accomplish safely what he has got to do, and his Takaka visits alone occupy him 3 days from Collingwood in the very finest of weather --- Mr. Domett will also most likely speak to you about him, and from what he told me would like the appointment of warden of the Goldfields joined to the Assistant Native Secretaryship and for the two appointments give a good Salary --- It should be a better Salary than Mr. Goulands, who has a etc., and has no occasion to go on business beyond his own office door, is no favorite with the Maories, and is unacquainted with their language etc. etc. Dr. Monro and Mr. Weld were both over at our diggins, but did not see James, as he was in Nelson at the time --- I may here notice that James has never got a single farthing for his Explorations --- When Mr. Macfarlane and Mr. Low came on in the "Henry", and waited for you for some days, we were greatly disappointed at your not coming over in the "Wonga Wonga" to pay us a visit on your way to Auckland, but business detained you, and soon after I noticed your arrival and Mrs. Gascoynes in the North --- By the by, Miss Gascoyne was married on the 21st current to John Greenwood, and a very quiet affair I expect it was as we have heard but little about it --- Tudor was not asked to officiate and Archdeacon Paul being away at Canterbury, they had to get the Revd. Mr. Poole from the Waimea to tie the knot --- Annie who is sitting by my side begs to be kindly remembered with me to Mrs. Gascoyne and tell her also that Edmund Davidson has not yet come up from the South to claim her hand --- also that all our friends on the Davidson side of the family in Bengal, have been most mercifully preserved during the whole of the Mutiny --- I am in town today to dine at the Sinclairs (Mansons birthday) and the beg to join me, with all my own in every kind wish for your welfare and happiness and I am My dear McLean, Yours very sincerely, James Mackay. I had almost omitted to say that James has a hankering to again visit the West Coast in Spring. Can it be arranged to let him go and settle the native reserves at Arahura, and during his absence I will for him at the Diggings? Whilst I think of it, please say to Mrs. Gascoyne that a Colonel and Mrs. Cantley (Bengal Service) arrived here the other day, and I believe the Col. (who is a brother of Cantley who was here) was in the same Regiment as my uncle who gave Mrs. C. away when married. Having only just come in Town I have not yet called on them but they are to be at Major Richmonds on Monday, so when he reaches Auckland your Cousin will get all the news from him --- I cannot meet them on that day, as I must be at the Farm --- Since writing the foregoing I have heard that James has been at Motueka on some Maori business --- which no doubt he will acquaint you with ---