New Plymouth, 19th Jany., 1857. My dear Son, As we did not hear from you by the last steamer we conclude you were not in Auckland when she left. I have not written for the two or three last mails, not wishing to tell good news by halves, now I am thankful to say we can tell it by wholesale. James Ritchie declares, that in all his Polling experience in Scotland he never knew such a complete defeat as that gained by Mr. Cutfield on Wednesday last --- the Papers and Mr. Wilson will be able to tell you more about it than I possibly can; we women folks went in to town by the score, and took up our station at Mrs. Lakemans new store just opposite to the Hustings which had been provided by Mrs. Cutfield for our accommodation, and where Tea, Coffee, Lemonade and all kinds of sweets and cakes with abundance of Bread and Butter of first rate quality was also provided to sustain our vigor and strength to enable us to manfully wave our white Handkerchiefs, and True Blue ribbons when the good little man was formally announced by Mr. Flight to have gained the Honorable position of Superintendent and you may easily suppose how sincerely and joyfully the True Blues manifested our thankfullness and happiness at the termination of the struggle --- for had the gained the day New Plymouth would indeed have then been brought to the lowest pitch of misery --- on the nomination day we could clearly see how things were likely to go --- but still I could not help having my doubts owing to the tricks played last election --- the complete defeat this time only proves, that we should have gained the day the last time, had it not been for that little Billy (?) Wicksteed --- both days were very windy so that we Ladies could not hear the speeches, and it was well for Charles Brown, and may be for my own respectability also that I did not hear the Monkeys remarks about you, for I feel quite sure that I could not have stood it, I should either have answered him or else thrown the first thing I could have laid hold of with the hope of giving him a good hard hit so as to have marked him for life --- as to marks, he has more than can ever be washed out at least in New Plymouth. It is singular to trace all the doings, and ultimate defeat of this now broken up "Clique" --- they started (one may say on the high road to ruin) with the avowed determination to worm out all the Government officers, the only one they succeeded in so doing was Cooper and he has got a better situation --- all the others, instead of having to go, are more firmly fixed --- then they thought in their folly when the New Governor came they would try their hands at plucking out an old or two!! now won't they for the rest of their lives remember his Motto!!! --- and after all what have come to? why dwindled down to nothing, and will all go out like the snuff of a candle and this is the more remarkable when we know that three or four of the leading men scoffed at their God. I firmly believe that the hand of Providence so directed it --- may be for the good of their unbelief --- let us pray that they may see it in this light --- one small spark of the candle snuff still remains --- I mean Tom King! whom the Governor has most unfortunately made a Magistrate!! how could he have committed such a mistake --- surely he could never have known the 'Imps' principals? what use can any oath be which is taken either by him or before him --- it will be a complete mockery --- still I am under the same belief as I stated above, that even this is so ordained for some wise end --- yet the appointment of such men as --- young --- and --- is the sure way to bring our Court into disrepute --- the respect for it, must sink, when such men are authorised to administer the Laws --- it is a sad, very sad mistake that the Governor has made --- and we ought to pray he may not make any more equally against the interest of this Province --- although we have gained a great deal by upsetting the clique --- we have lost most awfully by this error Flight and Ritchie are very much vexed at it. The election for the council Members for the Town took place yesterday when Humphries Watt --- Sharland and Gledhill --- were the lucky men --- all very good except Watt, but there is no keeping that man out, he will manage to get in every where --- he has the power to turn and twist himself to any shape --- consequently can please all except your old Mother nor is it likely he ever will --- Today is the nomination for the 'Grey and Bell' 15 are to start for the race --- time will show who will win --- next Friday and Saturday is for the Omata --- after that no doubt Cutfield will begin business --- I could fill a sheet were I to note all C. Browns shameful tricks but as Flight said last evening "Peace to the departed" still I must mention his last act, which was sending the surveyors to cut the road through Captain King's grounds, this road you must remember was one given up long ago, but renewed by C.B. out of mere spite to the old gentlemen --- it is a road which passes close to the House and through the back yard --- it would be of no use, and there are two other roads on the same line within a quarter of a mile of each other --- had he been re-elected he would have persevered with the annoyance, and now it is left for Cutfield to countermand it thereby enduceing some to say that he favours his Brother in Law --- I sincerely pity his wife, but we feel none for him, he having brought all the evil upon himself by his own selfish and spiteful feelings --- Too much paper has already been spent upon so worthless a subject. You will no doubt hear of Mr. Taylors visit to this Province accompanied by John Williams --- Abraham --- and George King for the purpose of talking 'Ihaia' into peace --- but he would not listen to them, nor would he allo them to visit Katatore --- so that the Parson has left us looking very "Dark" --- the intention, no doubt was very good, but he could not flatter himself that he had sufficient influence to effect what so many of higher standing had failed in --- The death of poor old Adam Clark is more likely to do something in this way than all that Taylor could possibly manage. By a letter lately received from Mr. Henry we were all happy to hear such good accounts of dear little Douglas Donald --- the old gentleman adds "he is abundantly mischievious () and is of course a great to his Grandpapa. I often wish New Plymouth was within an hours ride so that his Grandmama Wilson might see him frequently" how often do I wish the same. I feel really grateful to good old Mr. Strang for thus keeping me in the mind of the dear little fellow --- The "Duke" has actually made up his mind to return with Mr. Finlay who is now at Wanganui --- and bring Louisa with them --- they may be here the end of this week. I only wish you could join the party, it is really a hard case you cannot manage to get away for a few days --- I must now end this as the Don says the will be too heavy --- so God bless you my dear son is and ever will be the prayer of your affectionate old Mother H. A. Wilson. I send the 12 reasons published for not returning C.Brown --- No. 7 was a most infamous trick on the Public --- but not known at the time of the Election or else he would have heard of it from the Hustings --- you may remember a quantity of old iron wheels and other bits of useless machinery of his which used to lay on the beach --- this he with with some man at Wellington for an Iron House but said nothing about the transaction to anyone here --- but very quietly lands the Iron House, erects it on the beach nominally as a store and pays himself out of the Provincial Tresury no less a sum than £400!!! this I suppose, he and his chum Chilman, calls honest!!! --- No. 10 refers to his having favoured Mr. Horne notwithstand many complaints made against the street not being opened, while he vexed others by obliging them to open useless streets.