New Plymouth 19th. September. 1861 Many thanks my dear Son for your truly welcome letter of the 23rd. ult. I had written to you much about the same time so our letters must have crossed each other. In it I expressed myself with the confidence a Mother can do to a Son she loves - and I am highly gratified to find that you feel qual confidence in me - continue to do so - and believe me feel more deeply interested in everything regarding you and yours, than your old Mother - you are perfectly right in saying that she thinks of you - nothing comforts her old heart more than the receipt of such a confiding letter from you as your last - this a season which recalls happy days of "lang syne" and painful ones also - in the remembrance of them, let us be thankful for the many mercies which have been bestowed upon us - and with humble minds and hearts say "Thy will be done". I can quite understand your feelings, both as regards the Brownes and your old friend Sir George Grey. I hope you will not forget to offer my kind compliments to Mrs. Browne and thank both her and the Governor for their very kind attention to my "Gudeman" during his visit to Auckland and aprise them that none more sincerely pray for their future health and happiness than I do - they must ever command my my gratitude for their great kindness to my poor Brothers children during their voyage from England. I am glad you approve of Don Pedro not selling the Wanganui Land, but what is to be done? as Patricio will not remain after Jany. I don't know how it is, but his Father and him never seem to agree - so that I think they will be better independant of each other. But it makes me very dad to think that the poor lad will be turned on the wide world with a wife and (by that time) two children without a penny to bless himself with. I have none to give him - mine is all gone! what little I had in Ritchie's hands - I may consider gone - or nearly so - for I can get nothing from him and his affairs are in a sad state - his mind and conduct worse still - he has been so bad lately, that we find it quite necessary to confine him in the jail! that being the only place where he can be kept quite free from the "Poison" as you may suppose, all these things make one feel any thing but comfortable - particularly as the hardness of the times keeps one always on the "qui vive" for fear of not making both ends meet. In my last I mentioned my thoughts, as the Maoris would say, about the "Health Office". Mr. Wilson might just as well have something for all the trouble he is at - all of which he is now going through for nothing - it is vexatio to see all he does do - and during all this war, has never had even the help of one penny worth of anything - we have every thing to buy and House rent to pay!! It is very trying to see a man of his education and standing, working hard, for the mare £150 a year while some who are doing mighty little are getting government pay of £15 per week!!! You see that I tell you all my feelings - because I am sure you will sympathize with me. We have sold our Henui property! I went out a few days ago to take a last look at a spot where I had spent so many happy days - it was a truly melancholy visit. I can not say more on this subject - we are now landless in New Plymouth. Mr. Wilson does not intend to build until we see what comes of the present state of affairs - we have taken the upper part of Alexander King's House for six months, in that time, we must be able to judge what the end is likely to be. We were induced to change our quarters fearing a second summer in room would be trying to us, as being deprived of it, would be to the Jones (?) who have had to live for the last eighteen months in an underground kitchen. We shall be mutually sorry to part with each other - the whole family have been extremely kind to us. I know that the "Gudeman" is writing to you about a little plan he has about the native hospital and which I most sincerely hope that Sir George will approve of - the present hospital will never again do any good for or to the Natives, it never has since Rawiri died in it - a new one in a more central situation would be the right thing - and besides if a small dwelling House was attached to it, as a dwelling for the "Takuta" would make us forget many of our double troubles and vexations of House business. I tell the "Master" that he ought to get a plan properly drawn out and ready to lay before Sir George, so that he may without any trouble, understand at a glance what is required. 20th. The Gudeman is off to the Waitara so I have to post this which I shall do at once for fear of missing it, but not before I sincerely thank you for getting my brooch so nicely repaired and assuring you and dear Douglas of the unaltered affection of your attached old Mother. H.A. Wilson. Do write me as often as you can.