Wellington 10 June 1869. My dear Rolleston, I suppose you are well posted as to what is going on at this place. On Tuesday Fox moves the resolution of want of confidence and I hope you will be up as soon as you can, it is clearly the interest of north and south to get rid of the present Ministry they are still utterly unconscious of the consequences that flow from their own acts and they are rapidly bringing the Colony to the verge of destruction and this must be as obvious to you as to any one. The military movements are of the most haphazard and eccentric it is evident that we are being plunged into an interminable war either through ignorance or design. I can assure you I am not speaking of the ministry from any personal feeling but from a painful sense of the deplorable condition into which they are bringing the country. It behoves all of us to put our shoulders to the wheel and see if we cannot restore the country to a better position it could not be worse than it is at the present time. The views expressed by the opposition last session are adopted by the Govt. this. I mean as far as the state of insecurity and war is concerned they now acknowledge the existence of the difficulties they ignored. The opposition will have a good working majority if we can agree upon the course to be pursued this renders your own and Tancreds presence most essential, I send you Mr. Lockes report upon flax it is no so full as I should like the cases of plants are being sent. I find the steamer is sailing. Yours sincerely Donald McLean.