20 August 1861 Maraekakaho My dear Donald I am happy to say we are all well here and things getting on pritty well. I have put in all the trees you sent and gave them every justice but we had some severe frost here lately but I hope it will not injure them. It has killed some of my young blue gum plants but not many. I have 400 more blue gums to put in this year. I find there is nothing like getting seed of all kind of trees and rear them myself so that I could plant them as the weather suited. I am now busy sowing grass seed. A good kind to get seed of and prepairing more ground for trees. I got some Scotch fur seed from Mr Smith which I have sowen but it smells rather fusty but perhaps it will come if so I will have plenty of that kind if the Auckland plants will fail. After all my trouble I will be very much disapointed but I have no faith in plants after a long voyage of that kind. They were about 30 days before they were all planted. Alex was layed up for the first week unwell and he has been away for the last eight days. Mr Alex was up here and he went down with him. Catherine went with him but word came up to me that Nearn was trying to take the plains from us and I went down and got Alex to come with us to the pa at Mona Nue's place where the natives were all colected at his funeral. That was last Wednesday. They told us then no one ealse would get their plains as long as we would gave the same rent as others. Alex has not returned yet & I no not what is keeping him. The natives promised to be here today to make some arangements but they have not come but I hope they will be tommorrow and the mail leaving today, I mearly write this to keep you posted up. Catherine and he came home last Thursday. She is looking very well and realey she is a good girl. The two of them get on remarkable well together. Alex said he was going up to Auckland by the first vessel and I hope he will be able to gave you satisfaction. The sheep heard Duncan Liveston, a very good man that I told you had left came here today to get paid and would stay if he was wanted. I told him we would not want him till Sept or Nov and he sayed he will come whenever he is required. I will have to pay him out of the money in Riches hands. I do hope and trust you will get down in the course of two months or when we are shearing in Dec. At all events I am very anxious to see you and so is all here. I do hope that an honourable piece will be brought about. I have mentioned to you in two of my letters the necessity of the dividing fence. Hope you will allow us to have it as for the lever press when you can afford it it will be cheaper to get a screw one for the other will wear out so much rope in time that would pay for the screw one however those things can be better understood when you are here. You must excuse this note for I am writing half crasy with the tooth ache. The paper comes in and I am glad to find that Sir George Gray is again coming here. I hope it may be the means of bringing piece in the country without any more bloodshed. I will now send you notes out of my diary. July 1 Duncan Liveston left for a time. Employed sowing grass seed in the padock. Self building a leanto to the stable. Killed 2 wethers. July 2nd Employed as yesterday. Self and man sowing grass seed in gardin among the trees. July 3 Heavey rain all day. Nothing done outside. Jobing indoors. July Thursday 4th Heavey rain and very dark weather. Employed indoors at times. Man and self preparing ground for blue gums. 1 Poverty Bay cow calfed. Friday 5 Weather better. Got the bullocks and went for fire wood. Planted 115 blue gums. Saturday 6 Fine dry weather. The ground drying fast. Employed gathering firewood. Nelson working for his meat. Killed 2 wethers. Sunday 7 Heavey rain all day. Monday 8 Dry weather. Employed gathering firewood. 1 man digging ground for trees. Self carting posts with Blutcher for a fence. Tuesday 9 Fine weather. Employed bullocks plowing and digging gardon self and man. Wednesday 10 Employed plowing. Self went to the mill & Napier to gave the chiefs 5 bags of sugar & 6lb tea for a feast at the mill. Received a letter from brother Donald. Thursday 11 Fine weather. Left the port for Mr Alex. Got there & stayed there the night. Talking Maori affairs. Friday 12 Heavey rain. Came home and found them all well. Saturday 13 Employed plowing. Man and self digging in the gardin. Sunday 14 Rainy weather all day. Monday 15 Heavey rain. Could work the bullocks. Stock man mending harness. One man & self between the showers in the gardin digging. Tuesday 16 Employed plowing. Weather dry. One man in gardin. Self sheepherding rams. The padock being bare. 1 Poverty Bay cow calfed. Wednesday 17 Fine weather. Wrote McDonald. Went to Mr Alex on Maori affairs. The plow going .. Thursday 18 Went to the port on busness to get weight of wool. Friday 19th Went to the Maori feast at the mill & went back to the port hearing that Kane was in and spent the night. Mr Carlyon and Judge Hart. Saturday 20 Very heavey rain. Could not come home. Kain not in, a dispaointment Sunday 21 Came home and found them all well. Monday 22 The bullocks could not be found. Sent McLean out with the rams. Self & man digging. Boy after bullocks. Tuesday 23 Hard frost & fine weather. Plowing self. Sheephearding rams. Baker cook sick. Gardin man in his place. Wednesday 24 Plowing potatoe ground. Self sheephearding rams. Nelson jobing about for his meat. Thursday 25 Very fine weather. Plowing potatoe ground. Self sheepheard rams. Baker still sick 4/ for medicine. Friday 26 Fine weather. Got the bullocks at dinner time. Plowing potatoe ground. Got two bush men to help me to get the potatoes picked and taken in. Baker still sick. Saturady 27 Very fine dry weather. Sunday 28 Very fine dry weather. Monday 29 Fine cold weather. Wind N.N.W. Self sheepheard rams. Plowing. Tuesday 30 Very cold with shower of rain. Employed digging part of the day. Self out with rams. Wednesday 31 Fine dry weather with frost. Employed plowing. Self out with rams. Baker still sick. Heard that Alex & Catherine arrived the port. So ends this month. Both the Cats join me in love and aff. to you and Douglas. Arch Jno McLean