16 March 1862 Maraekakaho My dear Donald Having expected you by the two last steamers I did not write you altho I had a good deal to tell and I deferred doing so till you came yourself. I can only say that I believe it is high time you came here for to see if we cannot alter matters different to what they are at preasant here. I have got the gross weight of the wool this year which is 15233 lbs or 136 cwt. I find 20 bales shipped to Bethune & Hunter per 'Sea Serpent' 6385 lb. The bales marked .II Ln N7 is pieces of fleeces and Exx those with E and the single x cross are ewe fleeces. Had I know[n] when they went I could have then sent you a note of them. I only came to know a few days ago however that does not matter much. We are all well here. Hoping this may find you and Douglas and his grandfather enjoying the same blessing. John McLauchlin and another man have been here now for 14 days waiting on Alex to come home from that miserable Napier to get delivery of his cattle and settled with him. It appears that he was never paid in full when he left here. I believe there is £40 due him. Now I can not conceive what Alex means or what he is doing so much away from the place. Left in his charge it cannot stand this way and I cannot fight any longer with him for I will only get the hight of abuse if I offer any advice for his good or the good of the station. It never will do if he has to have his fling in this way but I will not say any more. Hoping you will come soon and see for yourself. McLauchlin went for him to Napier and he promised to be home that night or next morning. That is now 5 days. I will not send for him any more. It makes us all unhappy here to see such even down distruction. If one was to know what he was about or if he was doing any good I would think nothing of it. To be candid with you I am sick of the way things are managed. Certainly the good old shepherd does his duty faithfully and I do my best to burn and clear the run with him and put grass into the ground. Every opportunity I can get double the amount of work could be done here with the men about it if they were allowed to obey me or if looked after. I now end hoping you will soon be here. With every good wish. I remain your affectionate brother Archibald John McLean