Taranaki June 27th. 1854. My dear McLean, I received yesterday your kind letter of the 12th as well as one from Dr. Sinclair of the same date, and deeply indeed do I feel the warmth with which you have both expressed yourselves, and the interest you take in the welfare of those who are so dear to me. As the Doctor has not thrown out any hint of my probable removal, I have not alluded to it, nor shall I to any one. I hardly know what to say about Otago as I have scarcely had time to think of it as yet, but if Mantell is only going home on leave, my replacing him would I am afraid give me but a slippery hold on the service in case of his return, and besides a move to Otago looks at first sight like a transition from the frying pan, hot into the fire but into the Polar regions. However I have placed my destiny in your hands and Dr. Sinclair's feeling assured that it could not be safer, and whatever you agree upon as best for me I will cheerfully acquesce in; only in case of a move +I should like to feel the ground pretty firm under my feet. In Dr. Sinclair's letter he recommends me in plain terms to apply for an increase of pay, and I have accordingly done so in an official letter to the Col. Sec. I have been in some doubt as to whom I should address the letter but at length I made up my mind to the present course from the reasons which induced me to send my last official letter through the same channel. I never had so much difficulty in writing any letter in my life, and I am not at all satis-fied with it now it is done, but it will suffice to moot the question, and as it will be sure to be referred to you I must trust to you, both to support it and to supply any defects which may strike you in looking it over. So much for myself. You will have seen by my late letters that the Hua difficulties are nearly over, but the weather is still sorely against us, and to make matters worse Carrington is most inopportunely taken off to prepare the Town Sections for an approaching sale. I have nothing therefore on this head to add to former letters. In the Waiwakaiho Block some half dozen natives who had small reserves promised them have deposited sums to make up the prive of 50 acre sections, which they state (and I believe truly) you promised they might do. I hope there will be no difficulty hereafter about these matters on the score of authority. The Natives are all very anxious to hear what is to be done about the prisoner Hiriwaru, and the assessors are growing impatient about their pay. I trust we shall soon hear news upon these subjects. I hope also an immediate answer will be sent to my letter about leasing the reserves. I have written you a separate letter about Smart's cow. I am afraid I was wrong in promising Parris to write to you, but I have explained to him that I could not report officially and have concealed from him the nature of my letter to you. At all events if no reference is made to you my letter goes for nothing, and if they do ask your opinion you can make what use you like of mine --- that is all. We hear that Halse sailed in the Gazelle on the 9th. and doubts are entertained for her safety, as she must now have been out 18 days, and we have had some very bad weather lately. No local news at all. My mother and sister send their kind regards, and with remembrance to Russell and Kemp. I remain, My dear McLean, Ever faithfully yours, G. S. Cooper.