26 March 1872 Maraekakaho My dear brother I received yours of the 13 J from Otago and glad to hear you were well affter the capsise you had on the west coast which you never said aneything about but it is well you don't feel the worse. I am glad to tell you that all is well hear. The sheep and stock never looked better since they came hear. The foot rot has disapeared. I do not think there is half a score sheep infected the run before shearing. I got Condie to burn some 6 or 7 hundred bushels of lime which was done at the station and of the shears they went through arsenic and then on to a small yard covered with unsclacked lime which caused a complete cure. We never had the foot rot on the lands among the ewe flock on the upper run. Among the dry sheep however we are not afraid of the foot rot much affter what we have seen. I have known there to be a complete cure by many years ago in New South Wales without aneything else but pairing the hoof. I am little at home at present in the day time having four lines of fenceing to look affter and getting on well with at present the large paddock at Spur Nairn is nearley finished to put the Lingtoon [Lincoln] rams with the ewes. The rest of the others boundairers are at work by contrack verry reasonable beteween £50 and 60 pounds per mile. The dry weather never did us no harm. The country is improving fast. We could have as maney more sheep during the dry weather. An imence crop of grass at present. You would be pleased to se the station at this time. I had the old Hapuka last night in the best of humour affter the last fall out we had. He is up to tricks about that land he sold Kinross at Rakaua. Paul is better still hear. No great troubl[e]. I am writing with candle light and not making a good hand at it and I shall leave of and soon write you a long letter. Hopeing you are all well. In haste. Your allways Alexander McLean