Auckland 15 Decr. 1858 My dear Ormond Being absent at Coromandel harbour I did not receive your kind note of the 19 ultimo untill the last overland mail had left. I can assure you I feel exceedingly gratified with the offer made by yourself and other friends of mine, that I should become Superintendent of the new Province, nothing would afford me more pleasure than to be able to once to accept but my duty to the Governor would not admit of my relinquishing my present office, however much my own private feelings might favor my doing so. I trust however that it may be in my power, in some measure to reciprocate your good wishes, by doing all I can to promote the interests of the New Province, it is quite as well that it should have friends in other parts of the country, as well as within the Province --- Having been associated with Hawke's Bay, since its formation as an English settlement, independant of the exertions I used to obtain the districts, I feel very much pleasure in the friendly manner, in which you have expressed a desire, that I should accept of the highest office at your disposal, and shall ever consider myself happy, in being identified with the destinies of Hawke's Bay, and its inhabitants. The Electoral Roll is out, and I trust the divisions made will be satisfactory, I am just leaving for the Bay of Islands, therefore have not been able to write at such length, as I proposed doing --- I trust you will take a seat in the Council, much will depend, on the class of men, who will be your first members, and I sincerely trust that the affairs of the Province will be managed with prudence and economy apart from all political clap trap and party feeling. I remain My dear Ormond Yours sincrly. Donald Maclean