Woburn The Hutt May 29/62. My dear Sir, I have just received your letter of the 23rd. and have to thank you sincerely for the interest you have shewn on my behalf. However from letters just received I am obligated to leave for England by Mail steamer of the 9th. June intending to go by the "overland route" and was anticipating the probabilities of our being fellow passengers. My business will not I hope detain me in England more than a month and I imagine D.V. to be again in New Zealand by the close of the year. I regret to hear by your letter that your stay is protracted so, as I am afraid I shall have left home before your arrival. In a long talk I had with Dr. F. he distinctly told me that he purposed taking the sole direction in negotiating with the Natives and except as an officer of the Survey Dept. (£300 a year and 5/- a day field allowance) he would not accept my services at the same time regretted my leaving the service. I have written to you officially, and if you kindly forward it to the Col. secr. on my return I might be in a position to be of service to the Govt. The disturbance at Kaipara appears likely to involve the Govt. in some difficulty as stated my papers here to affect sales extended over the last 20 years I hope however this is not the case. The Governor has been staying here almost incog. declining all public demonstrations. The Natives who have visited him have been told that this visit is only a complimentary one and have gone on their way cetainly not rejoicing. I am sorry to hear from Searancke that he leaves on such short notice. The Govt. has lost a good servant in him and one difficult to replace. The Provincial Govt. have raised the Drs salary to £100 given him forage for two (2) horses and £500 for interpretors and incidentals, and as Surveyors of course will require additional it will raise the expenses of the Provincial L.P. Dt. to a considerable sum. The Awa Hou Block (Manawatu) is to be drained cut up into sections, roads laid out and sold by auction. The Upper Manawatu to be acquired (don't they wish they may get it) and already (as he expresses it in his speech) information has been obtained that a large amount of valuable/agricultural land will be offered for sale by the Natives, but time will shew. During my absence I expect many important changes will take place. I see Mr. Strang occasionally. I am very glad to see the old gentleman has quite recovered his spirits which after your departure he quite lost. Gibbon Wakefield is dead, Tom Hoggard who may remember has gone too. King the lawyer is hardly expected to live. The old hands seem going fast. I am afraid my budget is now exhausted if you can find time to drop me line to the Post Office, Sydney, I should get it on my arrival there and will write to you from there as that will be my only opportunity. If you should arrive in September about a letter addressed to me at my father would find me somewhere and I would be most happy to meet you at his house if possible, if you would state in your letter when you think you will really start. With kindest regards from Mr. and Mrs. Riddiford and family in which my wife joins, Believe me Yours very sincerely, Malcolm Fraser. Donald McLean Esq., Auckland, Do not forget to find out whether Sir George would like a copy of the "Dones" Journal.