Letter from P. Wilson May 28th. 1848 Henui 28th. May 1848 My dear McLean, You are so busy with your Wanganui affair that, we presume, you have no time to write. Capt. King, however, showed me your letter, or rather that came by last post; and I had also a hasty epistle from our friend King; so that we are quite sure you are still in the land of the living. We have no news here, worth communicating, that I am aware of; except that both Wicksteed and I have been a good deal annoyed by Mr. Bell; who has been throwing a variety of obstacles in our way, to keep us from choosing in the Omata Block. He has, hitherto. had all the tether a young man, capricious or misled, I know not which, could desire; and now I have put a stopper (yesterday) on his folly, which is so demonstrable that I hardly think his employers at Home will much thank him for; as assuredly I shall not only lay the affair before them, but demonstrate to the British public, the consumate folly of purchasing from the Company at Home, to come here to be insulted and imposed upon by an Agent. I have long wanted a brilliant tail-piece for my Catalogue of grievances against that body, but I little looked to Bell to supply the desideratum. But more of this when you come up. Suffice to say that it is now in my power to shew the world that as a Public Servant he is no way to be trusted; and it will puzzle his outside brains to demonstrate otherwise; or to waeken the facts I shall bring against him. All your Police body seem to go famously. I saw them on Saturday, going through their evolutions, with all the precision of soldiers; but I am no great judge of these matters, though I have been in the battle-field, in my day, as Captain Campbell can tell you. Law, and some others, I saw on the new road on Friday. They seem to be getting on very well, and altogether it strikes me it will be a very creditable job. Gillingham has got his Mill a-going; and has plenty to do. I am heartily glad of it; and I am sure so will you be. Mrs. G. is much better, and now we have the promise of fine weather, she will get on fast. Mrs. W. has had lumbago, but not very badly. I gave her a plaster for it, which nettled and vexed her not a little; and at which she was not over and above pleased. But it has done her a power of good, and that is what medicine is intended for. Pat goes to school, foul day and fair; in fact, he will go, and I do not thwart him. Mr. Sharland, all say, is very well qualified, and certainly he makes his scholars progress; and besides, he is a very intelligent man, and a good scholar. The only want among us is money; all other things are in profusion. When are you coming back? I do not ask you how you are getting on, for Wanganui so stinks in my nostrils, that I would rather hear nothing about it. Please ask Mrs. King, don't bother the master, to ask her husband if he has got our gunpowder safe; if ever he is going to send a vessel this way; if all our trees and plants, particularly the pricklies, are doing well; and if he has got my Lempiere's (?) Dictionary; for as I take a flight among the Gods and Godesses now and then, I miss the reference to them. Believe me ever yours faithfully (Signed) P. Wilson. P.S. I spend the day to-morrow at Wicksteed's; and my wife at Capt. King's. Please say to Mr. King that the fly-wheel of the Mill is of consequence; but that in sending it round, to remove it from the part, if so attached; as it would needlessly add to the freight; and that I shall write to him soon.