Letter from Mrs. Wilson, to Donald McLean, dated 13th. June 1854. New Plymouth 13th. June 1854. My dear Son, I am really very much vexed that from one thing and another, I have been prevented answering your two truly welcome letters, of the 15th. and 25th. May; therefore shall, or rather, must leave them until next post. They are such nice, long comfortable ones, that they must not be laid aside without a full acknowledgement. I have been so busy writing to my brother and old Mr. Ritchie, regarding all arrangements for the coming out to New Zealand of the former; and also other papers connected with some little cash affairs of mine, etc. in England, --- that my poor head is quite addled. To-day's post takes away the triplicates of them all, so I have only to pray that my plans may succeed, and that I may have the heartfelt satisfaction of seeing my brother and his family before many months are over. Many thanks for your kind thoughts of him. I copied that part of your letter into mine to him, that he might see what a kind brother he fill find at Auckland, if he should go there. And many thanks for all your kind arrangements about Pat. The poor boy is not at all well. He continues to complain of weakness. Hicks (of this place) and his family are going by first opportunity to Wanganui, to settle there on land of their own. We have got them to consent to help Pat until they get their land, and build their home; so that for the present there will be help enough for him until the man and his family come from Dunbar, which is likely to be about the Spring, if not sooner. Mrs. Hicks is a very nice decent woman, and will be a most excellent help when they get there. Pat can very well pay us a longer visit then, than he did at Christmas. We are glad to find that the Campbells and he are all right again. What a pretty show New Plymouth made at the opening of the General Assembly. out of on the side of no prayer ! ! ! This, with a few other items ought to convince Sir John Packington that we are too much of the "Hobbledy Hoy" to be trusted out of leading strings for the next five years at least; and not even then without we have something more substantial at the head then we have now. So now that I have had my say, --- scold your old Mother as much as you like. But she knows very well, that in your heart, you think as she does. We are quite delighted with Colonel Wynyard's speech, --- when he hinted at the necessity of free communication between all the settlements. How it must have made our little "Tommy Thumb" shrink within himself, for was the one who so boldly told Mr. Wilson that he ought not to make a road between this and Wanganui; as by so doing, we should benefit its trade. What could possess him and Gledhill to advocate the sending of troops to this settlement, without indeed, he hoped to sell some more of his cheese; and the others, some more of his slops. But enough of them. Pray offer my thanks to Dr. Sinclair for his order to the Government gardener, regarding the plants of the Passion fruit. I shall be quite proud of them when they arrive. I am quite glad to hear of the arrival of your cousin, Mrs. Gascoyne, and I hope she will remain at Wellington, for the sake of poor little Douglas. I shall be quite anxious about him until I hear that he has got over the measles, for they are pretty sure to spread over the whole Island. We are not quite sure that Pat has had them. This makes me the more anxious for Mrs. Hicks to go at once. I am really so tired that I can only add the assurance of the affection of your old Mother (Signed) H.A. Wilson. P.S. next page. P.S. William was here this morning, and desired his respects; and says that his boy is growing up strong and well, and will be ready to attend his little master Douglas McLean. To:- Donald McLean.