Napier 20 May 1863. The growing demand for farm and dairy produce is opening up a fresh field for the enterprise of the Hawkes Bay agriculturists while the sheep farmers have a prospect before them of being able to dispose of their fat stock at remunerative prices. An agricultural society has recently been initiated which promises to promote a spirit of emulation in producing the best class of articles for sale and export. Properties are changing hands at rates which are satisfactory to the seller and buyer and altogether there are greater indications of activity and life of a wholesome kind than has hitherto existed. The certainty at no very distant period of having a steamer belonging to the part for inter colonial trade is encouraging and so is the prospect of having vessels coming direct from England to Napier, the inefficiency of the present mail service has been more severely felt in this Province than in any of the others yet it has been less complained of it is to be hoped that this service will be placed on a better footing when the next assembly meets if not sooner by present arrangements the mails may almost always be said to be nearly one month in arrear. The sperm whale fishing at the North end of the bay has of late years been much neglected and there is no prospect of its being revived this season. It is computed that from twenty to thirty thousand wethers besides a considerable number of cattle and horses will be exported this winter, some of the sheep will find their way to your market but the bulk of them will be shipped to Otago. Notwithstanding the high price for sheep at Auckland and Otago wethers are disposed of here at 12/- a head but it is not likely they will continue long at such a comparatively low figure. Trade with the Maoris which had very much languished is improving and questions of grass money and trespass which used to be such a fertile source of instalation are seldom heard of except when incidentally alluded to after being settled by the proper authorities. The changes that have taken place since Mr. McLean's advent are altogether of a more encouraging nature when could have been expected, when the difficulties which surrounded him are fairly estimated. It should not however be forgotten that he has had not only the cordial support of his council but also of the inhabitants generally. In July 1850 when a party of Natives came from Otara to disturb the Rangitikei settlers and dispute the inland boundary. Mr. McLean prevented an outbreak there, and afterwards aided by Rangihaetas influence and that of other chiefs he settled the inland boundary definitely. Prevented the Taupo Natives through his influence with the late te Heuheu from attacking Whanganui. Acquired in 1848 the fertile district of Whanganui after every previous effort to do so had failed, also acquired the Rangitikei with the full concurrence of all the claimants at a time when such a purchase was considered impossible owing to the opposition of Rangihaeata and some of the interior tribes. Extinguished the Natives title s to the whole of the country from Hawkes Bay to Wairarapa notwithstanding the complications of leasing that had arisen there and the great opposition of the Natives to sell, thanks of Provincial Govt. In each Province of New Zealand the influence of Mr. McLeans operations have been substantially felt in Auckland he acquired free of all disputes since 1854 acres of land. Upon a clear and comprehensive principal there is no mystery in the course he pursues a block of land is offered he listens quietly to all the claims on either side and when satisfied that the offer is fair and legitimate the external boundaries of the block offered are surveyed, the reserves marked off, the price fixed and the payment divided among the natives. The natives express themselves invariably satisfied with these arrangements and it is surprising out of the many purchases so many complications and intricacies of different kinds that so little trouble has arisen out of these transactions. As a proof that they give satisfaction to the Natives no tribe who has sold land under them declines to do so again. The people of all others who should appreciate Mr. McLean