Novr. 20th 1858 Wellington. My dear Sir, I have to acknowledge and thank you for your very lengthy epistle of the 3rd instant, I arrived here last Sunday the 14th in time to have seen the new Native Minister but not being able to obtain my Auckland letters thought it better not to do so, as he left with Mr. Stafford early on Monday morning per the Swan. I shall not have an opportunity untill his return. The Gossips of Wellington say they are gone south to see the Govt. partnership run, but of course no one believes it. You will have seen by my officials that for the present Te Hiriwanu has checkmated me, but only temporarily I have to save disputes among themselves agreed to give them time to think over the offer I have made them, Te H. is a very obstinate old fellow and if he does not take care, the natives will sell the Land without him, to avoid this difficulty I have for the present left Manawatu. As regards the step I have taken at the Awa hou I depend upon you to justify me with the Govt. it is a bold stroke and one that will I think carry some weight with it in the District, I was compelled to either do what I have done or at once give up any farther chance of purchasing at Manawatu the Deed forwarded is only a temporary affair untill the excitement settles down and that double faced old sinner Nepia comes round in his ideas and becomes honest, however I had the satisfaction of giving him a piece of my mind which will I think have the effect of bringing him to his senses, I have been trying all the morning to get a few minutes to write to you but in vain, I am very happy to see that Smith has had the good sense to resign his appointment for I fully intended to have got him turned out, he is a very useless lazy young man, imagine he could not make his plans because I had not supplied him with Indian Ink and Colours, he has I am afraid done little or nothing, I am however now on my way to Wairarapa and shall soon see. I am anxious to hear something of the new Native Policy what is it to be like I shall recommend to the Native Minister of course thro you very soon, a good piece of policy which will be to increase my pay. Mortal man cannot stand the incessant worry that I have for £300 per annum as soon as I have got a footing in the Mana watu, I shall commence a series of officials to the above effect. On Monday I purpose going to Porirua and try and complete at 6d per acre the purchase of this end of the Waikanae, the other end towards Waikanae I shall give up the Natives having retained all the best of the Land. Bousfield is I hear, out of office at Ahuriri if true and he comes this way as I hear is most likely I shall recommend him to be appointed as surveyor in this District; I am very well satisfied with Stewart who is getting on well with the survey at Manawatu. The mail is closing, to be cont. per overland mail on Monday Very truly yours, Will N. Searancke