[First page/s missing. Written ca July-August 1864] If you will be in Auckland I will send them with Kean the next trip if drays will be going down about that time. I sent you Newton's account. I never got the account rendered so I cannot send it you. Of course that was private and kept from me but that amount could not have been used cash. However it is a matter for Alex to settle with you when you meet and I hope he may be able to gave you every satisfaction. Mr Smith came yesterday wanting payment for the £40 and I was oblidged to gave him an order on Rich for the amount to get it payed of but I have a small bill against Smith about £10. He said he would not settle till Alex came home as Alex told him not to for provisions & timber he got time of shearing & some few fleeces that was shoren with his. I also had to draw on Rich for £35.4.6 to settle other accounts that had to be paid. Wages & all those accounts are duly filed for your per usual when God spairs you to come down. I tried to sell some steers to pay of Smith but I could not get a price for them equal to their value for meat for station. I consider them equal to 10 wethers for station use and Rich would only gave £6 or £7 for them so it is better to kill one or two of them and save the wethers for the market. The first draft Rich got 109 wether at 18/- £98.2. Alex got in advance £50 leaving £48.2. 2nd draft 119 wethers at 19/- will be 113.1 taking £40 & £35.4.6. £161.3 from it £74.4.6 to your credit £85.18.6. I may get a sixpence more out of Rich for the last draft but I cannot get the 20/- the sheep being so small. We are working away the best we can but really things progress very slow in the hands of the working class here. You are afraid of the expence of the deviding fence. My dear brother the post are split for it and 500 of the rails and the men had it all in ..... and it is not felt like money going out as the greater part goes on the place and we cannot get the proper use of the large padock without it to protect the crop and seed grass. It is true caution is necessary till piece is restored altho I have great faith in the natives here and so has all the old hands. Renata was very much inraged at Alex taking money from Oliver and Ormond for trees supplyed them out the bush. Ormond & Oliver told him the amount and he will not let anything leave the bush till that question is settled. I believe the amount was £89 so that they are at a stand still till he comes home. I expect their will be some trouble from what our friend Alex says however the natives are now very quite and the sugar & tea I gave them in payment for grass at the mill feast pleased them very much. There is nothing like living in good faith with them situated as we are here. They are going to live at the bush now so they say that will be considerable anoyance but with good managemen they may do as much good as harm. They do not agree to the surveyed boundary between us and them as the bush they clame a large portion of the land surveyed for you by Bosfield. However that is a question for yourself to manage. Catherine sends her love to Douglas. I will send you this month's diay soon. I think I have gaven you all the news now. I will end with every affection to little Douglas and yourself. Archibald John McLean