2 March 1872 Maraekakaho My dear brother I received three of your letter. One from Taranaki and tow from Auckland. Was glad to hear you were well and in good spirits about native affairs on the west coast. I have not seen the Hapuka for a long time. I se Paul and Ihaka now and then. Great swearing going on before the Commission. They will sweare anything to get their land back if they could but they get no hopes from the commissioners. If their was no sorting of the sheep four men would put all the flock through in three or four days. You mentioned in a letter sometime back about getting a entire colt in Auckland. If you could find a tow year old colt strong and having a pedigree but not a horse that would cost much money I would like to have one for the in comeing season as there is a few good fillies by Marbles and the old mares Tramp's colt foal is looking well. I shall feed him up. Russel's case and the Little Bush looked bad for him. It's the taulk of the publick. Hapuka gives strong evidence in the Te Ranga or the land at the back by Masson's run but it will all end in smoke. Maney is having his share of it but his bookes seemes to be well kept. I hear the natives are tired of waiting so long in Napier and neither get land or money but they were told by some they would get their land. This enquiry will do good and perhaps harm. It was as well for them it never happened and for others they are disatisfied when they get nothing. They are starving for want of food. I hear their crops is partley lost for want of thatch and their potatoes are getting roton. We have fearfull wet weather hear for the last tow months. Four dry days in February and still raining. We had all the dry flock through the yards the few dry days we had. The first we onley got one sheep with footrot, the other tow we got about 18 or twenty days so in wet wether that is very few. It shows that we can keep it under. We have a new place made to run the sheep through arsenic no trouble this winter to se what he will turn out. About the Herford they are favourite cattle of mine. They will get in condition where the Short Horn would starve. If you could get a well bred young yearling bull and cow collonial bred at a reasonable price they would do well hear and in time their stock would sell when known. I have put the Akitio cattle to the back near Carlyon's and they stop well and are doing well and breaking up the country. We have got the grass seed from Reid but cannot get a burn so wet and damp. The padock that was sown last year looks well. It will keep all our rams for the winter. The country looks well. In past to much grass. The stock in splendid order. We have lost nothing by the flood or rain. I have a fine second crop of oats on the same ground, better looking at present than the first which was a good crop and got all saved. I should like to se Auckland and the improvements and stock. I have not seen Maney since you wrote from the west coast. He is allways at Napier. I have not been their since a week before Christmas. I am writing to Douglas today and going down tomorrow to bring some fruit for Wellington and to bring the fish you kindley sent. I have no more to say but hopeing this will find in good health. I am allways Alex McLean I have got ..ully the native hear yet . I find him so usefull. He looks affter the cattle at back.