Thursday Novr. 2nd. 1854. My dear McLean, As the steamer is just coming in, I sit down to write off a few lines just to say that there is nothing of any importance to communicate. There was a bit of a skirmish at the Hua yesterday, occasioned by Katatore playing a visit to his Paraeiti friends and being waylaid on his return, when a few shots were fired doing us no mischief further than a small scratch on the wrist to old Matui of the town pa and another to a man named Wiremu Taupunga, one of W. King's men. They fired, from all I can learn, at long ranges, each party being in fact mortally afraid of each other. I wrote a long letter which I intended for the steamer, enclosing accounts etc., but on Tuesday the overland mail going out and the steamer being so long overdue that we all thought she had passed, I posted it overland so you will not get it till you return to Auckland. I am all ready for a start and shall expect to see you down by the return of the steamer. I hope you will be able to bring down my acct. for the old mare so as to get it paid here. I have settled all the reserve questions at the Waiwakaiho and handed the Block to Halse and the Supt. His Honour will not give out the land for sale until the roads are laid out, in which I must say I concur with him for once. I must conclude this scrawl as they are closing the mail. With kind regards from my sister --- and hoping soon to see you. I am, my dear McLean, Yours faithfully, G. S. Cooper.