Auckland 20th Feb./58 My Dear Sir, I have just this moment received your letter of 8th Feb. instant, blowing me up sky high for what you call uncommunicative and now I state that without the fear of contradiction that my letters to you have lately been mo re pungent than ever, perhaps too much so, but if they have I know you will attribute them to a right cause. I wrote to you a few days ago a long yarn which I know well you will appreciate although you will not acknowledge the fact now after having received your blowing up epistle dont think that you are going to get any news from me No. No thank you. more particularly as you cannot give your attention to a quiet letter but the excuse I make for you is simply this, that you have been a since you have been at Ahuriri and therefore are excusable. By the way you omitted to say whether you got rid of your wool. I am afraid you were too grappling (?) for the fractional part of the dauber,/you should have taken that fellows offer which you named in one of those very inky notes of yours when one word is so written as to fill the space of a line thereby fondly imagining that you have written a long letter. You will be astonished to hear that I am becoming quite fast lately. I am always out at hops of some or other and am every day becoming more spooney on the sister of your first Clerk, , what do you think of that don't be astonished if I should - but I wont, not a word. Smith says as I am writing he has nothing to say I tookcare to enlighten him however that my letter to you would be full of nothing so he is not to screen himself on me. I am in a bad humour with everything connected with New Plymouth and shall stand humbugging no longer. Why dont you take up the cudgel against Norris you will never get a farthing otherwise I paid £500 yesterday for te Ikaranganui. Old Paikea and his mob are in Town very extensive swells they are anxious I should return with them to Kaipara but I think I should be making myself too cheap to be constantly at their beck and call. What in the name of goodness can you be doing down in those diggings not you say you cant buy land why/pass on to Wellington. New Plymouth and back again so that I may have it out with you face to face over a reducing tumbler of Campbell Town. I am going over to Grahame's on Monday evening next to see the lovely Jane, I have been to Smith's once only and a more fidgety lot I never hope to meet. I must now round up very much to your disappointment I know but seeing that there is not one single word of news private public or policical and hoping you soon be back again to check some humbugging latent feelings which have lately siezed hold of me I remain yours very sincerely, J. Rogan