My Dear Sir, I regret very much I did not see you on Monday morning before you started for Waiau, although I was in Mechanics Bay in what I consider reasonable time say 8 O'C --- but I have ascertained since that you were off at 7 --- Poihipi came to the office at 10 yesterday requesting to be paid £5.0.0 for leading the horses to Ahuriri, but your note to Baker doesnot refer to anything beyond halters therefore I professed profound ignorance of the entire arrangement excepting so far as a supply of food for the journey which you promised on Saturday and was accordingly furnished by me to that potential functionary. The Office is miserably dull since you left, and with the exception of the arrival of my friends the Hirohau from Kaipara, which places me in the midst of two fires, there is nothing new since you started for the diggings.