to get there. I hope you left all our good friends there in good health and spirits. I got an extensive variety of letters from Taranaki, when the ''Carbon'' returned; but the news they contained was very little. If you should be sending to Taranaki within a few days after this reaches you, perhaps you will have the kindness to say that I am quite well, and am using every exertion to reach, the settlement; but that the weather has been so unfavourable, and the carpenters so dilatory, that I cannot get the ''Carbon'' out of their hands. I hope you have succeeded in getting a satisfactory arrangement with the Wanganui natives; and that you will get back to Taranaki with all speed; as we unfortunate settlers cannot possibly do anything without your valuable assistance. I am ashamed to ask you to excuse this sad scrawl; but really and truly I expect the ''Katherine Johnson'' will sail almost immediately. Yours very truly (Signed) Thomas King To:- D. McLean Esq. Wanganui.