Condie will tell you all about it. He is very anxious to forward things. The diggings are taking a great many people away out of this place but I expect we will soon find some of them coming back. I hear today that Bob and Hugh the bulock driver is made up their mind to go to the diggings. T[w]o very good men but they may not go for all that. Mr Condie [?] got a sheepherd yesterday for the back country at the rate of £50 a year so that the wage is not gone up any as yet and is a very good lad. He was here before and with the Masons for 2 years. The McLean lad I have will turn out a good lad I think, so will his brother. He is very usfull to me now. I hope you hear good accounts of poor Alexr and that he may change his ways and do better. Remember me to Annabella, Catherine & Mr Strang when you see them. Hoping to see back soon. Always your attached brother Archibald John McLean