Dec. 29, 1846 My dear Sir, I was so vexed when I heard that the messenger had gone off to you - without my having heard of it in time to write a letter. I receive your two letters and have to thank you for them. You must have thought me very uncivil in not writing to you to acknowledge them. Now William tells me of a parcel going off to you tomorrow so I write today to be in time. I fancy you are gone to Whanganui - as I hear you sent for your best clothes - We have news of 150 troop being there - but not the Governor with them. However I need not give you big news - You will have had it before. I shall not look for you now for some time. As the Govr. is not here - I fancy he has gone to Wellington first and will then go to Whanganui on his way hitherward, and you will see him then and come up. I wish it may be so - it will just do. I think Mr. Webster has been in better spirits since the Brig came in - so I hope there is nothing to fear about his place. I had a piece of very bad news by Brig - Poor Hori of Mokoturu died at the College ''gentleman George'' you called him - the Bap. says he was as true a Christian as any one he ever saw. Hohaia has not returned. I have not been able to get the land from Edgecombe. He wanted 1£ an acre on a 7 years lease. He was above all offers and has gone back with it unlet. So I must look out for some other land - We have not had enough rain yet - tho' better than nothing. I have not been able to think of you where you have seen - they keep secrecy here about your movements. The bathing place I have visited once with W. King, but I generally bathe in my owngarden. When you come back I shall return to my ''foist love'' Every body is all agog for the Concert - If there is another chance I will tell you about it. Yesterday I preached for the Benefit Club - and dined with them. I met Mr. Wicksted there - Just think we had not been set down ¼ of hour before he asked me to take wine with him - . It was most impudent of him - was it not? If I had, he would have made out no end of a story about our intimacy. Will you please remind Miss King about the bags which were ordered from her. The Bp. will not be here till late in the autumn, as he goes to Sydney to consecrate the new Bishops. Perhaps you may see Mr. Cotton - he is at Waikanae - I dont know whether he will come here. There is no Town news to tell you. I sent off the 'Matapo' of Otumatua by Brig. There is a capital story about of Cambell taking Rimina to prison. Remember me very kindly to Mr. Taylor and Basil and to Mrs. T. Mrs Bolland and my sister send kind remembrance to you - Ever yours very truly Wm. Bolland Burn this on acct. of what I said of Wicksted. I shall be down the Coast in about 2 or 3 weeks, perhaps I may meet you on your return - if you come overland. I want to see you back again. The place is not like itself without you.