through Nelson digings. People are to independard down hear and we shall be hard up for labour this shearing but no doubt we shall have plenty next year. I have farley engaged Danvers for three years at sixty pounds per annum. MacLauchlan is quite usless to me for the last four weeks. His brother has been sheepherding the sheep and a good man he is. I must get rid of John for his wife is not in good health. 5 of them I had to keep all winter for one man's work but I hope Gascoyne and a good sheeperd will do the work next year. We will have a ... clip this year. The sheep are in such good condition.