1 November 1861 Maraekakaho My dear Donald Your letter to me date August 3 was handed me by Alex this day refering to the 180 oaks and 200 pines and walnuts. I wrote you already of having received them. They were over a month on the way which dryed them very much up. I need not state that I did everything in my power to save them. I exchanged 6 pines and 3 oaks with Mr Alexander for other trees. Also 6 to Lowrey for which I got a number of nice trees and some oak nuts and pine cones which I hope will replace all that will die of the Auckland plants. A number of the oaks that I thought was dead are now springing from the roots. I also got from Mr Ormond 250 blue gum plants for 5 of the pines which all died with him and all the blue gums are living. I wished I had exchanged more of the pines for more than the half will die. After all my trouble I find the only way is to rise the plants myself from seed. I was very much disapointed that Alex did not bring me some blue gum seed from Auckland for I wrote you 6 weeks ago and 24 days ago to be shure and send me some but he says you did not get my letter. I have got a number of Lowtana young plants about 50 of them are doing well also a number of matie & white pine plants out of the bush with several other valuable New Zealand young plants and put them in the gardin in a bed to be ready to transplant next year. About 3 of them are looking well so that if the English pines, ealms, ash and oak & seeds I got will grow I will have plenty of plants next