Taranaki 28th. September 1857 My dear McLean, It is, I fear, an invincible habit with me to allow correspondence to fall into arrears. At this time I fear I must be in disfavour with several I would not intentionally offend. Your letter is a spur to a better practice, - perhaps only for the time being, judging from the past. We are all delighted to see Rogan after his wanderings and long absence. Travelling has opened his eyes to the littleness of Taranaki, and he has no desire to live here again. I read in the papers of your successful foray in the Ahuriri; but nothing so good as Rogan's description of you as the Big Dog walking off with the bone, whilst the natives were fighting. Some fine day you may be doing a similar feat here, for though the natives are not fighting, they agree none the better about the land. Hereabouts they are mostly on the turn, therefore Parris appointment was opportune. The readiness with which his application for the means to enable him to close with "Devil's brat Katatore, as Cooke terms him,- was met, has given much satisfaction, as I need not tell you; though unluckily the amount (£3000) has transpired; and land which I understand Parris hoped to get for £2000 may cost the full sum. For this 'tis said we are indebted to Norris, who received it in the way of reply from Col. Wynyard, to whom he communicated Katatore's offer. Too great caution cannot well be observed